NUFYP Mathematics

Fall Semester

Learning Block 6
6.1 Complex Numbers
Learning outcomes
6.1.1 Use the definition 𝑖 2 = −1
6.1.2 Identify the real and imaginary part of a complex
number
6.1.3 Add, subtract and multiply complex numbers
6.1.4 Find the conjugate of a complex number
6.1.5 Divide a complex number by another
6.1.6 Represent complex numbers on an argand diagram
6.1.7 Solve a quadratic equation where 𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 < 0
6.1.8 Factorize a polynomial with real coefficients
completely
6.1.9 Recognize that polynomials with real coefficients
have roots that come in conjugate pairs
Lecture Outline

• What is 𝑖?
• Real and Imaginary Part
Definitions • Complex Conjugate
• Argand Diagram Representations

• Addition/Subtraction
• Multiplication
Operations
• Division

• Complex Zeros of a Quadratic Polynomial

Polynomials • Complete Factorization of a Polynomial
with Real Coefficients
Introduction
Since ancient times many mathematical problems lead to
quadratic equations of the form 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0 where 𝑎, 𝑏,
and 𝑐 are real numbers, with 𝑎 ≠ 0.
When 𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 < 0 there are no real solutions because a
negative number cannot have a real square root.
500 years ago the Italian mathematician Cardano began
manipulation of symbols such as −1 . He considered the problem
of finding 𝑥 and 𝑦 such that 𝑥 + 𝑦 = 10 and 𝑥𝑦 = 40

The problem has no real solutions since it reduces to

𝑥 2 − 10𝑥 + 40 = 0
Cardano pointed out, however, that 𝑥 = 5 + −15 and
𝑦 = 5 − −15 do satisfy the given equations.
1. The definition 𝒊𝟐 = −1
𝑥 2 = 1 has two solutions + 1 and − 1.

𝑥 2 = −1 has no real solutions but if we write the solutions

using the above approach, we have
𝑥 = + −1, 𝑥 = − −1

The symbol 𝑖 is used to represent −1 , that is,

𝑖 = −1 → 𝑖 2 = −1
Then, we can write the solutions to 𝑥 2 = −1 as +𝑖 and −𝑖.

In general, 𝑖 allows us to solve any quadratic equations.

2. Recognise the real and imaginary part of a
complex number

A complex number is an expression of the form 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖,

where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are real numbers and 𝑖 = −1

Complex numbers of the form 𝑎 + 0𝑖 are called real

numbers

Complex numbers of the form 0 + 𝑏𝑖 are called imaginary

numbers
For a complex number 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖
𝑎 is called the real part of the complex number and
𝑏 is called the imaginary part of the complex number.

This is written
𝑅𝑒 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖 = 𝑎 𝐼𝑚 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖 = 𝑏

e.g. For the complex number 4 − 7𝑖

the real part is 4 and the imaginary part is −7

𝑅𝑒 4 − 7𝑖 = 4 𝐼𝑚 4 − 7𝑖 = −7
3. Add, subtract and multiply complex numbers
When two complex numbers are added, subtracted,
multiplied or divided is the result another complex
number?

Yes !

Why ?
 Given 𝑧1 = 𝑎 + 𝑖𝑏 and 𝑧2 = 𝑐 + 𝑖𝑑

Addition: 𝑧1 + 𝑧2 = 𝑎 + 𝑐 + (𝑏 + 𝑑)𝑖

Subtraction: 𝑧1 − 𝑧2 = 𝑎 − 𝑐 + (𝑏 − 𝑑)𝑖

Multiplication:
𝑧1 𝑧2 = 𝑎 + 𝑖𝑏 𝑐 + 𝑖𝑑
= 𝑎𝑐 + 𝑎𝑑 + 𝑏𝑐 𝑖 + 𝑏𝑑𝑖2
= 𝑎𝑐 – 𝑏𝑑 + (𝑎𝑑 + 𝑏𝑐)𝑖

We need to consider conjugation before looking at division.

