It might help to point out to students that not all things called “number” in math are for counting/measuring.
Even before complex numbers, I was confused by negative numbers. Why negative times negative suddenly positive?
I spent time figuring that out. When complex numbers came I was ready. I knew they were not really numbers that would count something. And that they are just called numbers.
Even before complex numbers, I was confused by negative numbers. Why negative times negative suddenly positive?
I spent time figuring that out. When complex numbers came I was ready. I knew they were not really numbers that would count something. And that they are just called numbers.