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Raising a new Generation of Leaders

MAT 111
MATHEMATICS I: ALGEBRA
COMPLEX NUMBERS

Mrs G.O. Alao

Number Systems
Recall the following number systems:
 - Set of Natural Numbers
 - Set of Integer Numbers
 - Set of Rational Numbers
 C
- Set of Irrational Numbers
 - Set of Real Numbers

2
From our knowledge of Algebra, quadratic
equations usually have two solutions.

For example:

The quadratic equation: x − 3 x + 2 =

2
0
has the two solutions x = 1 and x = 2.

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Let us now consider this equation:

x +1 =
2
0
Clearly, this equation does not have a solution
within the system of real numbers. Why?

Because there is no number whose square is -1.

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This shortcoming of the real system calls for
another extension of the number system.

This extension was achieved by the introduction

of a new number

i
This number is called Imaginary number.

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The Imaginary Number i
• The imaginary number is defined by
i =−1 ⇔ i =
−1
2

• E.g. −2 = −1 ⋅ 2= i 2

• What about −16 −49

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Complex Number
A complex number is any number that can be
expressed as x + iy where x , y are real
numbers and i= −1 .

Examples include: 4 + 5i and 3.7 + i 2.5

The complex number system is denoted by the

symbol 
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Complex Numbers (Cont.)
The real numbers x and y are referred to as the
real and imaginary parts respectively

x + iy

Real part Imaginary part

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Example/Exercise
Write these complex numbers in standard form:
x + iy
7− −25 −16 + 5

5− −144 − −100

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• We will represent the complex number by the
single letter ‘z’ i.e. z = x + iy, which is said to
be in Cartesian form

• If z = 6 – 4i then x = 6 and y = – 4

• The ‘real part’ of z = 6 – 4i is 6

• The ‘imaginary part’ of z = 6 – 4i is -4

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Equality of Complex Numbers
Two complex numbers z= 1 x1 + iy1 and z=
2 x2 + iy2
are said to be equal if

x1 = x2 and y1 = y2

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Properties of Complex Numbers
Complex numbers satisfy the following properties:

 Closure property
 Associative property
 Commutative property
 Distributive property

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Operations on Complex Numbers
As mentioned earlier, the set of Complex numbers
is closed under addition and multiplication.

Hence, the addition, subtraction, multiplication and

division of two or more complex numbers will
result into complex numbers.

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Addition of Complex Numbers
To add two complex numbers, add their real and
their imaginary parts, respectively.
Let z1 =x1 + iy1 , z2 =x2 + iy2
Then z1 + z2 = ( x1 + iy1 ) + ( x2 + iy2 )
= x1 + x2 + i ( y1 + y2 )

Example : (6 + 3i) + (8 − 2i)

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Subtraction of Complex Numbers
To subtract two complex numbers, subtract their real
and their imaginary parts, respectively.
Let z1 =
x1 + iy1 , z2 =
x2 + iy2
Then z1 − z2 = ( x1 + iy1 ) − ( x2 + iy2 )
= x1 − x2 + i ( y1 − y2 )
Example : (6 + 3i) − (8 − 2i)

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Multiplication of Complex Numbers
The multiplication of two complex numbers is
defined by the rule below:
Let z1 = x1 + iy1 , z2 = x2 + iy2
Then z1 z2 =+ ( x1 iy1 )( x2 + iy2 )
= x1 x2 − y1 y2 + i ( x1 y2 + x2 y1 )
Example : (6 + 3i) × (8 − 2i)
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Before defining division for complex numbers, it
is important to introduce the notion of a complex
conjugate.

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Complex Conjugate
The conjugate of complex number, denoted by z
is defined as

z =−
x iy ⇔ z =+
x iy
Thus, the conjugate of the conjugate of a complex
number is the complex number itself.

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NOTE:
The negative of a complex number is not the
same as its conjugate. For example

− z =− ( x + iy )
=− x − iy
≠ x − iy =z
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 Example/Exercise
1. Find the complex conjugate of z if z = 2 − 2 3i

1
2. Find the complex conjugate of z if z =
i
−1 1
(A) (B) − i (C) i (D)
i i

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Properties of the Complex Conjugate
The conjugate of a complex number has the
following properties:
1. z1 z2 = z1 z2

 z1  z1
2.  =
 z2  z2
3. z1 + z2 = z1 + z2

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Division of Complex Numbers
To divide two complex numbers, multiply both the
numerator and denominator by the conjugate of the
denominator
x1 + iy1 x1 + iy1 x2 − iy2 x1 x2 − ix1 y2 + ix2 y1 − i y1 y2
2
= .
x2 + iy2 x2 + iy2 x2 − iy2 x2 − i y2
2 2 2

=
x1 x2 + y1 y2
+i
( x2 y1 − x1 y2 )
x2 + y2
2 2
x2 + y2
2 2

Example : (6 + 3i) ÷ (8 − 2i)

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The Complex Plane
• The complex number z = x+iy can be represented
by a point on the complex plane. The complex
plane is often called the Argand diagram.

• Example
Represent the complex numbers below by points on
the complex plane:
2+3i, 3+i
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Argand Diagram
y 2 + 3i
3

1 3+i

x
1 2 3

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Modulus of Complex Numbers
The modulus or absolute value of a complex
number denoted as z is the distance of the point
from the origin and it is defined as

z = x +y = r
2 2

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Example/Exercise
1. Find the modulus of z if z = 3+3i

2. Find the modulus of z if z = 2 − 2 3i

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Properties of the Modulus
The modulus or absolute value of a complex
number has the following properties:
1. z1 + z 2 = z1 + z 2

z1 z1
2. =
z2 z2

3. iz = z

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Polar form of Complex Numbers
A complex number written in Cartesian form
z= x + iy can also be represented in a polar form:

=z r ( cos θ + i sin θ )
Where r = x + y = z is the modulus of z and
2 2

θ is the argument of z.
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Example/Exercise
Express each of the following complex numbers
in polar form:

1. z = 2+2 3i

2. z = 3+3i

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 Past Questions On Complex Numbers
MAT111_1617 Exam
1
1. The imaginary part of is
1+i
1 1
(A) − (B) (C) 2 (D) − 2
2 2
2. Find the complex conjugate of z if z = ( 2 + 3i )( 4 − 8i )
(A) 32 − 4i (B) 32 + 4i (C) 4 − 32i (D) 4 + 32i

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Past Questions (Cont.)
1
3. Express in the form of a+ib
1 + 3i
1 3 1 3 1 3
(A) + i (B) − i (C) − i (D) 1 + 3i
10 10 10 7 10 10
4+i
4. Find a if = a+ib
3−i
7 7 11 −11
(A) (B) − (C) (D)
10 10 10 10
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Past Questions (Cont.)
1
5. Find the real part of z =
1−i
−1 1 1
(A) (B) (C) − i (D) 1
2 2 2
6. Find ( x, y ) ; x, y ∈  , such that 2y + xi = 4 + x − i
 2  3  1
(A)  1,  (B) ( 0,1 ) (C)  −1,  (D)  0, 
 3  2  2
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Past Questions (Cont.)
7. Find ( a + b ) ; a, b ∈  , if a + ib = (2 − i) 2

(A) ( 2,3 ) (B) ( 3, −4 ) (C) 5 (D) − 1

8. Which of the following is a square root of z = 2i ?

(A) ± ( 2 + i ) (B) ± ( 1 + i ) (C) ± ( −1 + i ) (D) ± ( 1 − i )

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