> So what exactly is a complex number?
It is a math construct, and has almost nothing to do with Python,
other than the fact that Python has a data type for them.

So, here is a list of better ways to get information about complex
numbers than asking python-list:

1. Google it: http://www.google.com/search?q=Complex+Numbers
2. Wikipedia: See the first result of the above
3. Ask a math teacher
4. Just stay in school and do your math homework. You will learn about
it eventually.