Understanding Complex Numbers in Math
Understanding Complex Numbers in Math
✓ Basic Definitions
Because the square of a positive number or a negative number is positive, it is not possible to square any
real number and have a negative result. Therefore, we must define a number system to include square
roots of negative numbers. We will find that such numbers can be used to great advantage in certain
applications.
If the radicand in a square root is negative, we can express the indicated root as the product of −1 and
the square root of a positive number.
Imaginary number , −3 = 3 × −1
The symbol −𝟏 is defined as the imaginary unit and is denoted by the symbol 𝒋
Generally, mathematicians use the symbol 𝒊 for −1 and therefore most nontechnical textbooks use 𝒊 .
Example:
a) −9 = (9)(−1) = 9 −1 = 3j
c) −5 = (5)(−1) = 5 −1 = j 5
d) ( −4)2 = −4 × −4 = 4 −1 × 4 −1 = 2j × 2j = 4j2 = −4
We cannot write this product −4 × −4 as (−4)(−4) ,for this lead to an incorrect result of +4.
−3 −12 = j 3 × j 12 = 3 12 j2 = 36 −1 = −6 (𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡)
From Examples:
We see that when we are dealing with square roots of negative numbers, each should be expressed in terms of 𝒋 before
proceeding. To do this, for any positive real number 𝒂 we write
−𝒂 = 𝐣 𝒂 (𝒂 > 𝟎)
Powers of 𝑗
Example:
𝑗10 = 𝑗 8 𝑗 2 = 1 −1 = −1
𝑗 45 = 𝑗 44 𝑗 = 1 𝑗 = 𝑗
𝑗 531 = 𝑗 528 𝑗 3 = 1 −𝑗 = −𝑗
Using real numbers and the imaginary unit 𝑗 , we define a new kind of number.
𝑎 + 𝑏𝑗
The form 𝒂 + 𝒃𝒋 is known as the rectangular form of a complex number, where 𝑎 is known as the real
part and 𝑏 is known as the imaginary part.
Two complex numbers are equal if and only if the real parts are equal and the imaginary parts are equal.
𝒂 + 𝒃𝒋 = 𝒙 + 𝒚𝒋 ↔ 𝒂 = 𝒙 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒃 = 𝒚
Example:
1. 𝐚 + 𝐛𝐣 = 𝟑 + 𝟒𝐣 ↔ 𝐚 = 𝟑 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛 = 𝟒
2. 𝐱 + 𝟑𝐣 = 𝐲𝐣 − 𝟓 → 𝐱 − 𝐲𝐣 = −𝟓 − 𝟑𝐣 ↔ 𝐱 = −𝟓 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲 = −𝟑
𝐱 + 𝟑 𝐱𝐣 + 𝐲 = 𝟓 − 𝐣 − 𝐣𝐲
𝐱 + 𝟑𝐱𝐣 + 𝟑𝐲 + 𝐣𝐲 = 𝟓 − 𝐣
𝐱 + 𝟑𝐲 + 𝟑𝐱 + 𝐲 𝐣 = 𝟓 − 𝐣
𝐱 + 𝟑𝐲 = 𝟓 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝟑𝐱 + 𝐲 = −𝟏
𝐱 = −𝟏 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲 = 𝟐
Conjugates
We see that the sign of the imaginary part is changed to obtain the conjugate.
Example:
1. 𝟑 − 𝟐𝐣 → 𝟑 + 𝟐𝐣
2. −𝟐 − 𝟓𝐣 → −𝟐 + 𝟓𝐣
3. 𝟔𝐣 → −𝟔𝐣
Example:
1. 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐱 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦.
