On the Multiplicative Complexity of the Inversion and Division of Hamiltonian Quaternions

The multiplicative complexity of a finite set of rational functions is the number of essential multiplications and divisions that are necessary and sufficient to compute these rational functions. We prove that the multiplicative complexity of inversion in the division algebra H of Hamiltonian quaternions over the reals, that is, the multiplicative complexity of the coordinates of the inverse of a generic element from H , is exactly eight. Furthermore, we show that the multiplicative complexity of the left and right division of Hamiltonian quaternions is at least eleven. July 17, 2001. Final version received: October 8, 2001.