William Rowan Hamilton

On the 16th October 1843 vaery clever mathamatician was walking with his wife allong the Royal Canal around Cabra. In a flash.an idea came to him.

Not having a note pad he scratched in on to tbe brickwork of the bridge
i² = j²=k²=ijk=-1 

It has to do with vectors and the working out of how high you would have to aim a rocket and at what speed to hit an exact spot a distance away. 

It has many many other applications including computer animation

Here is what they say about him in Wickipedia 


Today on the 16 a walk takes place to the spot where he scratched his formula

Quaternions by the Royal Canal | Ingenious Ireland

 

If you can't go you can click here for a podcast of a previous event

So head off to take a goo at Maths week here

Just thought I would share that with you.