Gaussian integer

A Gaussian integer is a complex number where both the real and imaginary parts are whole numbers (integers). It can be written in the form a + bi, where a and b are integers, and i is the imaginary unit satisfying i² = -1. Think of it as a point on a grid with integer coordinates, extending the usual whole numbers into the complex plane. Gaussian integers are studied in mathematics for their unique properties, such as factoring and number theory, similar to how regular integers are used, but in a two-dimensional complex setting.