[Link].
info
Complex Numbers
Complex numbers represent an extension on the concept of real numbers. Whilst our
understanding of real numbers is more practical, without complex numbers, vast areas
of science and engineering would be undiscovered, or not understood.
For complex numbers to exist, we must only allow one simple concept; that the square-
root of -1 has a value, this is denotes i in mathematics, but it is often denoted j in science
and engineering. This document is also available with j denoting the unit imaginary
number1. In this document we will use the following notation and definition of the unit
imaginary number:
√−1 = 𝑖.
A real number is any real-valued multiple of the unit real number 1. Similarly, an
imaginary number is any multiple of the unit imaginary number i.
For example, the real number 6.0 = 6.0 × 1 and the imaginary number 4.0𝑖 = 4.0 × 𝑖.
A complex number generally consists of a real and an imaginary part, and can be
written 𝑧 = 𝑥 + 𝑖𝑦, where 𝑧 is a complex number and 𝑥 and 𝑦 are real numbers; 𝑥 is said
to be the real part of 𝑧 (Re(z)=x) and 𝑦 is said to be the imaginary part of 𝑧 (Im(z)=y). A
complex number written in a number of forms 𝑥 + 𝑖𝑦 is said to be written in Cartesian
form.
For example, 3 + 4𝑖 is a complex number. Re(3 + 4𝑖) = 3 and Im(3 + 4𝑖) = 4.
Argand Diagram
A complex number 𝑧 can be represented graphically on an Argand diagram. The
following graph shows the number 3 + 4𝑖 represented on an Argand diagram.
The complex number 3 + 4𝑖 is represented by the point with coordinates (3,4) on the
Argand diagram graph, following the Cartesian Coordinate system2.
5
Imaginary Axis *i
4
3
2
1
0
0 1 2 3 4
Real Axis
1 Complex Numbers (j)
2 Cartesian coordinate system
[Link]
A worksheet on the Argand diagram is provided by Mathcentre3.
Complex Conjugate
The complex conjugate of the complex number 𝑧 = 𝑥 + 𝑖𝑦 is denoted 𝑧̅ and it is defined
so that 𝑧̅ = 𝑥 − 𝑖𝑦. On an Argand diagram, a complex number and its complex conjugate
are mutually reflective in the horizontal axis.
For example 3 + 4𝑖 has the complex conjugate 3 − 4𝑖. The two complex numbers are
illustrated on the following Argand diagram.
4.5
4
3.5
Imaginary Axis *i
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5
Real Axis
4
Mathcentre provides a worksheet on the complex conjugate3.
Modulus, Argument and Polar Form
A complex number has a modulus (or size) and an argument (or angle). For example,
consider the complex number plotted on an Argand diagram in the following figure.
3 The Argand Diagram (Mathcentre)
4 The Complex Conjugate (Mathcentre)
[Link]
*i
The diagram above illustrates the modulus and argument of 3 + 4𝑖; the modulus is
length of the line between the origin to the point representing the complex number and
the argument is the angle that that the line makes with the horizontal.
In general for a complex number 𝑧 = 𝑥 + 𝑖𝑦, it can be shown from elementary
trigonometry that the modulus is defined as |𝑧| = √𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 , as a result of Pythagoras’
𝑦
Theorem5 and the argument is defined by tan 𝜑 = 𝑥 , by the definition of the
trigonometrical ratio6.
For example
|3 + 4𝑖| = √32 + 42 = √25 = 5
4
tan 𝜑 = 3, hence arg(3 + 4𝑖) =𝜑 = 0.9273 radians or 53.13° .
Hence the complex number can be written in polar form7:
3 + 4𝑖 = 5∠53.13° or
3 + 4𝑖 = 5∠0.9273 ,
where the symbol ‘∠’ means angle.
[Note that, in polar form, it is normal to set the angle in the range of either [0𝑜 , 360𝑜 ) or
[−180𝑜 , 180𝑜 ).
Exercises on converting a complex number from Cartesian to polar form are available8.
[Further information on measures of angle (radians and degrees)]
A complex number 𝑧 , with modulus |𝑧| and argument 𝜑 can be written
5 Pythagoras’ Theorem (Mathcentre)
6 Trigonometry
7 The polar form of a Complex Number (Mathcentre)
8 Complex Cartesian Conversion to Polar Form Exercises
[Link]
𝑧 = |𝑧| cos 𝜑 + 𝑖|𝑧| sin 𝜑 ,
providing a means for converting the polar form back to the Cartesian form. Mathcentre
provides a worksheet on the polar form and conversion9.
For example, 3 + 4𝑖 = 5 cos(0.9273) + 𝑖5 sin(0.9273).
Exercises on converting a complex number from polar to Cartesian form are available10.
Exponential Notation
Let us define the complex exponential as follows
𝑒 𝑖𝜃 = cos 𝜃 + 𝑖 sin 𝜃.
A complex number 𝑧 , with modulus |𝑧| and argument 𝜑 can be written
𝑧 = |𝑧|𝑒 𝑖𝜑
Spreadsheet
The accompanying spreadsheet11 plots the Argand diagram of a complex number and
computes the modulus and argument,
9 Polar form of a Complex Number (Mathcentre)
10 Complex Polar Conversion to Cartesian Form Exercises
11 Complex Numbers (Spreadsheet)
[Link]