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From: oistony@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (Anthony Petro)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Why sqrt(-1)=j and not sqrt(-1)=i
Message-ID: <73849@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU>
Date: 30 Apr 91 13:51:22 GMT
References: <1139@helps.cactus.org>
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In article <1139@helps.cactus.org>, jhoward@helps.cactus.org (James Howard) writes...
> 
>In math the sqrt(-1) is representated by the letter i.  In electronics
>why is the letter j used to represent the square root of -1?
> 
>Thanks for any replies, posted or Emailed.

the explanation i've been given is because i in electronics is too 
often used to refer to instantaneous current, and j was the next 
logical and relatively trouble-free choice...

> 
>James Howard          Howard Electronic Laboratories Products & Services
>AA5R           cs.utexas.edu!helps!jhoward  or  jhoward@helps.cactus.org

anthony m. petro   "beethoven"    i can say what i want; i'm just an undergrad
oistony@UBVMSD.BITNET             "frame by frame,
oistony@mednet.bitnet              death by drowning,
petro@sun.acsu.buffalo.edu         in your own
                                   in your own...
                                   analysis..."