I think the difference (although) I agree with her, it's still confusing is
Standard Form for a Quadratic EQUATION: ax^2 + bx + c = 0
Standard Form for a quadratic FUNCTION: f(x) = a(x+h)^2 +c
Note two areas of confusion: different forms of the expression, and the
expression is on different sides of the equation.
Question: How many folks out there teach ax^2 + bx + c is standard form
for both? (I do. And I also write the expressions on different sides of
the equal signs.
Now on to a more serious question.
What is the difference between a complex number, an imaginary number and a
pure imaginary number. Somewhere I learned (but apparently in error) that
a + bi is a complex number. If a = 0 then the number is imaginary.
If b = 0 then it is a Real number.
Our text teaches that bi is a pure imaginary number and a+bi is an imaginary
number (b not 0). Most of my collegues agree with the text, hence, I'm sure
that I'm wrong. Can anybody help me.
While on complex numbers, why can't zero be an imaginary number? It is on
the imaginary number line. It can be written as bi. Why can't a number be
both real and imaginary?
I'll guess I'll have to retract my statement that math is a precise language
;-). After all is "e" the base of the natural log or the eccentricity of a
conic?
Bret Taylor Lake-Sumter Community College Leesburg FL
"It matters not the subject taught, nor all the books on all the shelves.
What matters more, yes most of all, is what the teachers are themselves."
John Wooden
John 3: 3^3 + 3
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