HackerTube

Imaginary Numbers Are Real [Part 1: Introduction]

Welch Labs7 HN recommenders · recommended in 7 months, 2017–2025
YouTube
course · intro · evergreen · 2017–2025 on HN

The first part of Welch Labs' series on imaginary numbers, presenting them as the natural extension of the number line into two dimensions. It covers the history and the math with strong visuals.

HN commenters rate the series as some of the best visual teaching on complex numbers and recommend it for building intuition.

9 comments from Hacker News

@tails4e2022-10 · in “The paper that keeps showing up”

Yes, the name imaginary does it no favours. I was confused for so long about i, as it was never explained on classes, and it wasn't until 3blue1brown and other math youtubers showed me the light. I really like this series on it by Welch Labs - loads of easily digestible videos, and a history lesson to boot: ▶ this video

Strongly recommends View on HN
@wodenokoto2021-09 · in “A layman’s guide to recreational mathematics videos”

Welch labs has an amazing series on complex numbers called “imaginary numbers are real”. Great explanations, engaging content and high production value. ▶ this video

Strongly recommends View on HN
@rrauenza2017-12 · in “What are the complex numbers, really?”

Welch Labs has a wonderful series on youtube on imaginary numbers, "Imaginary Numbers Are Real": ▶ this video I like to tell my kids that imaginary numbers aren't really imaginary .. that in many ways they're more real than the Reals.

Strongly recommends View on HN
@pedrodelfino2017-08 · in “Imaginary Numbers Are Real – YouTube Series”

The greatest audiovisual content on the topic I have ever seen: Part 1 - ▶ this video Part 2 - link Part 3 - link Part 4 - link Part 5 - link Part 6 - link Part 7 - link Part 8 - link Part 9 - link Part 10 - link Part 11 - link Part 12 - link Part 13 - link

Strongly recommends View on HN
@wanderingmoose2025-01 · in “Quaternions and spherical trigonometry”

I really like the welch labs series on imaginary numbers which covers the first part of what you talk about -- leveling up the notion of what a complex number is. Though his focus was more on solving simple equations with no real roots, but really detailing how/what is really going on. It is a great precursor to then thinking about quaternions ▶ this video

Recommends View on HN