Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
The square root of negative one is an irrational number: an equation that has no answer:
This irrational root grew into me as something strange, foreign, terrible; it tortured me; it could not be thought out. It could not be defeated because it was beyond reason. (8.1)
At other times, D- compares I-330 to the irrational root, another symbol of chaos that frightens him. The equation represents the living paradox of what the State wants to do. It's trying to provide a smooth, perfect pattern to the universe using the power of mathematics to do so. But because mathematics contains irrational numbers like this one—or concepts like infinity, which defy all efforts to map out and categorize—then that plan is doomed to fail. Like the Ancient house, it's a reminder of the chaos in the world, and in men's hearts. You can't ignore it or deny it. If you do, sooner or later all of your grand plans are going to fall apart.