Name: Tessa Lachman____________________________

Complex Numbers
History and Perspective
Instructions: Use any resource (textbook, internet, library, etc) to complete this lab. Answer the
questions thoroughly and thoughtfully to gain a better understanding of complex numbers.
1. Numbers are broken into different categories Complete the diagram below to describe
relationships between numbers. Use the following words to fill in the gray boxes:
Imaginary, Integer, Irrational, Rational, Real, Whole
Complex Numbers

2. What Italian mathematician is credited for first using imaginary numbers without really
using the word imaginary in the year 1545? He published a book using the methods of del
Ferro and Tartaglia. State his name and paste a picture of him below. What else did this
scientist contribute to the field of mathematics?
The Italian mathematician that was credited for first using imaginary numbers was Gerolamo
Cardano.

He had also contributed making the first systematic use of negative numbers as well as a great deal
of other things that dont necessarily have to deal with math, but are still widely famous creations.
3. This mathematician first used +i and i as representative symbols for calculations using
imaginary numbers. His book was published in 1572 also using the methods of del Ferro

and Tartaglia. State his name and paste a picture of him below along with the title of his
book.
Rafael Bombelli was the mathematician who first used +i and i as symbols.

His book was titled, LAlgebra.

4. What was going on in the world around the time imaginary numbers were first being used
(the end of the 1500s)? State at least 2 major events.
There was the British and Spanish war on the Atlantic occurring, as well as the Mali Empire was
defeated.
5. Complex numbers were used to solve ________, not quadratic equations as first believed.
6. Who is Leonhard Euler? (Pronounced oiler). Paste a picture of him below along with the
years he was alive. State at least two fields of study in which he contributed and at least one
other interesting fact about him.
7. State Eulers Identity. Why do you think it is so famous?
8. Name at least two other scientists that contributed to the idea of complex numbers. Briefly
state where they are from and what branch of mathematics they applied the use of complex
numbers along with pictures.
9. What is the general definition for complex numbers?
10. State at least one real-life application for complex numbers and explain briefly how complex
numbers are used for it.