When we operate with regular numbers, we usually want to add them, take their fractions, and so on. 3-dimensional geometry (e.g., the dot product and the cross product).systems of equations, especially with Cramer's rule.As such, they are extremely useful when dealing with: The starting point here is 1-cell matrices, which are, for all intents and purposes, the same thing as real numbers.Īs you can see, matrices came to be when a scientist decided that he needs to write a few numbers concisely and operate with the whole lot as a single object. For example, matrix A above has the value 2 in the cell that is in the second row and the second column. Moreover, we say that a matrix has cells, or boxes, into which we write the elements of our array. Although both are quite interesting and extremely useful, that's not why we're here.Ī matrix is an array of elements (usually numbers) that has a set number of rows and columns. While Isaac Newton was bored enough to invent calculus, some other mathematicians figured out even more numbers and called them complex numbers. Well, oddly enough, mathematics didn't end there. But that must have been the end of it, right? Surely there can't be anything more, can there? What is more, he declared that π, used in circle calculations, is also one and called the whole lot the real numbers. Those new values were called fractions and we grouped with what we had so far to form the rational numbers.Īnd then there came that Pythagoras guy from across the yard with his theorem which introduced some ugly new numbers that he called square roots. But that's not all! The kids are fussy enough, so the apples had to be cut into halves and then into quarters. This new negative number lumped in with the natural numbers to make up the so-called integers. They come quite naturally, so we call them just that - natural numbers.īut groceries cost money, so buying all of that made a small dent in the household budget: -$10. Maths all started when one of them was sent (by their spouse, no doubt) to fetch some turkey for dinner and a couple of apples for the kids. You know how, when you get bored, you stare at the paint patterns on the ceiling and your mind begins to wonder and, before you know it, you've come up with a whole new system of categorizing the style of paint chips? Mathematicians are no different.
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