Complex Numbers Cheat Sheet Edexcel Core 1

Complex numbers are used by physicists and engineers, specifically in electronics. Complex numbers allow two
real quantities to be put together, making the numbers easier to work with, and allowing more complex
situations to be modelled. Example 6: Solve the equation 𝑧𝑧 2 − 2𝑧𝑧 + 17 = 0 by completing the square Solving cubic and quartic equations
The statements we have made about complex conjugate roots don’t only apply for quadratic equations – they
Complex numbers and imaginary numbers Find an expression for 𝑧𝑧 2 − 2𝑧𝑧 by halving the coefficient in also apply for polynomials of higher degree, such as cubics and quartics.
When solving quadratic equations with the quadratic formula, some equations can’t be solved and do not give front of the 𝑧𝑧 term to find what should go inside the
real solutions. This occurs specifically when the discriminant 𝒃𝒃𝟐𝟐 − 𝟒𝟒𝟒𝟒𝟒𝟒 is less than 0, as the expression under brackets that you are squaring. Expanded, this expression is 𝑧𝑧 2 − 2𝑧𝑧 = (𝑧𝑧 − 1)2 − 1 • If 𝑓𝑓(𝑧𝑧) is a polynomial with real coefficients and 𝑧𝑧1 is a root of 𝑓𝑓(𝑧𝑧) = 0, then 𝑧𝑧1∗ is also a root of 𝑓𝑓(𝑧𝑧) =
the square root in the quadratic formula is negative, so there are no real solutions. If we extend the number 𝑧𝑧 2 − 2𝑧𝑧 + 1, so we must subtract 1 to make the expression 0.
system to include the concept of √−1, denoted 𝑖𝑖, we can represent any solution. equivalent to 𝑧𝑧 2 − 2𝑧𝑧.
Therefore:
𝑧𝑧 2 − 2𝑧𝑧 + 17 = (𝑧𝑧 − 1)2 − 1 + 17
Adjust the expression to include the constant term. = (𝑧𝑧 − 1)2 + 16 • Any cubic equation with real coefficients either has three real roots (that may be repeated) or a complex
• 𝑖𝑖 = √−1
conjugate pair and one real root.
• An imaginary number is a number of the form 𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏, where 𝑏𝑏 ∈ ℝ. (𝑧𝑧 − 1)2 + 16 = 0
(𝑧𝑧 − 1)2 = −16 Example 10: Given that 1 is a root of the equation 𝑧𝑧 3 − 7𝑧𝑧 2 + 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 − 10 = 0, find the value of 𝑘𝑘 and the other
Set the completed square expression to zero and solve the two roots of the equation.
• A complex number can have both real and imaginary parts and is written in the form 𝑧𝑧 = 𝑎𝑎 + 𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏, 𝑧𝑧 − 1 = ±√−16
equation.
𝑎𝑎, 𝑏𝑏 ∈ ℝ. 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅(𝑧𝑧) = 𝑎𝑎 is the real part and 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼(𝑧𝑧) = 𝑏𝑏 is the imaginary part. 𝑧𝑧 − 1 = ±4𝑖𝑖
𝑧𝑧 = 1 ± 4𝑖𝑖 (1)3 − 7(1)2 + 𝑘𝑘 − 10 = 0
Substitute the value 𝑧𝑧 = 1 and evaluate to find the
𝑘𝑘 = 10 + 7 − 1
Example 1: Write √−44 in terms of 𝑖𝑖. value 𝑘𝑘.
