Copyright 2013, 2009, 2005, 2002 Pearson, Education, Inc.

7.7

Complex Numbers
 Imaginary Numbers
Previously, when we encountered square roots
of negative numbers in solving equations, we
would say no real solution or not a real
number.
Thats still true. However, we will now introduce
a new set of numbers.
Imaginary numbers which includes the
imaginary unit i.
 Imaginary Numbers
The imaginary unit, written i, is the number
whose square is 1. That is,

i 1 and i 1
2
 Examples
Write using i notation.

a.

b.

c.

25 25 1 5 i

32 32 1 16 2 1 4 2 i 4 i 2

121 121 1 11 i
 Example
Multiply or divide as indicated.

a.

b.

3 5 i 3 i 5 i 2 15 1 15 15

125 i 125
i 25 5i
5 5
 Standard Form of Complex
Numbers
A complex number is a number that can be
written in the form a + bi where a and b are real
numbers.

a is a real number and bi would be an imaginary

number.
If b = 0, a + bi is a real number.
If a = 0, a + bi is an imaginary number.
Adding and Subtracting Complex Numbers
 Example
Add or subtract as indicated.

a.

b.

(4 + 6i) + (3 2i) = (4 + 3) + (6 2)i = 7 + 4i

(8 + 2i) (4i) = (8 0) + (2 4)i = 8 2i

 Multiplying Complex Numbers

To multiply two complex numbers of the form

a + bi, we multiply as though they were
binomials. Then we use the relationship
i2 = 1 to simplify.
 Example

Multiply: 8i 7i

8i 7i = 56i2
= 56(1)
= 56
 Example

Multiply. 5i(4 7i)

5i(4 7i) = 20i 35i2

= 20i 35(1)
= 20i + 35
= 35 + 20i
 Example

Multiply. (6 3i)(7 + 4i)

(6 3i)(7 + 4i) = 42 + 24i 21i 12i2

= 42 + 3i 12(1)
= 42 + 3i + 12
= 54 + 3i
 Complex Conjugate

In the previous chapter, when trying to

rationalize the denominator of a rational
expression containing radicals, we used the
conjugate of the denominator.
Similarly, to divide complex numbers, we need
to use the complex conjugate of the number
we are dividing by.
 Complex Conjugate

The complex numbers a + bi and a bi are

called complex conjugates of each other.
(a + bi)(a bi) = a2 + b2
 Example

Divide. 6 2i
4 3i

6 2i 6 2i 4 3i

4 3i 4 3i 4 3i
24 18i 8i 6i 2

16 12i 12i 9i 2
24 26i 6( 1)

16 9( 1)
18 26i 18 26
i
25 25 25
 Example

5
Divide.
6i

5 5 6i 30i 30i 30i 5

i
6i 6i 6i 36i 2
36(1) 36 6
 Patterns of i

i 1 i i i (1)i i
5 4

i 2 1 i 6 i 4 i 2 (1)(1) 1
i i i (1)i i
3 2
i i i (1)(i ) i
7 4 3

i i i (1)(1) 1
4 2 2
i i i (1)(1) 1
8 4 4

The powers recycle through each multiple of 4.

i 4k
1
 Example

Find each power of i.

a. i 53 i 52 i i 413 i 1i i
1 1 1 1 1 i i
b. i 17
17 16 2
i i i 1i i i i i
i i
i
(1) 1