How to Use complex number in a Sentence

complex number

noun
  • The result is a snappy and complex number that seems anything but ad hoc.
    Rand Richards Cooper, courant.com, 15 Nov. 2019
  • The complex plane is a way of graphing complex numbers, which have two parts: real and imaginary.
    Jordana Cepelewicz, Quanta Magazine, 9 Mar. 2023
  • Infinite-Degree Maps Start with a function, or f, defined in terms of a complex number, or z.
    Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, 24 Apr. 2021
  • Her joyous and complicated routine split the judges – some felt the timing fell off during the complex numbers.
    Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 12 Nov. 2019
  • Beneath Jones’ balancing act is a complex numbers game that has vexed Alabama Democrats for decades.
    Kim Chandler, The Seattle Times, 9 Dec. 2017
  • Our February Insights puzzle sent readers on a treasure hunt based on complex numbers.
    Quanta Magazine, 22 Mar. 2019
  • Because a curve is a one-dimensional object that is defined in terms of complex numbers, each of its points can also be written as a pair of real numbers, rather than one complex number.
    Jordana Cepelewicz, Quanta Magazine, 25 Aug. 2022
  • The most common version of quantum theory relies on complex numbers.
    Marc-Olivier Renou, Scientific American, 13 Mar. 2023
  • Beneath Jones’ biracial and bipartisan balancing act is a complex numbers game that has vexed Alabama Democrats for decades.
    Washington Post, 10 Dec. 2017
  • In other words, the vast majority of real and complex numbers are transcendental.
    Quanta Magazine, 27 June 2023
  • The first of these problems can be solved by classical or coordinate geometry, but the complex number solution is simpler (go figure!).
    Quanta Magazine, 14 Feb. 2019
  • Those who need only a computer and an internet connection to run simulations or crunch complex numbers continued their work from home.
    Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2020
  • Physical properties, such as the speed of a particle or its position, correspond to tables of complex numbers called operators.
    Marc-Olivier Renou, Scientific American, 13 Mar. 2023
  • Actually, the drunken driver and the triple murderer were only a few points apart on their risk assessment score, a complex number system Idaho and other states use to classify prisoners as minimum-, medium- or maximum-security risks.
    Rebecca Boone, idahostatesman, 15 Mar. 2018
  • Actually, the drunken driver and the triple murderer were only a few points apart on their risk-assessment score, a complex number system Idaho and other states use to classify prisoners as minimum-, medium- or maximum-security risks.
    Rebecca Boone, The Seattle Times, 15 Mar. 2018
  • Before the 20th century all such operations with complex numbers were simply considered a mathematical trick.
    Marc-Olivier Renou, Scientific American, 13 Mar. 2023
  • Many complex numbers are the root of some polynomial with integer coefficients; mathematicians call these numbers algebraic.
    Quanta Magazine, 27 June 2023

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'complex number.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Last Updated: