On Tue, 16 Aug 2011, John Cowan wrote:

> Aubrey Jaffer scripsit:
>
>> Algebraically, the complex numbers are the field of reals extended by
>> a solution of x^2+1=0.  All reals are complex; there is no difference
>> between real 2.0 and 2.0+0.0i.
>
> I used the term "general complex number" in the same sense it is used
> in R5RS, to mean a number whose imaginary part is nonzero.

If the term "general" is still used in R7RS to refer to a /proper subset/ of the
complex numbers (haven't done a search), I would say that this is a confusing
usage and should probably be changed.  To most people, "general" does not mean a
proper subset.

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