Your turn!
Given the complex numbers
𝑧 =3+𝑖
and 𝑤 = 2 − 3𝑖

find (i) 𝑧+𝑤

(ii) 𝑧−𝑤
(iii) 𝑤−𝑧
(iv) 𝑧𝑤
(v) 𝑤𝑧
(vi) (2𝑧 + 3𝑤)2
Solutions
(i) 𝑧 + 𝑤 = 3 + 𝑖 + 2 − 3𝑖 = 3 + 2 + 1 − 3 𝑖
= 5 − 2𝑖

(ii) 𝑧 − 𝑤 = 3 + 𝑖 − 2 − 3𝑖 = 3 − 2 + 1 − −3 𝑖
= 1 + 4𝑖
(iii) 𝑤 − 𝑧 = −1 − 4𝑖

(iv) 𝑤𝑧 = 3 + 𝑖 2 − 3𝑖
= 6 − 3𝑖 2 + 2 − 9 𝑖
= 9 − 7𝑖
(v) 𝑧𝑤 = 𝑤𝑧 = 9 − 7𝑖
Solutions

(vi) (2𝑧 + 3𝑤)2

= 2 3 + 𝑖 + 3 2 − 3𝑖 2
= 6 + 2𝑖 + 6 − 9𝑖 2
= 12 − 7𝑖 2
= 144 − 2 ⋅ 12 ⋅ 7𝑖 + 49𝑖 2
= 144 − 168𝑖 − 49
= 95 − 168𝑖
4. Find the conjugate of a complex number
For the complex number 𝑧 = 𝑎 + 𝑖𝑏,
the complex conjugate is 𝑧ҧ = 𝑎 − 𝑖𝑏

𝑧 ∗ is another notation for the conjugate.

The product of a complex number and its conjugate is a

real number : 𝑧𝑧ҧ = 𝑎 + 𝑖𝑏 𝑎 − 𝑖𝑏 = 𝑎2 + 𝑏 2

We can make use of this property when we want to divide

two complex numbers
5. Divide a complex number by another
For the complex numbers 𝑧 = 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖 and 𝑤 = 𝑐 + 𝑑𝑖
𝑧
the quotient can be simplified by multiplying numerator
𝑤
and denominator by the complex conjugate of 𝑤

𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖 𝑐 − 𝑑𝑖 𝑎𝑐 + 𝑏𝑑 + 𝑏𝑐 − 𝑎𝑑 𝑖
= =
𝑐 + 𝑑𝑖 𝑐 + 𝑑𝑖 𝑐 − 𝑑𝑖 𝑐 2 + 𝑑2
Your turn!
Given the complex numbers
𝑧 =3+𝑖
and 𝑤 = 2 − 3𝑖

Express in the form 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖

𝑧
(i)
𝑤
𝑤
(ii)
𝑧
1 1
(iii) +
𝑧 𝑤
 𝑧 3+𝑖 2+3𝑖 3+11𝑖 3 11
(i) = = = + 𝑖
𝑤 2−3𝑖 2+3𝑖 13 13 13

𝑤 2−3𝑖 3−𝑖 3−11𝑖 3 11

(ii) = = = − 𝑖
𝑧 3+𝑖 3−𝑖 10 10 10

1 1 1 3−𝑖 1 2+3𝑖 3−𝑖 2+3𝑖

(iii) + = + = +
𝑧 𝑤 3+𝑖 3−𝑖 2−3𝑖 2+3𝑖 10 13

39−13𝑖+20+30𝑖 59 17𝑖
= = +
130 130 130
6. Represent complex numbers on an Argand diagram

The Argand diagram is a convenient way of representing

complex numbers. The 𝑥-axis in the Argand diagram is
called the real (Re) axis and the 𝑦-axis is called the
imaginary (Im) axis.

Complex numbers can be represented on the Argand

diagram by the point (𝑥, 𝑦), where 𝑧 = 𝑥 + 𝑖𝑦.
Similarly, we can represent 𝑧 = 𝑥 + 𝑖𝑦 by the directed
vector which connects the origin to the point (𝑥, 𝑦), as
shown on the next slide.
The complex numbers:
𝒛𝟏 = 𝟐 + 𝟓𝒊 , 𝒛𝟐 = −𝟒 + 𝒊 and 𝒛𝟑 = 𝟑 − 𝟒𝒊
can be represented by points or vectors on the argand
diagram as shown below.
𝑦-axis 𝑦-axis
(Imaginary) (Imaginary)

𝑥-axis 𝑥-axis
(Real) (Real)
Question
What do you always observe when a conjugate pair
of complex numbers are plotted on an argand
diagram?

They reflect in the real axis!

Your turn!