𝟏𝟐 − 𝟗 −𝟒 𝟏𝟐 − 𝟗( 𝟒 −𝟏)
=
𝟒 𝟒
𝟏𝟐 − 𝟗(𝟐𝒋) 𝟏𝟐 − 𝟏𝟖𝒋 𝟗
= = = 𝟑− 𝒋
𝟒 𝟒 𝟐
𝒙𝟐 + 𝟑𝟐 = 𝟎 → 𝒙𝟐 = −𝟑𝟐
𝒙 = ± −𝟑𝟐 = ± 𝟑𝟐 −𝟏 = ±𝟒𝒋 𝟐
Example:
1. 𝟑 − 𝟐𝐣 + −𝟓 + 𝟕𝐣 = 𝟑 − 𝟓 + −𝟐 + 𝟕 𝐣 = −𝟐 + 𝟓𝐣
2. 𝟕 + 𝟗𝐣 − 𝟔 − 𝟒𝐣 = 𝟕 − 𝟔 + 𝟗 − (−𝟒) 𝐣 = 𝟏 + 𝟏𝟑𝐣
4. 𝟑 − 𝟕𝐣 𝟗 + 𝟐𝐣 = 𝟑 𝟗 + 𝟐𝐣 − 𝟕𝐣 𝟗 + 𝟐𝐣
= 𝟐𝟕 + 𝟔𝐣 − 𝟔𝟑𝐣 − 𝟏𝟒𝐣𝟐
= 𝟒𝟏 − 𝟓𝟕𝐣
𝟕 − 𝟐𝐣 (𝟕 − 𝟐𝐣)(𝟑 − 𝟒𝐣)
𝟓. =
𝟑 + 𝟒𝐣 (𝟑 + 𝟒𝐣)(𝟑 − 𝟒𝐣)
𝟐𝟏 − 𝟐𝟖𝐣 − 𝟔𝐣 + 𝟖𝐣𝟐
=
𝟗 − 𝟏𝟔𝐣𝟐
𝟐𝟏 − 𝟑𝟒𝐣 + 𝟖(−𝟏)
=
𝟗 − 𝟏𝟔(−𝟏)
𝟏𝟑 − 𝟑𝟒𝐣 𝟏𝟑 𝟑𝟒
= = − 𝐣
𝟐𝟓 𝟐𝟓 𝟐𝟓
COMPLEX NUMBERS MATHEMATICS I U YE KO KO AUNG
✓ Basic Operations with Complex Numbers
No.33.
𝒋𝟐 − 𝒋 −𝟏 − 𝒋 −𝟏 − 𝒋 −𝟏 − 𝟐𝒋
= = ×
𝟐𝒋 − 𝒋𝟖 −𝟏 + 𝟐𝒋 −𝟏 + 𝟐𝒋 −𝟏 − 𝟐𝒋
𝟏 + 𝟐𝒋 + 𝒋 + 𝟐𝒋𝟐
=
𝟏 − 𝟒𝒋𝟐
−𝟏 + 𝟑𝒋 𝟏 𝟑
= =− + 𝒋
𝟓 𝟓 𝟓
No.37
Graphically, we represent a complex number as a point, designated as 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑗, in the rectangular coordinate system.
The real part is the x-value of the point, and the imaginary part is the y-value of the point. Used in this way, the
coordinate system is called the complex plane, the horizontal axis is the real axis, and the vertical axis is the
imaginary axis.
Imaginary axis
Img
Real axis
Re
Example: Add the complex numbers 5 − 2𝑗 and−2 − 𝑗 Example: Two forces acting on an overhead bolt can be
graphically. represented by 35 − 20𝑗 N and −50 − 15𝑗 N. Find the
resultant force graphically.
In the complex plane, by drawing a vector from the origin to the point that
represents the number 𝑥 + 𝑦𝑗, an angle 𝜃 in standard position is formed. Imag
The point is 𝑟 units from the origin.
In fact, we can find any point in the complex plane by knowing the angle 𝜃
and the value of 𝑟.
The equations relating 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑟, and 𝜃, are similar to those developed for 𝒙 + 𝒚𝒋
vectors .
𝑥 = 𝑟 cos 𝜃 , 𝑦 = 𝑟 sin 𝜃 𝒓
𝒚
𝑦
𝑟2 = 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 , tan 𝜃𝑟𝑒𝑓 =
𝑥 𝜽
Real
𝑥 + 𝑦𝑗 = 𝑟 cos 𝜃 + 𝑟 sin 𝜃 𝑗 𝒙
𝑥 + 𝑦𝑗 = 𝑟(cos 𝜃 + 𝑗 sin 𝜃)
𝑟 cos 𝜃 + 𝑗 sin 𝜃 = 𝑟∠ 𝜃
Example:
Represent the complex number 3 + 4𝑗 graphically and give its polar
form. Imag
3 + 4𝑗 → 𝑥 = 3 , 𝑦=4
𝟒𝒋 𝟑 + 𝟒𝒋
𝑟2 = 𝑥2 + 𝑦2
𝑟= 32 + 42 = 5 𝒓
4 𝜽
tan 𝜃𝑟𝑒𝑓 =
3 Real
𝟑
𝜃𝑟𝑒𝑓 = 53.1°
𝜃 = 𝜃𝑟𝑒𝑓 = 53.1°
Example:
Represent the complex number −1.04 − 1.56𝑗 graphically and give its
polar form.
Imag
−1.04 − 1.56𝑗 → 𝑥 = −1.04 , 𝑦 = −1.56
𝑟2 = 𝑥2 + 𝑦2
Example:
Imag
Represent the complex number 3560∠ − 32.4° in rectangular form.
