The Unit Circle & Complex Numbers

DATE:

1/28

CLASS PERIOD:

PreCalc

UNIT:

U.C.-1

LESSON OBJECTIVES:
In this extension lesson, students will extend their knowledge of the unit circle to include complex
numbers. Students will explore Pythagorean Triples and the n complex roots of x n1=0. This lesson
corresponds with Common Core State Standards-The Complex Number System N-CN 5. (+) Represent
addition, subtraction, multiplication, and conjugation of complex numbers geometrically on the complex
plane; use properties of this representation for computation.
Schedule
Warm-up (10)
Activity (20)
Worktime (15)

Activities
As they enter the room, hand students a warm-up worksheet.
See attached outline.
Hand out WS 1-5.

MATERIALS
Worksheet. Warm up.

EVALUATION
Checkpoints between sections. Circulate during
worktime.

REVIEW
Absolute Value; equation of the unit circle; complex
numbers in the plane; first Pythagorean Identity

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS
Worksheet 1-5.

ACTIVITIES TO EXTEND UNDERSTANDING

AND/OR RELATED TOPICS
This lesson is an extension.

LITERACY STRATEGIES &

ACCOMMODATIONS

I.

II.

Review Go over warm up.

A. Absolute Value. Review definition but share that Absolute Value can be thought
of as distance from the origin.
B. Equation of the Unit Circle is x 2+ y 2 =1 .
C. Graphing Complex Numbers in the plane as points or vectors (Argand Diagram).
Lesson
A. Absolute Value. How do we find the absolute value of 1+2i? The absolute value
of a complex number z=a+bi is z a2 +b 2 . So |1+2i| is 12+ 22= 5 .
This is literally the distance from the origin.
B. Can you think of another equation for the unit circle? What about |z|=1? Here are
some example points on the unit circle: 1, i. See how they correspond to
(1,0), (-1, 0), (0, 1), & (0, -1)?
C. What other points do you think would be there? What other points have
a2 +b 2=1? Do any of the points on the unit circle fit that equation?
2 + 2 i ? Isnt that point on the unit circle?
Remember from before i =
2
2
2 + 2 i . Note a2 +b 2=1 . Similarly, cos 2+sin 2=1 for the
So i is
2
2

2 2 i are on the unit circle.

same point (
). In fact, all four
4
2
2
SKIP THIS NEXT SECTION IF TIME IS SHORT. SAVE FOR TOMORROW.
D. Pythagorean Triples. A Pythagorean Triple is a set of three integers that make
up a right triangle. The most famous is 3:4:5. 6:8:10 doesnt count. Another one
is 5:12:13. There are many more 15:8:17, 7:24:25, 10:24:26, 21:20:29, 9:40:41,
35:12:27, and 11:60:61. In fact, there are infinitely many of them.
a 2 b 2
+
=1 . So,
So we have a2 +b 2=c 2 . If we divide by c 2 , we have
c
c
3 4
5 12
40 9
+ i ,
+ i , and
+ i are all on the unit circle. (Verify.)
5 5
13 13
41 41
E. Heres another application of complex numbers on the unit circle. Let
1 3
z= + i . Plot this and other powers of z as shown in this table. (see text, p.
2 2
408)
Power of z
Coordinates

z
1 3
+ i
3
2 2
2
2

1 3
z
+ i
3
2
2
3
1

z
4
4
1 3
z
i
3
2
2
5
5

1 3
z
i
3
2 2
6
1
2
z
Show how this table shows the six complex roots of the equation x 61=0 .
Homework. Worksheet 1-5 attached.

()()

III.

Unit Circle Worksheet 1-5 (Complex Numbers and the Unit Circle)
Name _____________________________________
1. Are the following complex numbers on the unit circle (|z|=1)? Answer Y or N.

2. Let
equal?

a.

3 + 1 i

c.

2+ 2 i

e.

24 7
+ i
25 25

b. 1+i

z=i . Show

d.
f.

z, z , z

3 1
z= + i . Calculate
2 2
circle below.
3. Let

and

z 2 and

3 4
+ i
5 5
27 12
+ i
35 35

on the unit circle below. What do

z 3 . Show

z ,

z 2 , and

and

z 3 on the unit

11

Unit Circle 1-5 Warm Up

Name _____________________

1. Remember absolute value? Solve the following.

a. |5|
b. |-|
c. -|-7|
2. Plot 1+2i on the coordinates below.

d. (|-1|)(x)
3. What is the equation of the unit circle?

Unit Circle 1-5 Warm Up

Name _____________________

1. Remember absolute value? Solve the following.

a. |5|
b. |-|
c. -|-7|
2. Plot 1+2i on the coordinates below.

d. (|-1|)(x)
3. What is the equation of the unit circle?