Plot 𝑧1 = 4 + 2𝑖 and its conjugate 𝑧2 on the Argand

diagram.
Solution: 𝑧1 = 4 + 2𝑖 and its conjugate 𝑧2 are plotted
below.
Addition on the Argand diagram
Show 𝑧1 , 𝑧2 , and 𝑧1 + 𝑧2 on an Argand diagram where
𝑧1 = 4 + 𝑖, 𝑧2 = 3 + 3𝑖 .
𝑧1 + 𝑧2
= 4+3 + 1+3 𝑖
= 7 + 4𝑖
We can view 𝑧1 and 𝑧2
as vectors, and the sum
𝑧1 + 𝑧2 is the diagonal
of the parallelogram
formed by 𝑧1 and 𝑧2 .
Subtraction on the Argand diagram
Show 𝑧1 , 𝑧2 , and 𝑧1 − 𝑧2 on an Argand diagram where
𝑧1 = 2 + 5𝑖, 𝑧2 = 4 + 2𝑖 .
𝑧1 − 𝑧2
= 2−4 + 5−2 𝑖
= −2 + 3𝑖
Plot −𝑧2 in the opposite
direction of 𝑧2 , then 𝑧1 − 𝑧2
is the diagonal of the
parallelogram formed by 𝑧1
and −𝑧2 .
7. Solve a quadratic equation where 𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 < 0
Example
Solve 𝑧 2 − 4𝑧 + 7 = 0
−𝑏 ± 𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 4 ± 16 − 28 4 ± −12
𝑧= = =
2𝑎 2 2

No real solutions BUT we can continue to find the

complex solutions using 𝑖 = −1

4 ± 12 −1
𝑧= =2± 3𝑖
2
𝑧 2 − 4𝑧 + 7 = 0 has two complex solutions
𝑧1 = 2 + 3𝑖 and 𝑧2 = 2 − 3𝑖

Observe the following

−𝑏
𝑧1 + 𝑧2 = 2 + 3𝑖 + 2 − 3𝑖 = 4 =
𝑎

𝑐
𝑧1 𝑧2 = 2 + 3𝑖 2 − 3𝑖 = 4 + 3 = 7 =
𝑎

The equation had real coefficients, 1, −4 and 7 the

discriminant was negative, −12 and the complex roots
were a conjugate pair 𝑧1 = 2 + 3𝑖 and 𝑧2 = 2 − 3𝑖
If 𝑎𝑧 2 + 𝑏𝑧 + 𝑐 = 0

where 𝑎, 𝑏 and 𝑐 are REAL COEFFICIENTS

such that 𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 < 0

Then the complex roots will be the conjugate pair:

−𝑏 4𝑎𝑐−𝑏2
± 𝑖
2𝑎 2𝑎

If 𝒂, 𝒃 and 𝒄 are allowed to be non-real coefficients then

this property no longer applies!
 Your turn!
Solve the following equations

(i) 𝑧 2 + 9 = 0

(ii) 𝑧 2 + 4𝑧 + 5 = 0
(i) 𝑧 2 + 9 = 0

𝑧 = −9 = ±3𝑖
𝑧1 = 3𝑖 and 𝑧2 = −3𝑖

(ii) 𝑧 2 + 4𝑧 + 5
−4 ± 16 − 20 −4 ± 2𝑖
𝑧= = = −2 ± 𝑖
2 2

𝑧1 = −2 + 𝑖 and 𝑧2 = −2 − 𝑖
8. Factorize a polynomial with real coefficients
completely

Consider the polynomial 𝑝 𝑧 = 𝑧 3 + 3𝑧 2 + 𝑧 − 5

By inspection, 𝑝 1 = 0 therefore 𝑧 − 1 is a factor of 𝑝(𝑧)

Dividing 𝑝 𝑧 by 𝑧 − 1 gives the quotient 𝑧 2 + 4𝑧 + 5

which does not have real roots (it does not have real zeros).
𝑧 2 + 4𝑧 + 5 is an irreducible quadratic.
𝑝 𝑧 can be expressed as the product of a linear factor and
an irreducible quadratic factor

𝑝 𝑧 = (z − 1)(𝑧 2 + 4𝑧 + 5)
The complex zeros of 𝑧 2 + 4𝑧 + 5 are
𝑧1 = −2 − 𝑖 and 𝑧2 = −2 + 𝑖

So we could factorize 𝑃(𝑧) completely but two of the

linear factors would involve complex numbers

𝑃(𝑧) = (z − 1)(z − 𝑧1 )(𝑧 − 𝑧2 )

𝑃(𝑧) = (z − 1)(z − −2 − i )(z − −2 + i )

𝑃(𝑧) = (z − 1)(z + 2 − 𝑖)(𝑧 + 2 + 𝑖)

Your turn!
𝑃 𝑧 = 𝑧 3 − 𝑧 2 − 5𝑧 + 21

(i) Factor 𝑃(𝑧) into linear and irreducible quadratic

factors.

(ii) Factor 𝑃(𝑧) completely into linear factors with

complex coefficients
 𝑃 𝑧 = 𝑧 3 − 𝑧 2 − 5𝑧 + 21

(i) Factor 𝑃(𝑧) into linear and irreducible quadratic

factors.

