Complex numbers simplify other areas of math What do you get for your leap of faith in complex numbers? For one, trigonometry becomes a lot easier.

When you add imaginary numbers and real numbers, the two form complex numbers, which enable physicists to write out quantum equations in simple terms.

Quantum theory’s prominent use of complex numbers — sums of imaginary and real numbers — was disconcerting to its founders, including physicist Erwin Schrödinger.