I-J Square Root of Negative One

Section: Base Constants

Usage

Returns a complex value that represents the square root of -1. There are two functions that return the same value: 
   y = i

and 

   y = j.

This allows either i or j to be used as loop indices. The returned value is a 32-bit complex value.

Example

The following examples demonstrate a few calculations with i. 
--> i

ans = 
   0.0000 +  1.0000i 

--> i^2

ans = 
  -1.0000 +  0.0000i

The same calculations with j: 

--> j

ans = 
   0.0000 +  1.0000i 

--> j^2

ans = 
  -1.0000 +  0.0000i

Here is an example of how i can be used as a loop index and then recovered as the square root of -1. 

--> accum = 0; for i=1:100; accum = accum + i; end; accum

ans = 
 5050 

--> i

ans = 
 100 

--> clear i
--> i

ans = 
   0.0000 +  1.0000i