Mathematics HandBook ®

Chapter
COMPLEX NUMBER
8
1. DEFINITION :
Complex numbers are defined as expressions of the form a + ib where a , b ∈ R & i = −1 .
It is denoted by z i.e. z = a + ib. ‘a’ is called real part of z (a = Re z) and ‘b’ is called imaginary
part of z (b = Im z).
Every Complex Number Can Be Regarded

Purely real Imaginary

if b = 0 if b ≠ 0

Purely imaginary
if a = 0

Note :
(i) The set R of real numbers is a proper subset of the Complex Numbers. Hence the Complex
Number system is
N ⊂ W ⊂ I ⊂ Q ⊂ R ⊂ C.
(ii) Zero is both purely real as well as purely imaginary but not imaginary.

(iii) i = −1 is called the imaginary unit. Also i² = − l ; i3 = −i ; i4 = 1 etc.

(iv) a b = a b only if atleast one of a or b is non-negative.

2. CONJUGATE COMPLEX :
If z = a + ib then its conjugate complex is obtained by changing the sign of its imaginary part &
is denoted by z . i.e. z = a − ib.
Note that :
(i) z + z = 2 Re(z)
(ii) z − z = 2i Im(z)
(iii) z z = a² + b² which is real
(iv) If z is purely real then z – z = 0
(v) If z is purely imaginary then z + z = 0

3. REPRESENTATION OF A COMPLEX NUMBER IN VARIOUS FORMS :

(a) Cartesian Form (Geometrical Representation) : Imaginary
P(x, y)
axis
Every complex number z = x + iy can be represented by a point on the
Cartesian plane known as complex plane (Argand diagram) by the r
ordered pair (x , y).
Length OP is called modulus of the complex number denoted by z θ
O Real axis
& θ is called the principal
argument or amplitude, (θ ∈ (–π, π]).
y
–1
e.g.z= x2 + y2 & θ = tan (angle made by OP with positive x−axis), x > 0
x
Geometrically z represents the distance of point P from origin. ( z ≥ 0)
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(b) Trigonometric / Polar Representation :
z = r (cos θ + i sin θ) where z= r ; arg z = θ ; z = r (cos θ − i sin θ)
Note : cos θ + i sin θ is also written as CiS θ.
Euler's formula :
ix
The formula e = cosx + i sin x is called Euler's formula.

eix + e − ix eix − e − ix
Also cos x = & sin x = are known as Euler's identities.
2 2i
(c) Exponential Representation :
iθ
Let z be a complex number such that | z | = r & arg z = θ, then z = r.e

4. IMPORTANT PROPERTIES OF CONJUGATE :

(a) (z ) = z (b) z1 + z2 = z1 + z2

(c) z1 − z2 = z1 − z2 (d) z1 z2 = z1 . z2

z  z
(e)  1  = 1 ; z2 ≠ 0
 z2  z2

(f) If f is a polynomial with real coefficient such that f(α + iβ) = x + iy, then f(α − iβ) = x – iy.
5. IMPORTANT PROPERTIES OF MODULUS :
(a) |z| ≥ 0 (b) |z| ≥ Re (z) (c) |z| ≥ Im (z)
2
(d) |z| = | z | = |−z| = |– z | (e) z z = z (f) |z1 z2| = |z1|.|z2|

z1 z1
(g) = , z2 ≠ 0 (h) |zn| = |z|n
z2 z2

(i) |z1 + z2|2 = |z1|2 + |z2|2 + 2Re ( z1 z2 )

or |z1 + z2|2 = |z1|2 + |z2|2 + 2|z1||z2| cos(θ1 – θ2)

2 2
= 2  z1 + z2 
2 2
(j) z1 + z2 + z1 − z2
 

(k) z1−z2 ≤ z1+ z2≤z1+z2 [Triangular Inequality]

(l) z1−z2 ≤z1 – z2≤z1+z2 [Triangular Inequality]

1 a + a2 + 4
(m) If z + =
a (a > 0), then max|z| =
z 2

& min =
|z|
1
2 ( a2 + 4 − a )
6. IMPORTANT PROPERTIES OF AMPLITUDE :
(a) (i) amp (z1. z2) = amp z1 + amp z2 + 2 kπ ; k ∈ I
z 
(ii) amp  1  = amp z1 − amp z2 + 2 kπ ; k ∈ I
 z2 
n
(iii) amp(z ) = n amp(z) + 2kπ,
where proper value of k must be chosen so that RHS lies in (− π , π ].
iθ
(b) log(z) = log(re ) = logr + iθ = log|z|+ i amp(z)

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Mathematics HandBook ®
7. DE'MOIVER’S THEOREM :
The value of (cosθ + isinθ)n is cosnθ + isinnθ if 'n' is integer & it is one of the values of (cosθ + isinθ)n if n
is a rational number of the form p/q, where p & q are co-prime.
Note : Continued product of roots of a complex quantity should be determined using theory of equation.

