COMPLEX NUMBER

Complex numbers Operation with complex numbers Roots of negative numbers

Conjugate of a complex number

Learning outcomes
To differentiate between real numbers and complex numbers To do operations on complex numbers To find the conjugate of complex number and solve problem involving the conjugate To solve the equation involving complex numbers

THE COMPLEX NUMBER SYSTEM

Complex numbers were introduced by mathematicians to solve equation such as x = -1. Such equations have no real solutions since there is no real number whose square is a negative number. By introducing i = -1 or i = -1, we can solve x = -1 as follow.

x=-1 x = i
Taking square root, we have X = i = i That is, the two solutions of x = -1 are x = i and x = -i These values are complex numbers.

DEFINITION
A complex number is a number that has the form a+bi , where a and b are real numbers and i is called as imaginary unit which i = -1

If z = a+bi , then a called the real part of z and b is called the imaginary part of z and are denoted by Re{z} and Im{z} respectively. The symbol z, which can stand for any of set of complex numbers, is called complex variable. Re{z} = a Im{z} = b

For example, if z = 2-5i = 2+(-5)i then Re{z} = 2 and Im{z} = -5

Every real number is a complex number with the imaginary part taking the value zero. For example, 7 = 7+0i and -2 = -2+0i. Therefore, the introduction of complex numbers extended the number system. The real number R now become subset of the complex number set , symbol C. NOTE The imaginary part of z = a +bi is b not bi

EXAMPLE
State the real and imaginary parts of the following complex numbers.
(a) 5 + 8i (b) -3-3i (c) 4 - 2i - 3 (d) -1.32

Solution

(a) Let z = 5 + 8i Re(z) = 5 , Im(z) = 8 (b) Let z = -3 - 3i z = -3 + (-3)i Re(z) = -3 , Im(z) = -3

(c) Let z = 4 - 2i - 3 z = (4 - 3) + (- 2)i Re(z) = 4 - 3 , Im(z) = -2 (d) Let z = -1.32 = -1.32 + 0i Re(z) = - 1.32 , Im(z) = 0

Algebraic operation on complex numbers

Operations of complex numbers can be divided into four : Addition Subtraction Multiplication Division

ADDITION OF COMPLEX NUMBERS

To add two complex numbers, add the real parts and the imaginary parts separately. ( x + yi ) + ( u + vi ) = ( x + u ) + ( y + v )i

Example :
If Z1= 3 4i and Z2 = 4 3i
Z1 + Z2 = 3 4i + 4 3i = 3 + 4 4i 3i = 7 7i

SUBTRACTION OF COMPLEX NUMBERS

To subtract two complex numbers, subtract the real parts and the imaginary parts separately.

( x + yi ) -( u + vi ) = x + yi -u -vi = ( x -u ) + ( y -v )i

Example :
I f Z1= 3 4i and Z2 = 4 3i

Z1 Z2

= 3 4i (4 3i) = 3 4 4i + 3i = -1 i

MULTIPLICATION OF COMPLEX NUMBERS

In multiplying two complex numbers, follow the rule for multiplying two binomials and whenever the term i is encountered, replace it with -1. Thus :

( x + yi ) . ( u + vi ) = x(u + vi ) + yi (u + vi ) = xu + xvi + yui + yvi = xu + ( xv + yu )i + yv ( -1 ) = ( xu - yv ) + ( xv + yu )i

Example :
If Z1= 3 4i and Z2 = 4 3i

Z1.Z2

= (3 - 4i)(4 - 3i) = 12 - 9i - 16i + 12i = 12 - 25i + 12(-1) = -25i

DIVISION OF COMPLEX NUMBERS

In dividing a complex number 2 + 8i by a real number 2 ( which is a complex number with zero imaginary part ), we divide the real and imaginary part by 2.That is ( 2 + 8i ) 2
= 2 + 8i = 2 + 8 i = 1 + 4i 2 2 2

To divide ( 1 i ) by ( 2 + i ), rewrite 1 I to an 2+i an equivalent expression where the denominator is a real number.
This is done by multiplying both numerator and denominator by the conjugate of the denominator.