𝑘𝑘 = 16
Factor out the negative, using rules of surds that you
Complex conjugation (𝑧𝑧 − 1)(𝑧𝑧 2 + 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 + 𝑏𝑏)
√−44 = √44 × √−1 For a complex number 𝑧𝑧 = 𝑎𝑎 + 𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏, the complex conjugate is defined as 𝒛𝒛∗ = 𝒂𝒂 − 𝒃𝒃𝒃𝒃. 𝑧𝑧 3 + 𝑎𝑎𝑧𝑧 2 + 𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏 − 𝑧𝑧 2 − 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 − 𝑏𝑏
already know. Find the roots of the equation by either long division
𝑧𝑧 3 + (𝑎𝑎 − 1)𝑧𝑧 2 + (𝑏𝑏 − 𝑎𝑎)𝑧𝑧 − 𝑏𝑏 = 0
Use the fact that 𝑖𝑖 = √−1 to rewrite in terms of 𝑖𝑖. √−44 = √44 𝑖𝑖 or equating the coefficients of a quadratic.
Example 7: For 𝑧𝑧 = 3 − 8𝑖𝑖, find 𝑧𝑧 ∗ , 𝑧𝑧 + 𝑧𝑧 ∗ and 𝑧𝑧𝑧𝑧 ∗ .
√−44 = √4√11 𝑖𝑖 Equating the coefficients:
Simplify the real surd. The coefficient of 𝑧𝑧 3 is 1, so the coefficient of 𝑧𝑧 2 must
√−44 = �2√11�𝑖𝑖 Find 𝑧𝑧 ∗ by changing the sign of the imaginary part. 𝑧𝑧 ∗ = 3 + 8𝑖𝑖
also be 1.
𝑧𝑧 + 𝑧𝑧 ∗ = 3 − 8𝑖𝑖 + 3 + 8𝑖𝑖 𝑏𝑏 = 10
When adding and subtracting complex numbers you must collect ‘like’ terms. This means real and imaginary Evaluate 𝑧𝑧 + 𝑧𝑧 ∗ . 𝑎𝑎 − 1 = −7 ⇒ 𝑎𝑎 = −6
=6
terms must be added separately. State the quadratic factor of the cubic. The two other
𝑧𝑧𝑧𝑧 ∗ = (3 − 8𝑖𝑖)(3 + 8𝑖𝑖) 𝑧𝑧 2 − 6𝑥𝑥 + 10 = 0
roots of the cubic will be the roots of the quadratic.
Example 2: Simplify the sum (3 + 4𝑖𝑖) + (5 − 6𝑖𝑖) into the form 𝑎𝑎 + 𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏, where 𝑎𝑎, 𝑏𝑏 ∈ ℝ. Evaluate 𝑧𝑧𝑧𝑧 .
∗
= 9 + 24𝑖𝑖 − 24𝑖𝑖 − 64𝑖𝑖 2
= 73 6 ± �(−36)2 − 4(1)(10)
Add the real terms. (3 + 4𝑖𝑖) + (5 − 6𝑖𝑖) = 8 + 4𝑖𝑖 − 6𝑖𝑖 Use the quadratic formula, or your preferred method, 𝑧𝑧 =
to find the roots of the quadratic. 2(1)
Add the imaginary terms. (3 + 4𝑖𝑖) + (5 − 6𝑖𝑖) = 8 − 2𝑖𝑖 𝑧𝑧 = 3 ± 𝑖𝑖
Dividing complex numbers is similar to simplifying fractions involving surds – it is not good practice to have an
Complex numbers can be multiplied by a real number by expanding brackets in the usual way. imaginary number on the denominator of a fraction (just like surds), and thus it can be simplified by realising (or State all the roots of the cubic. 𝑧𝑧 = 1, 3 + 𝑖𝑖, 3 − 𝑖𝑖
rationalising, equivalently for surds) the denominator of the fraction, which can be achieved by using the complex
Example 3: Evaluate 2(6 + 5𝑖𝑖) conjugate.