8. CUBE ROOT OF UNITY :

−1 + i 3 −1 − i 3
(a) The cube roots of unity are 1 , ω = = ei 2 π /3 =
& ω2 = ei4 π /3
2 2
0, r is not integral multiple of 3
(b) 1 + ω + ω2 = 0, ω3= 1, in general 1 + ωr + ω2r = 
3, r is multiple of 3
2 2 2 2 2
(c) a + b + c – ab – bc – ca = (a + bω + cω )(a + bω + cω)
3 3 2
a + b = (a + b)(a + ωb)(a + ω b)
a3 – b3 = (a – b)(a –ωb) (a – ω2b)
2 2
x + x + 1 = (x – ω)(x – ω )

9. SQUARE ROOT OF COMPLEX NUMBER :

 z +a z – a   z +a z – a 
  2 2
a + ib = ± +i  for b > 0 & ±  −i  for b < 0 where |z|= a + b .
 2 2 
 

2 2 

10. ROTATION : C(z2)
z2 − z 0 z − z 0 iθ
= 1 e
|z2 − z 0 | |z1 − z 0 | θ
B(z1)
A(z0)
Take θ in anticlockwise direction
11. GEOMETRY IN COMPLEX NUMBER :
(a) Distance formula : |z1 – z2| = distance between the points z1 & z2 on the Argand plane.
nz1 + mz2
(b) Section formula : If z1 & z2 are two complex numbers then the complex number z =
m+n
divides the join of z1 & z2 in the ratio m : n.
(c) If the vertices A, B, C of a triangle represent the complex numbers z1, z2, z3 respectively, then :

z1 + z2 + z 3
 Centroid of the ∆ABC =
3
 Orthocentre of the ∆ ABC

=
( a sec A ) z1 + ( b sec B ) z2 + ( c sec C ) z3
a sec A + b sec B + c sec C
z1 tan A + z2 tan B + z 3 tan C
or
tan A + tan B + tan C

(az1 + bz2 + cz 3 )
 Incentre of the ∆ABC =
(a + b + c)

 Circumcentre of the ∆ABC

(z1 sin 2A + z2 sin 2B + z 3 sin 2C)
=
(sin 2A + sin 2B + sin 2C)

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12. RESULT RELATED WITH TRIANGLE :
(a) Equilateral triangle :
A(z1)
z1 − z2 z 3 − z2 iπ /3
= e ......(i)
 
 
z2 − z 3 z1 − z 3 iπ /3
Also = .e ......(ii) π/3 π/3
  B(z2) C(z3)

from (i) & (ii)

⇒ z12 + z22 + z23= z1 z2 + z2 z 3 + z 3 z1

1 1 1
or + + =
0
z1 − z2 z2 − z 3 z 3 − z1

(b) Isosceles triangle :

A(z1)

If

α α
B(z2) C(z3)

2 2
then 4cos α (z1 – z2)(z3 – z1) = (z3 – z2)

z1 z1 1
1
(c) Area of triangle ∆ABC given by modulus of z2 z2 1
4
z3 z3 1

13. EQUATION OF LINE THROUGH POINTS z1 & z2 :

z z 1
z1 z1 1 = 0 ⇒ z (z1 − z2 ) + z(z2 − z1 ) + z1 z2 − z1 z2 =
0
z2 z2 1

⇒ z(z1 − z2 )i + z(z2 − z1 )i + i(z1 z2 − z1 z2 ) =

0

Let (z2 – z1)i = a, then equation of line is a z + a z + b =0 where a∈ C & b ∈ R.

Note :

(i) Complex slope of line joining points z1 & z2 is

( z2 − z1 ) . Also note that slope of a line in Cartesian
(z 2 − z1 )
plane is different from complex slope of a line in Argand plane.

a
(ii) Complex slope of line az + az + b =0 is – ,b∈R
a

(iii) Two lines with complex slope µ 1 & µ 2 are parallel or perpendicular if µ 1 = µ 2 or µ 1 + µ 2 = 0.

|aα + aα + b|
(iv) Length of perpendicular from point A(α) to line az + az + b =0 is .
2|a|

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14. EQUATION OF CIRCLE :

(a) Circle whose centre is z0 & radius = r

|z – z0| = r

(b) General equation of circle is

zz + az + az + b =0

centre '–a' & radius = |a|2 −b

 z − z1  π
(c) Diameter form (z − z1 )(z − z2 ) + (z − z2 )(z − z1 ) =
0 or arg  = ±
 z − z 2  2

z − z1
(d) Equation = k represent a circle if k ≠ 1 and a straight line if k = 1.
z − z2

2 2
(e) Equation |z – z1| + |z – z2| = k P(z)
α
1
represent circle if k ≥ |z1 − z2 |2
2
B A
 z − z1  π
(f) arg  = α 0 < α < π, α ≠
 z − z2  2

represent a segment of circle passing through A(z1) & B(z2)

15. STANDARD LOCI :

(a) |z – z1| + |z – z2| = 2k (a constant) represent

(i) If 2k > |z1 – z2| ⇒ An ellipse

(ii) If 2k = |z1 – z2| ⇒ A line segment

(iii) If 2k < |z1 – z2| ⇒ No solution

(b) Equation ||z – z1|– |z – z2||= 2k (a constant) represent

(i) If 2k < |z1 – z2| ⇒ A hyperbola

(ii) If 2k =|z1 – z2| ⇒ A line ray

(iii) 2k > |z1 – z2| ⇒ No solution

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