Real and complex numbers

Real numbers

are the set of numbers that can be represented on a number line. They include both rational numbers (such as integers and fractions) and irrational numbers (such as the square root of 2 or pi).

Complex numbers

are numbers in the form a + bi, where a and b are real numbers and i is the imaginary unit, which is equal to the square root of -1. The number a is referred to as the real part of the complex number, and the number bi is referred to as the imaginary part. Complex numbers can be represented on a complex plane, where the x-axis represents the real part and the y-axis represents the imaginary part. They are used in many branches of mathematics, as well as in physics, engineering and other fields.