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From: conger@hpcupt1.cup.hp.com (Edward Conger)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Why sqrt(-1)=j and not sqrt(-1)=i
Message-ID: <6220027@hpcupt1.cup.hp.com>
Date: 3 May 91 18:00:23 GMT
References: <1139@helps.cactus.org>
Organization: Hewlett Packard, Cupertino
Lines: 33

>/ hpcupt1:sci.electronics / bobw@col.hp.com (Bob Witte) /  7:47 am  Apr 30, 1991 /
>>/ col:sci.electronics / jhoward@helps.cactus.org (James Howard) /  4:12 am  Apr 30, 1991 /
>>
>>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.
>>
>>>---
>>
>>James Howard          Howard Electronic Laboratories Products & Services
>>AA5R           cs.utexas.edu!helps!jhoward  or  jhoward@helps.cactus.org
>>----------
>    Possible answers:
>     1) To confuse math majors and keep them out of EE.
>
>     2) sqrt (-1) had to be j because i is used for current
>        Why isn't c used for current? Because c is used for capacitance.
>
>--------------------------------------------------------------------
>Bob Witte              HP Colorado Springs Division
>bobw@col.hp.com        P.O. Box 2197
>Phone:(719) 590-3230   Colorado Springs, CO  80901
>Radio: KB0CY            
>"Of course, then again, I've been wrong before."
>--------------------------------------------------------------------

'c' isn't used for the flow of charge carriers because the person who
created the term didn't use an >>English<< word.  An amusing parochiality,
neh?  "I" is short for "Intensite'" - a French word....

-Ed.
An EE, though I play a CS nerd on TV.