1 -i = 1 -i . 2- i = 1 ( 2 -i ) i(2 -i ) 2 + i 2 + i 2 -i 2 + 1
= 2 -i -2i + i = 2 -3i -1 = 1 -3i 5 5 5 5

We usually write the result in the form a + bi

Example :
If Z1= 3 4i and Z2 = 4 3i
Z1 = (3 4i) (4 + 3i) Z2 (4 3i) (4 + 3i) =12 + 9i 16i 12i 4 (3i) =12 7i 12(-1) 4 3(-1) = 24 7i 25 =24 _ 7 i 25 25

COMPLEX CONJUGATE
If z = a + bi , then its complex conjugate denoted by
z* = a bi. The conjugate of a complex number is obtain by changing the sign of the imaginary part.

EXAMPLES :
1.

z = 2 i,

z* = 2 + i
z* = 3 8i z* = -8 6i

2. z = 3 + 8i, 3. z = -8 + 6i,

NOTES Any complex number a + bi has a complex conjugate a bi and ( a + bi )( a bi ) = a+b is a real number. This fact is used in simplifying expressions where the denominator of a quotient is complex.

Product of a Complex Number And Its Conjugate

( a + bi ) ( a bi ) = a abi + abi bi = a bi ( real number ) = a + b Eg : ( 2 + 3i ) ( 2 3i ) = 4 9i =4+9 = 13

Conjugate of a complex number

conjugate of a complex number z = x + yi is z* or z = x yi
EXAMPLE : z = 3 + 4i , z* = 3 4i z = 4 5i , z* = 4 + 5i z = 2i - 3 , z* = -2i 3 or -3 -2i

If z = x +yi and z* = x yi zz* = ( x + yi )(x yi) = x-(yi) = x-(yi) = x-y(-1) = x+y (a real number)

Solve Problem Involving The Conjugate

If z=1-2i , evaluate a) z + z* =(1+2i) + (1-2i) b) zz* =(1-2i)(1+2i) = 1+ 2 =5

c) (z*) = (1+2i) = -3+4i d) (z)* = [(1-2i) ]* = (-3-4i)* = -3+4i

e) (i z-4)(z*-6i) = [i(1-2i)-4] [1+2i-6i] = (i-2i-4)(1-4i) = (i-2)(1-4i) = 2+9i

PROBLEM SOLVING
ADDITION :
Given Z1 = 2- 3i and Z2 =-5 + i . Find Z1 + 2Z2 Solution :

Z1 + 2Z2 = 2 - 3i + 2(-5 + i ) = 2 - 3i - 10 + 2i = -8 + ( 2- 3 )i

SUBTRACTION :
Given Z1 = 2 - 3i and Z2 = -5 +i
Find Z1 - Z2

Solution :
Z1 - Z2 = 2 - 3i -(- 5 + i ) =2-3i+5 -i =7 - ( 3 + 1 )i

MULTIPLICATION :
Given v = - 6i , z = 5 -5i , w = -2 + 3i . find the following product.
(a) zw (b) zvw (c) v(z + w ) solution : (a) zw = ( 5 - 5i ) ( - 2 + 3i ) = 5 ( - 2 + 3i ) - 5i ( - 2 + 3i ) = - 10 + 15i + 10i - 15i = - 10 + 15i + 10i - 15(- 1) = 5 + 25i

(b) zvw = ( 5 - 5i ) ( -6i ) (-2+ 3i ) = (-30i + 30i ) ( -2 + 3i ) = ( -30i - 30 ) ( -2 + 3i ) = 60i - 90i + 60 - 90i = 60i - 90 (-1) + 60 - 90i = 150 - 30i
(b) v( z + w ) = -6i( 5 - 5i -2 + 3i ) =-6i (3 - 2i ) =-18i + 12i =-18i + 12 (-1) =-12 - 18i

DIVISION :
Perform the following operation and simplify
(a) 5 - 3i 3+i (b) 9i 2-i (c) 1 + 5i -i

Solution :
(a) 5 - 3i = 5 - 3i . 3 - i = 5( 3 - i ) - 3i(3 - i ) 3+i 3+i 3-i 3 + 1 = 15 - 5i - 9i + 3i = 15 - 14i - 3 9+1 10 = 12 - 14 i = 6 - 7 i 10 10 5 5

(b) 9i = 9i . 2 + i = 18i + 19i = 18i - 9 = -9 + 18i 2-1 2-1 2+1 2 + 1 5 5 5

(c) 1 + 5i = 1 + 5i . i = i + 5i = i - 5 = -5 + i -i -i i -i 1