𝑥 = 𝑟 cos 𝜃 , 𝑦 = 𝑟 sin 𝜃
𝑥 = 3005 , 𝑦 = −1907 𝒙
Real
𝜽 = −𝟑𝟐. 𝟒°
3560∠ − 32.4° = 3005 − 1907𝑗
𝒚
A positive real number is on the positive real axis, its polar form is
Imag
𝑎 = 𝑎 cos 0° + 𝑗 sin 0° = 𝑎∠0°
𝒃𝒋
A negative real number is on the negative real axis, its polar form is
−𝒂
Real
A positive pure imaginary number is on the positive imaginary axis, its polar 𝑎
form is
Example:
Imag
5 = 5 cos 0° + 𝑗 sin 0° = 5∠0°
7𝒋
−6 = 6 cos 180° + 𝑗 sin 180° = 6∠180°
−𝟖𝒋
where 𝒓 and 𝜽 have the same meanings as given in the previous section, although 𝜽 is
expressed in radians.
𝝅 𝒓𝒂𝒅 = 𝟏𝟖𝟎°
𝑟 = 8.5
136.3°
𝜃 = 136.3° = × 𝜋 = 2.38 𝑟𝑎𝑑
180°
For the rectangular form (1.846𝑒 1.229𝑗 )2 = 3.408(cos 140.83° + 𝑗 sin 140.83°)
(1.846𝑒 1.229𝑗 )2 = 3.408 cos 140.83° + 3.408𝑗 sin 140.83°
(1.846𝑒 1.229𝑗 )2 = −2.642 + 2.152𝑗
Rectangular: 𝑥 + 𝑦𝑗
Exponential: 𝑟𝑒 𝑗𝜃
𝑥 = 𝑟 cos 𝜃 , 𝑦 = 𝑟 sin 𝜃
𝑦
𝑟2 = 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 , tan 𝜃𝑟𝑒𝑓 =
𝑥
Using exponential form and laws of exponents, we multiply two complex numbers as
𝑟1 𝑒 𝑗𝜃1 × 𝑟2 𝑒 𝑗𝜃2
Example: Multiply the complex numbers 2 + 3𝑗 and 1 − 𝑗 by using polar forms of each.
𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝟐 + 𝟑𝒋: 𝒓𝟏 = 𝟐𝟐 + 𝟑𝟐 = 𝟑. 𝟔𝟏
𝟑
𝜽𝟏𝒓𝒆𝒇 = 𝒕𝒂𝒏−𝟏 = 𝟓𝟔. 𝟑° → 𝜽𝟏 = 𝜽𝟏𝒓𝒆𝒇 = 𝟓𝟔. 𝟑°
𝟐
𝟐 + 𝟑𝒋 = 𝟑. 𝟔𝟏(𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟓𝟔. 𝟑° + 𝒋 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟓𝟔. 𝟑°)
𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝟏 − 𝒋: 𝒓𝟐 = 𝟏𝟐 + −𝟏 𝟐 = 𝟏. 𝟒𝟏
−𝟏
𝟏
𝜽𝟐𝒓𝒆𝒇 = 𝒕𝒂𝒏 = 𝟒𝟓° → 𝜽𝟐 = 𝟑𝟔𝟎° − 𝜽𝟐𝒓𝒆𝒇 = 𝟑𝟏𝟓°
𝟏
𝟏 − 𝑱 = 𝟏. 𝟒𝟏(𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟑𝟏𝟓° + 𝒋 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝟑𝟏𝟓°)
Note # In the final result, the angle is usually expressed between 0° and 360°, unless specified otherwise.
COMPLEX NUMBERS MATHEMATICS I U YE KO KO AUNG
✓ Products, Quotients, Powers, and Roots of Complex Numbers
Using exponential form and laws of exponents, we divide two complex numbers as
𝑟1 𝑒 𝑗𝜃1 ÷ 𝑟2 𝑒 𝑗𝜃2
𝑟1
𝒓𝟏 𝒆𝒋𝜽𝟏 ÷ 𝒓𝟐 𝒆𝒋𝜽𝟐 = 𝒄𝒐𝒔(𝜽𝟏 − 𝜽𝟐 ) + 𝒋 𝒔𝒊𝒏(𝜽𝟏 − 𝜽𝟐 )
𝑟2
𝒓𝟏 (𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽𝟏 + 𝒋 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽𝟏 ) 𝑟1
= 𝒄𝒐𝒔(𝜽𝟏 − 𝜽𝟐 ) + 𝒋 𝒔𝒊𝒏(𝜽𝟏 − 𝜽𝟐 )
𝒓𝟐 (𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜽𝟐 + 𝒋 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽𝟐 ) 𝑟2
(𝒓𝟏 ∠𝜽𝟏 ) 𝑟1
= ∠(𝜽𝟏 − 𝜽𝟐 )
(𝒓𝟐 ∠𝜽𝟐 ) 𝑟2
Example: Divide the complex numbers 2 + 3𝑗 and 1 − 𝑗 by using polar forms of each.
𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝟐 + 𝟑𝒋: 𝒓𝟏 = 𝟐𝟐 + 𝟑𝟐 = 𝟑. 𝟔𝟏
𝟑
𝜽𝟏𝒓𝒆𝒇 = 𝒕𝒂𝒏−𝟏 = 𝟓𝟔. 𝟑° → 𝜽𝟏 = 𝜽𝟏𝒓𝒆𝒇 = 𝟓𝟔. 𝟑°
𝟐
𝟐 + 𝟑𝒋 = 𝟑. 𝟔𝟏(𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟓𝟔. 𝟑° + 𝒋 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟓𝟔. 𝟑°)
𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝟏 − 𝒋: 𝒓𝟏 = 𝟏𝟐 + −𝟏 𝟐 = 𝟏. 𝟒𝟏
−𝟏
𝟏
𝜽𝟐𝒓𝒆𝒇 = 𝒕𝒂𝒏 = 𝟒𝟓° → 𝜽𝟐 = 𝟑𝟔𝟎° − 𝜽𝟏𝒓𝒆𝒇 = 𝟑𝟏𝟓°
𝟏
𝟏 − 𝑱 = 𝟏. 𝟒𝟏(𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟑𝟏𝟓° + 𝒋 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝟑𝟏𝟓°)
𝟑. 𝟔𝟏
= 𝒄𝒐𝒔(𝟓𝟔. 𝟑° − 𝟑𝟏𝟓°) + 𝒋 𝒔𝒊𝒏(𝟓𝟔. 𝟑° − 𝟑𝟏𝟓°)
𝟏. 𝟒𝟏
= 𝟏. 𝟓𝟔𝟑(𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟑𝟕. 𝟓𝟔° + 𝒋 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟑𝟕. 𝟓𝟔°) + 𝟑. 𝟖𝟐𝟕(𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟏𝟒𝟔. 𝟐𝟑° + 𝒋 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟏𝟒𝟔. 𝟐𝟑°)
= 𝟏. 𝟐𝟑𝟗 + 𝟎. 𝟗𝟓𝟐𝟖𝒋 − 𝟑. 𝟏𝟖𝟏𝟑 + 𝟐. 𝟏𝟐𝟕𝟑𝒋
= −𝟏. 𝟗𝟒𝟐𝟑 + 𝟑. 𝟎𝟖𝟎𝟏𝒋
𝟑. 𝟎𝟖𝟎𝟏
𝜽𝒓𝒆𝒇 = 𝒕𝒂𝒏−𝟏 = 𝟓𝟕. 𝟕𝟔° → 𝜽 = 𝟏𝟖𝟎° − 𝜽𝒓𝒆𝒇 = 𝟏𝟐𝟐. 𝟐𝟒°
𝟏. 𝟗𝟒𝟐𝟑
Using exponential form and laws of exponents, we raise a complex number to a power.
𝑛
𝑟(cos 𝜃 + 𝑗 sin 𝜃) = 𝑟 𝑛 (cos 𝑛𝜃 + 𝑗 sin 𝑛𝜃)
(𝑟∠𝜃)𝑛 = 𝑟 𝑛 ∠𝑛𝜃
This equation is known as DeMoivre’s theorem and is valid for all real values of 𝒏. It is
also used for finding roots of complex numbers if 𝒏 is a fractional exponent.
We note that the magnitude is raised to the power, and the angle is multiplied by the
power.
𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝟐 + 𝟑𝒋: 𝒓= 𝟐𝟐 + 𝟑𝟐 = 𝟑. 𝟔𝟏
𝟑
𝜽𝒓𝒆𝒇 = 𝒕𝒂𝒏−𝟏 = 𝟓𝟔. 𝟑° → 𝜽 = 𝜽𝒓𝒆𝒇 = 𝟓𝟔. 𝟑°
𝟐
By DeMoivre’s theorem ,
𝒏
𝒓(𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜽 + 𝒋 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽) = 𝒓𝒏 (𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒏𝜽 + 𝒋 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒏𝜽)
𝟏
Applying DeMoivre’s theorem with 𝒏 = 𝟐 ,
For first root,𝜽 = 𝟗𝟎°
𝟏 𝟏
(𝟐𝒋)𝟐 = 𝟐(𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝟗𝟎° + 𝒋 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝟗𝟎°) 𝟐
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
= 𝟐𝟐 (𝒄𝒐𝒔 ( × 𝟗𝟎°) + 𝒋 𝒔𝒊𝒏( × 𝟗𝟎°))
𝟐 𝟐
= 𝟐(𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟒𝟓° + 𝒋 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟒𝟓°)
=𝟏+𝒋