Complex Numbers

Abstract

Every sane botanist studying water lilies understands that the portion of the plant on top of the water tells only part of the story, while a thorough understanding requires looking below the surface as well, and more generally seeing how the plant fits into the surrounding ecosystem. Similarly, to become a cardiologist one goes to medical school, not to “heart” school, because the heart functions not in isolation but as part of a larger system. Now let’s turn to mathematics.