Historical Events tagged with "quaternions"

Turns out history loves a label—battles, breakthroughs, and the occasional disaster, all neatly tagged for your browsing pleasure. Because sometimes you just need every weird invention in one place.

Science & Technology

Graves Announces Discovery of Octonions

December 26th, 1843 181 years ago

John T. Graves wrote to William Hamilton regarding his discovery of octonions, expressing enthusiasm about this new mathematical concept. This correspondence marked a significant development in the field of mathematics, particularly in algebra, where octonions extend the properties of quaternions. Graves, influenced by Hamilton's work with quaternions, sought to demonstrate a new structure that would lead to deeper insights into higher-dimensional numbers. The letter showcased his excitement and the potential implications of octonions in mathematical theory and applications.

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Science & Technology

William Rowan Hamilton invents quaternions

October 16th, 1843 181 years ago

William Rowan Hamilton made a groundbreaking discovery in mathematics by formulating quaternions, an extension of complex numbers, which allows for a new way to represent three-dimensional rotations. This innovative mathematical system was unveiled during a walk along the Royal Canal in Dublin, where Hamilton was inspired to carve the essential quaternion formula into the stone of Broom Bridge, signifying a momentous breakthrough in mathematical theory.

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