Imaginary Numbers

When imaginary numbers were first come up with, mathematicians were trying to generalizing statements about roots of polynomial equations. It wasn't widely accepted until geometric representations were come up with around 1800.⁶ However, after the development of imaginary numbers by mathematicians people found that they have actually have many applications to real-life things (they are real things in the non-mathematical sense of the word 'real'- they aren't "just imaginary"). In physics, they are particularly important in equations relating to waves and electricity/magnetism.