🌟 Python: The Magic of Complex Numbers – A Story for Kids
One day, a boy named Tobi discovered a magical number in his computer class. It wasn’t just any number — it was a complex number. This number had two special parts: a real part (just like normal numbers we use every day) and an imaginary part (a little magical twist!).
Tobi typed this into his computer:
magic_number = 2 + 3j
He asked his teacher, “What’s this 3j?”
His teacher smiled and said, “The 2 is your regular number — it’s real. But the 3j is imaginary. It’s like adding a sprinkle of magic to the number. That’s why we call it a complex number — because it’s made of two parts.”
Tobi was curious. He asked, “Can I make this number in another way?”
“Yes!” the teacher said. “Try this:
magic_number = complex(2, 3)
That gives you the same magical number!”
Then Tobi wanted to see the two parts separately. So he asked the computer:
magic_number.real
The computer replied: 2.0
. “That’s the real part!” Tobi shouted.
Next, he tried:
magic_number.imag
The computer answered: 3.0
. “That’s the imaginary part — the magic!”
Finally, Tobi wondered, “What kind of number is this really?”
So he asked:
type(magic_number)
And the computer said: <class 'complex'>
Tobi grinned. “Now I know! Complex numbers are like a mix of real life and a bit of magic. Just like me!”
🧠 Review Questions
1. Fill in the blanks
A complex number has two parts: a __________ part and an __________ part.
2. True or False
The letter j in a complex number stands for “just another number.” ☐ True ☐ False
3. Multiple Choice
Which one of these creates a complex number?
A. magic = 2 + 3
B. magic = complex(2, 3)
C. magic = 2 - 3
D. magic = real(2, 3)
4. Short Answer
If magic_number = 2 + 3j
, what is magic_number.real
?
Answer: ___________
5. What will this code show?
type(2 + 3j)
A. <class 'float'>
B. <class 'int'>
C. <class 'complex'>
D. <class 'magic'>