• An equation of the form 𝑎𝑎𝑧𝑧 4 + 𝑏𝑏𝑧𝑧 3 + 𝑐𝑐𝑧𝑧 2 + 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 + 𝑒𝑒 = 0 is a quartic with real coefficients. Either all
Multiply out the bracket in the usual way, keeping 2(6 + 5𝑖𝑖) = (2 × 6) + (2 × 5𝑖𝑖) 3+2𝑖𝑖
four roots are real (some may be repeated), two roots are real and the other two roots a complex
Example 8: Write in the form 𝑎𝑎 + 𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏.
the real and imaginary terms separate. = 12 + 10𝑖𝑖 4+5𝑖𝑖
conjugate pair, or there are two sets of complex conjugate pairs as roots – these can be repeated,
Find the complex conjugate of the denominator. (4 + 5𝑖𝑖)∗ = 4 − 5𝑖𝑖 for example the equation �𝑧𝑧 − (2 − 3𝑖𝑖)��𝑧𝑧 − (2 + 3𝑖𝑖)��𝑧𝑧 − (2 − 3𝑖𝑖)��𝑧𝑧 − (2 + 3𝑖𝑖)� = 0
When multiplying complex numbers, you can multiply out the brackets in the usual way but take into
consideration that 𝑖𝑖 2 = −1 and is therefore real.
3 + 2𝑖𝑖 3 + 2𝑖𝑖 4 − 5𝑖𝑖
= × Example 11: Given 1 + 3𝑖𝑖 is a root of the equation 𝑧𝑧 4 + 2𝑧𝑧 3 − 3𝑧𝑧 2 + 50𝑧𝑧 − 50 = 0, find the other three roots.
Example 4: Simplify the product (3 + 4𝑖𝑖)(−5 + 6𝑖𝑖) into the form 𝑎𝑎 + 𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏, where 𝑎𝑎, 𝑏𝑏 ∈ ℝ. 4 + 5𝑖𝑖 4 + 5𝑖𝑖 4 − 5𝑖𝑖

Expand the brackets in the normal way. (3 + 4𝑖𝑖)(−5 + 6𝑖𝑖) = −15 + 18𝑖𝑖 − 20𝑖𝑖 + 24𝑖𝑖 2 Multiply the numerator and denominator of the 12 − 15𝑖𝑖 + 8𝑖𝑖 − 10𝑖𝑖 2 Use the concept of complex
fraction by the complex conjugate and simplify. = conjugate pairs to find another If 1 + 3𝑖𝑖 is a root, then (1 + 3𝑖𝑖)∗ = 1 − 3𝑖𝑖 is also a root.
(3 + 4𝑖𝑖)(−5 + 6𝑖𝑖) = −15 + 18𝑖𝑖 − 20𝑖𝑖 − 24 16 − 20𝑖𝑖 + 20𝑖𝑖 − 25𝑖𝑖 2
Simplify the 𝑖𝑖 2 term and collect like terms. root.
= −39 − 2𝑖𝑖
22 − 7𝑖𝑖 22 7 Find a quadratic factor of the
= = − 𝑖𝑖
Example: Evaluate 𝑖𝑖 4 and 𝑖𝑖 5 . 41 41 41 quartic using the roots already �𝑧𝑧 − (1 + 3𝑖𝑖)��𝑧𝑧 − (1 − 3𝑖𝑖)� = 𝑧𝑧 2 − 2𝑧𝑧 + 10
found.