𝑃 −3 = −27 − 9 + 15 + 21 = 0

Therefore (𝑧 + 3) is a factor and dividing into 𝑃(𝑧)

gives the quotient 𝑧 2 − 4𝑧 + 7

𝑃 𝑧 = (z + 3)(𝑧 2 − 4𝑧 + 7)
 𝑃 𝑧 = 𝑧 3 − 𝑧 2 − 5𝑧 + 21

(ii) Factor 𝑃(𝑧) completely into linear factors with

complex coefficients

𝑃 𝑧 = (z + 3)(𝑧 2 − 4𝑧 + 7)

𝑧 2 − 4𝑧 + 7 has two complex roots

𝑧1 = 2 + 3𝑖 and 𝑧2 = 2 − 3𝑖

𝑃 𝑧 = (z + 3)(z − 2 − 3𝑖)(z − 2 + 3𝑖)

Your turn!
𝑃 𝑧 = 𝑧 4 + 2𝑧 2 − 8

(i) Factor 𝑃(𝑧) into linear and irreducible quadratic

factors.

(ii) Factor 𝑃(𝑧) completely into linear factors with

complex coefficients
 𝑃 𝑧 = 𝑧 4 + 2𝑧 2 − 8

(i) Factor 𝑃(𝑧) into linear and irreducible quadratic

factors.

𝑃 𝑧 = 𝑧2 − 2 𝑧2 + 4

𝑧 2 + 4 is an irreducible quadratic factor

𝑧 2 − 2 is a reducible quadratic factor

𝑃 𝑧 = (𝑧 − 2)(z + 2)(𝑧 2 + 4)
 𝑃 𝑧 = 𝑧 4 + 2𝑧 2 − 8

(ii) Factor 𝑃(𝑧) completely into linear factors with

complex coefficients

𝑃 𝑧 = 𝑧 − 2 z + 2 (𝑧 2 + 4)

𝑃 𝑧 = 𝑧 − 2 z + 2 (𝑧 + 2𝑖)(𝑧 − 2𝑖)
9. Recognize that polynomials with real coefficients
have roots that come in conjugate pairs

A polynomial with real coefficients can be factorized into a

product of linear and irreducible quadratic factors

For example it can be shown that

𝑃 𝑧 = 𝑧 6 + 2𝑧 5 + 3𝑧 4 + 𝑧 3 − 2𝑧 2 − 3𝑧 − 2
= (𝑧 − 1)(𝑧 + 1)(𝑧 2 + 𝑧 + 1)(𝑧 2 + 𝑧 + 2)
−1 3 −1 7
Now the roots of 𝑃 𝑧 are 1, −1 and ± 𝑖 , ± 𝑖
2 2 2 2
Example
Find a polynomial of degree 4, with real coefficients given that
1, −1 and 1 + 𝑖 are roots
solution
The fourth root is 1 − 𝑖
1+𝑖 + 1−𝑖 =2
and 1 + 𝑖 1 − 𝑖 = 12 + 12 = 2
The irreducible quadratic whose roots are 1 ± 𝑖 is therefore
𝑧 2 − 2𝑧 + 2
𝑃 𝑧 = (𝑧 − 1)(𝑧 + 1)(𝑧 2 − 2𝑧 + 2)
𝑃 𝑧 = (𝑧 2 − 1)(𝑧 2 − 2𝑧 + 2)
𝑃 𝑧 = 𝑧 4 − 2𝑧 3 + 𝑧 2 + 2𝑧 − 2
Any constant multiple of the above 𝑃(𝑧) have the same roots! For
example, −𝑧 4 + 2𝑧 3 − 𝑧 2 − 2𝑧 + 2 have the same four roots.
Learning outcomes
6.1.1 Use the definition 𝑖 2 = −1
6.1.2 Identify the real and imaginary part of a complex
number
6.1.3 Add, subtract and multiply complex numbers
6.1.4 Find the conjugate of a complex number
6.1.5 Divide a complex number by another
6.1.6 Represent complex numbers on an argand diagram
6.1.7 Solve a quadratic equation where 𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 < 0
6.1.8 Factorize a polynomial with real coefficients
completely
6.1.9 Recognize that polynomials with real coefficients
have roots that come in conjugate pairs
Preview: Complex numbers 2
Forms of • Cartesian form 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖
Complex • Polar form 𝑟 cos 𝜃 + 𝑖 sin 𝜃
numbers • Exponential form 𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝜃

Multiplication
and division • Using modulus 𝑟 and argument 𝜃
of complex
numbers

DeMoivre’s
theorem • Powers of complex numbers