M Theory Lesson 41

Recall that it is for 3x3 matrices that a Tao hexagon first arises in a diagram representing a sum of three matrices. One segment, or rather one matrix, is composed of the solid lines in the diagram This contrasts with the 2x2 case, for which only open dagger regions appear, and this may occur in three ways, depending on the orientation of the region. It is remarkable to realise that only in the 21st century do we finally return to Dirac's original idea of the q-number. Heisenberg's matrices were always representations of q-numbers, but not true numbers in themselves.