𝑖𝑖 4 = 𝑖𝑖 × 𝑖𝑖 × 𝑖𝑖 × 𝑖𝑖
Use the fact that 𝑖𝑖 2 = −1 to find 𝑖𝑖 4 . = −1 × −1 Roots of quadratic equations (𝑧𝑧 2 − 2𝑧𝑧 + 10)(𝑧𝑧 2 + 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 + 𝑏𝑏) = 𝑧𝑧 4 + 2𝑧𝑧 3 − 3𝑧𝑧 2 + 50𝑧𝑧 − 50
=1
If the roots of the quadratic equation 𝑎𝑎𝑧𝑧 2 + 𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏 + 𝑐𝑐 = 0, with real coefficients, are complex numbers, then they = 𝑧𝑧 4 + 𝑎𝑎𝑧𝑧 3 + 𝑏𝑏𝑧𝑧 2 − 2𝑧𝑧 3 − 2𝑎𝑎𝑧𝑧 2 − 2𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏 + 10𝑧𝑧 2 + 10𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 + 10𝑏𝑏
𝑖𝑖 5 = 𝑖𝑖 × 𝑖𝑖 4 = 𝑧𝑧 4 + (𝑎𝑎 − 2)𝑧𝑧 3 + (𝑏𝑏 − 2𝑎𝑎 + 10)𝑧𝑧 2 + (−2𝑏𝑏 + 10𝑎𝑎) + 10𝑏𝑏
occur as conjugate pairs. This means that if 𝑧𝑧 is a root, then 𝑧𝑧 ∗ must be too. This is useful in finding all of the
Use the result of 𝑖𝑖 4 to calculate 𝑖𝑖 5 . = 𝑖𝑖 × 1
roots of an equation or finding the original equation itself.
= 𝑖𝑖 Find the second quadratic factor of 𝑎𝑎 − 2 = 2 ⇒ 𝑎𝑎 = 4
• If the roots of a quadratic equation are 𝛼𝛼 and 𝛽𝛽, then the equation can be written as the equation, either by long 10𝑏𝑏 = −50 ⇒ 𝑏𝑏 = −5
If you have a graphical calculator, it can compute these expressions for you, but it is very important that you can division or equating the
(𝑧𝑧 − 𝛼𝛼)(𝑧𝑧 − 𝛽𝛽) = 0 or 𝑧𝑧 2 − (𝛼𝛼 + 𝛽𝛽)𝑧𝑧 + 𝛼𝛼𝛼𝛼 = 0
do it yourself as some questions may include a parameter that you can’t put into your calculator. coefficients. Checking:
You can use complex numbers to find the solution to any quadratic equation with real coefficients. 𝑏𝑏 − 2𝑎𝑎 + 10 = −3
Example 9: Given that 𝛼𝛼 = 6 + 9𝑖𝑖 is a root of a quadratic equation with real roots, state the value of the other
root 𝛽𝛽 and find the quadratic equation. −2𝑏𝑏 + 10𝑎𝑎 = 50
Example 5: Solve the equation 𝑥𝑥 2 + 4𝑥𝑥 + 5 = 0 using the quadratic formula.
State 𝛽𝛽, the complex conjugate of 𝛼𝛼. 𝛽𝛽 = 6 − 9𝑖𝑖 So, the second quadratic factor is 𝑧𝑧 2 + 4𝑧𝑧 − 5.
−𝑏𝑏 ± √𝑏𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝛼𝛼 + 𝛽𝛽 = 12
𝑥𝑥 = Either use the product and sum of the roots, or
Substitute the values 𝑎𝑎 = 1, 𝑏𝑏 = 4 and 𝑐𝑐 = 5 into 2𝑎𝑎 𝛼𝛼𝛼𝛼 = 36 − 54𝑖𝑖 + 54𝑖𝑖 − 81𝑖𝑖 2 = 117 𝑧𝑧 2 + 4𝑧𝑧 − 5 = (𝑧𝑧 + 5)(𝑧𝑧 − 1)
expand the factorised equation to find the equation. Find the roots of the second
the quadratic formula. −4 ± �16 − 4(1)(5)
𝑥𝑥 = State the quadratic equation. 𝑧𝑧 2
− 12𝑧𝑧 + 117 = 0 quadratic factor using your
2(1) So, 𝑧𝑧 = −5 or 𝑧𝑧 = 1
preferred method.
−4 ± √−4
Simplify the expression. 𝑥𝑥 = State all the roots of the quartic. 𝑧𝑧 = 1 + 3𝑖𝑖, 1 − 3𝑖𝑖, −5 or 1
2
2𝑖𝑖
Put the expression into the form 𝑎𝑎 + 𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏. 𝑥𝑥 = −2 ± = −2 ± 𝑖𝑖
2

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