Complex Numbers
E.g. Solve for : ଶ + 4 = 0
ଶ = −4
∴ = ±4 Introduce such that ଶ = −1,
∴ = ±√4. ଶ
∴ = ±2
∴ = 2 or = −2 these are complex solutions
In general, a complex number, , can be written in the form
= + where , ℝ, = √−1
Real part Imaginary part
re() im()
i.e. re() = and im =
Conjugate:
If = + is a complex number then
*= − is called the conjugate complex number
̅ = − is also the conjugate.
E.g. 2: Solve ଶ + 2 + 4 = 0,
−2 ± 4 − 4 1 4
=
2 1
−2 ± √−12
=
2
−2 ± √12 ଶ
=
2
−2 ± 2√3
=
2
= −1 + √3. or = −1 − √3. (we generally leave answers in surd form for
complex roots)
Note: A quadratic equation with complex roots will always have that the two roots are
conjugates of each other.
Operations on Complex Numbers
Given = 2 − 3 and = −1 + 2
+ = 2 − 3 − 1 + 2 − = 2 − 3 − (−1 + 2)
=1− = 3 − 5
× = (2 − 3)(−1 + 2)
= −2 + 4 + 3 − 6 ଶ
= −2 + 7 − 6 −1
= 4 + 7 Note: ( × )* = 4 − 7 =
2 − 3
= ? 1
−1 + 2
2 − 3 −1 − 2
= × ×
−1 + 2 −1 − 2
−2 − 4 + 3 + 6 ଶ
=
1 − 4 ଶ
−2 − 4 + 3 + 6(−1)
=
1 − 4(−1)
−8 −
=
5
= −ହ − ହ
଼ ଵ
Equal Complex Numbers
Two complex numbers are equal if both the real parts and the imaginary parts are equal.
i.e. Given = + and = +
= if = and =
Finding Quadratics
E.g. Which quadratic equation has a complex root of 4 + ?
If 4 + is a root then the conjugate is the other root.
∴ = 4 + or = 4 −
∴ − 4 + − 4 − = 0
− 4+ − 4− + 4− 4+ = 0
ଶ
ଶ − 4 − − 4 + + 16 − ଶ = 0
ଶ − 8 + 16 − −1 = 0
ଶ − 8 + 17 = 0