There was at one point a debate in physics about whether it was better to use quaternions or linear algebra for physics. With i, j, and k being the unit vectors, and the real numbers representing time. In the end, of course, linear algebra won. But we still use i, j, and k as the unit vectors. And in electrical engineering where i wound up hijacked for current, they use j as the square root of -1.
There was at one point a debate in physics about whether it was better to use quaternions or linear algebra for physics. With i, j, and k being the unit vectors, and the real numbers representing time. In the end, of course, linear algebra won. But we still use i, j, and k as the unit vectors. And in electrical engineering where i wound up hijacked for current, they use j as the square root of -1.