Quaternion Math
Quaternion math is a mathematical system that extends complex numbers to four dimensions, primarily used to represent rotations in 3D space. It consists of a scalar part and a vector part, offering a compact and efficient way to handle 3D rotations without issues like gimbal lock. This makes it essential in fields like computer graphics, robotics, and physics simulations.
Developers should learn quaternion math when working on 3D applications, such as game development, virtual reality, or animation, where smooth and accurate rotations are critical. It is particularly useful for interpolating rotations (e.g., using slerp for smooth transitions) and avoiding numerical instability compared to Euler angles. In robotics, quaternions help in sensor fusion and orientation tracking due to their computational efficiency.