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From: gomez@speedway2.DAB.GE.COM (Frank Gomez)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Why sqrt(-1)=j and not sqrt(-1)=i
Message-ID: <1991May7.195133.4602@ge-dab.GE.COM>
Date: 7 May 91 19:51:33 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.
>
>---
>
>James Howard          Howard Electronic Laboratories Products & Services
>AA5R           cs.utexas.edu!helps!jhoward  or  jhoward@helps.cactus.org

In electrical engineering the symbol "i" is used to imply current.
Thus a new symbol "j" was chosen, as to not confuse people.