Ordinary Guy: So you created a number that is the square root of negative one?
Mathematician: It was very useful.
OG: But it doesn't exist.
M: That's why we call it imaginary!
OG: Then you used it to do rotation?
M: Trig was too messy. Besides e^(iπ)-1 = 0 is just too awesome! All the greatest constants in one equation.
OG: But that wasn't good enough.
M: Nope. Now we have three different things that are all the square root of -1.
OG: And you call these totally tripping balls numbers?
M: Quaternions - it sound more professional at conferences.
OG: And what do you use them for?
M: Spherical rotation without gimble lock.
OG: 🤯