Complex Numbers
Universe of Numbers
Natural Whole Integers Rational Real Complex
Numbers Numbers Numbers Numbers Numbers
N W I Q R Z
Complex Numbers?
Complex Numbers contain an imaginary part ‘i’
Consider the quadratic expression:
x2+1 = 0
Both its roots are √(-1)
Whenever there is a ‘-’ sign inside a root, it is an imaginary
number
What is i?
i is defined as √(-1)
So, √(-16) would be written as 4i
Purely Real and Purely
Imaginary
Complex Numbers are expressed as Z = x+iy
The part ‘x’ is purely real
The part ‘iy’ is purely imaginary
Condition for Z to be purely real: y = 0
Condition for Z to be purely imaginary: x = 0
Argand Plane
This is the plane used for plotting complex numbers
Algebra of Complex
Numbers
Multiplication of Complex Expressions:
Solve: (1+i)(7-2i)
1(7-2i) + i(7-2i)
7-2i + 7i – 2i2
7-2i+7i+2 (since i2 = -1)
9+5i
Powers of i
i = √(-1)
i2 = -1
i3 = i2.i = -i
i4 = (-1)2 = 1
i5 = i4.i = i (same as i1)
Note: i4n = 1
Example
Find i27
i27 = i24.i3
i24 = 1 (i4n = 1)
i27 = 1.i3 = -i
Example
Find i1 + i2 + i3 + ... + i502
We know that the powers of i are cyclic
Find the sum of the first cycle from i to i4
i + i2 + i3 + i4 = i -1 – i + 1 = 0
Sum of one cycle = 0
i1 + i2 + i3 + ... + i502 = 125 such cycles + i501 + i502 = i - 1
Equality of Complex
Numbers
If two complex numbers are equal:
a+ib = c+id
a = c
b = d
The real and imaginary parts are equal
Mathematical Operations
If product of two numbers Z1Z2 = 0
Then at least one of them is 0
If Z1/Z2 = 0
Then Z1 = 0
Inequality has no meaning for complex numbers, it is only
valid of purely real
The statement 5+3i > 1+i is meaningless, this is absurd
Inequality
Why can’t we compare numbers based on their distance from
origin?
Since |5+2i| > |2+i| why can’t we say that 5+2i > 2+i
This is because such comparisons lead to errors in equality
For example, 3+4i and 4+3i would then both be equal because
distance from origin is 5 unit for both these numbers
However, they are obviously unequal numbers
Conjugate of Z
If Z = x+iy
Then its conjugate Z is x-iy
Just reverse the sign of imaginary part
So, the conjugate of (3+4i) would be (3-4i)
Note: Conjugate of conjugate would be the original number
Geometrical Interpretation
The conjugate of an imaginary number is its reflection
about the X-axis
The x coordinates are the same for
A and B
The y coordinates are
reversed
Absolute value is unchanged
i.e., |Z| = |Z|
Example
Write the conjugate of conjugate of 3-7i
The conjugate of 3-7i = 3+7i
Conjugate of 3+7i = 3-7i
Example
Find the sum of 3+7i and its conjugate
The conjugate is 3-7i
(3+7i) + (3-7i) = 6
So, the sum of a number and its conjugate is 2(Real part)
For adding or subtracting complex numbers, we
separately deal with their real and imaginary parts
Example
Subtract the conjugate of (4-5i) from itself
Conjugate of 4-5i = 4+5i
4-5i – (4+5i) = -10i
A number – its conjugate = 2(Imaginary Part)
Examples
Multiply (3+2i) and (5–4i)
(3+2i)(5–4i) = 5(3+2i) – 4i(3+2i)
= 15+10i – 12i – 8i2
= 23–2i
Conjugate on Argand
Plane
The X coordinate remains the same
The Y coordinate becomes negative
Ex. Plot the conjugate of 5+2i on arg. Plane
Conjugate is a reflection about X axis
Conjugates
The conjugates for Z1 and Z2
Conjugate for (Z1+Z2) is Z1 + Z2
Conjugate for (Z1–Z2) is Z1 – Z2
Conjugate for (Z1Z2) is Z1Z2
Conjugate for (Z1 ÷ Z2) is Z1 ÷ Z2
Example
Solve: Z2 = Z
Let Z be a+ib and Z be a–ib
a2–b2+2iab = a–ib
(a2–b2) = a —(1)
2ab = –b —(2)
From (2), b(2a+1) = 0, i.e., b = 0 or a = –1/2
Example contd.
(a2–b2) = a —(1)
2ab = –b —(2)
From (2), b = 0 or a = –1/2
Putting b = 0 in (1), a = 0, 1
Putting a = –1/2 in (1), b = ±√3/2
Therefore, there are four combinations for Z (a,b):
(0,0), (1,0), (–1/2, √3/2), (–1/2, –√3/2)