Complex Roots

What should you learn?

 I can calculate with complex numbers

 I can solve polynomial equations with real coefficients and complex roots

Completing the Number System

Solve the quadratic equation x2 + 6x + 13 = 0
Solution :
Using the quadratic formula with a = ,b= and c =

√
q p
−b ± b2 − 4ac ± ( )2 − 4( )( ) ±
x = = =
2a 2( ) 2
±
= = ±
2

Guided Practice
Number Sets

C R Q Z N

Key Word Meaning

Imaginary Numbers
 New Times Table

(a) i1 = (b) i2 = (c) i3 = (d) i4 =

(e) i5 = (f) i6 = (g) i7 = (h) i8 =

(i) i9 = (j) i10 = (k) i11 = (l) i12 =

Guided Practice
Cartesian Form
A complex number has two parts and can be written in the form a + bi where a, b ∈ R.
a is known as the real part. The notation used is Re(a + bi) =
b is known as the imaginary part. The notation used is Im(a + bi) =

Arithmetic of Complex Numbers

Simplify
2 + x − 3 + 3y + 4x = + x+ y
Apply the same logic to simplify

3 + 2i + 4 + 5i = + = ( + )

Hence to add or subtract two complex numbers, we simply add or subtract the parts and add or
subtract the parts.

Multiplication of Complex Numbers

Show that  √  √  √ √ √
2−3 2 1+2 2 = + 2− 2− × = −10 + 2

Apply the same logic to simplify

(2 − 3i) (1 + 2i) = + i− i− × =8+i

Hence to multiply two complex numbers, we simply use and remember that i2 should be
simplified to .

Division of Complex Numbers

Show that √ √ p √
2−3 2 2−3 2 − 2 √
√ = √ × p = = −2 + 2
1+2 2 1+2 2
 Division of Complex Numbers
2 − 3i
Apply the same logic to simplify .
1 + 2i

2 − 3i 2 − 3i
= × =
1 + 2i 1 + 2i

Hence to divide two complex numbers, we simply

B determine the of the denominator

B multiply top and bottom by the of the denominator

B where possible

This process is called realising the denominator.

Key Word Meaning

Complex Conjugate
z∗

How to use the HP Prime

Complex Numbers: Cartesian Form

STEP 1: Press

STEP 2: The imaginary number i is entered by pressing then

Now use your GDC to check your answers to the activities above!

Practice
1. Determine the roots of the following equations:

(a) x2 + 25 = 0 (b) 4x2 + 9 = 0 (c) x2 − 2x + 2 = 0 (d) 4x2 +4x+5 = 0

2. If a = 2 + i, b = 3 − 2i and c = 1 − i, calculate:

a a4
(a) 2a − 3b (b) ab (c) (d) b2 (e) c3 (f)
b b

3. Given that z = (a + i)2 where a is real, determine values for a such that z is

(a) real, (b) wholly imaginary.

 Always, Sometimes, Never
Decide if the following statements are Always True, Sometimes True or Never True.

B If all the coefficients in an equation are real then the equation has a real root.

B If an equation has at least one coefficient of the form a + bi where b is non-zero, then the equation
has at least one complex root.

B If an equation has all coefficients of the form a + bi where a and b are non-zero, then the equation
does not have a real root.

B If an equation has a root a + bi with a and b non-zero and it also has at least one coefficient of the
form c + di with d non-zero, then a − bi is not a root of the equation.

B If an equation has all real coefficients and a + bi is one of the roots of the equation, then a − bi is
another root.

Guided Practice
Solving Equations in C
Example
√
Solve the quadratic equation z = 6 + 8i

Solution :
√
z = 6 + 8i

z = 6 + 8i

( + i) = 6 + 8i

− + i = 6 + 8i

R: − =6 (1)

i: i = 8i ∴ b= (2)

Sub ( ) in ( ) gives... !2
2
a − = 6

a4 − a2 − = 0

(a2 − )(a2 + ) = 0
p
∴ a=± or since a ∈
 Guided Practice
Solving Equations in C
Solution : Continued...
p p
When a = ,b=
p p
When a = − ,b=−
p
Hence z = ± ( + i)

Note: We will be calculating powers and roots of complex numbers later in the course.

Develop
1. One solution of x2 + px + q = 0 is 2 − 3i.
Given that they are real, determine the value of p and the value of q.

2. One solution of x2 + px + q = 0 is 3 − i.
Given that they are real, determine the value of p and the value of q.

3. Solve the following equations.

(a) 2(3 + i)z − 5 + 2i = 0 (b) iz ∗ = 1 − i

(c) 3(z − i) − 3i(z − 2 + 3i) = (i − 1)(z + i) (d) (1 − 3i)(iz − 1) = (3 − z)(3 − 7i)

4. Solve the following equations.

(a) z 2 = 5 − 12i (b) 4z 2 + 3 = 0 (c) 16z 2 − i = 0

(d) z 2 + z + 1 = 0 (e) 3z 2 + zi = 0 (f) −z 2 + 2z + 1 = 0

(g) 2z 2 + 3z + 8 = 0 (h) z 2 + 2iz + 3 = 0 (i) z 2 + 4z ∗ − 4 = 0

(j) 2z 2 − 4z ∗ + 5 = 0 (k) iz 2 + (2 + i)z − (i − 1) = 0

Solidify
Use the Revision Village Questionbank. If you are just getting started with your revision, you could start
at the top of the page or if you already have some confidence, you could start at the medium difficulty
questions and progress down.