Complex Numbers

Lesson 1
Introduction
• In Algebra, rational and irrational numbers taken together are termed
as real numbers.
• But the system of real numbers is not sufficient to solve all algebraic
equations.
• Ex. There are no real numbers that satisfy the equation 𝑥 2 + 1 = 0 or
𝑥 2 = −1.
• To solve such equations, i.e., to find the square roots of negative
numbers, the system of real numbers is extended to a new system of
numbers known as complex numbers
Lesson Objectives
• describe the need for extending the set of real numbers to the set of
complex numbers;
• define a complex number and cite examples;
• identify the real and imaginary parts of a complex number;
• state the condition for equality of two complex numbers;
• recognize that there is a unique complex number 𝑥 + 𝑖𝑦 associated with
the point 𝑃(𝑥, 𝑦) in the Argand Plane and vice-versa;
• define and find the conjugate of a complex number;
• define and find the modulus and argument of a complex number;
• represent a complex number in the polar form;
Lesson Objectives
• perform algebraic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division)
on complex numbers;
• state and use the properties of algebraic operations ( closure, commutativity,
associativity, identity, inverse and distributivity) of complex numbers; and
• state and use the following properties of complex numbers in solving problems:
Expected Background Knowledge
• Properties of real numbers.
• Solution of linear and quadratic equations
• Representation of a real number on the number line
• Representation of point in a plane.
Contents
Part A
1. Complex Numbers
2. Positive Integral Powers of 𝑖
1. Complex Numbers
• Consider the equation 𝑥 2 + 1 = 0
• This can be written as 𝑥 2 = −1 or 𝑥 = ± −1
• But the is no real number that satisfies 𝑥 = ± −1
• i.e., There is no real number whose square is −1
• To solve such equations, imagine that there exists a number 𝑖, which
is equal to −1
1. Complex Numbers

History
• In 1748, mathematician L. Euler named a number 𝒊 as iota, whose
square is −1
• Iota (𝒊) is defined as an imaginary unit
• The square root of a negative number can now be interpreted as the
product of a real number and 𝑖
• Examples:
• The solution of 𝑥 2 + 1 = 0 is denoted as 𝑥 = ±𝑖
• −4 = 4 −1 ∴ −4 = −1 4 = 𝑖 2 ∙ 22 = 2𝑖
• −7 = 𝑖 7
1. Complex Numbers

2
Example: 𝑥 − 6𝑥 + 13 = 0
1. Complex Numbers

Any number that can be expressed in the

form 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖, where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are real numbers
and 𝑖 = −1, is called a complex number.
• A complex number is generally denoted by 𝑧
• 𝑧 = 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖
• 𝑎 = Re(𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖) *the real part of 𝑧
• 𝑏 = Im(𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖) *the imaginary part of 𝑧
1. Complex Numbers

Conditions
• If 𝑎 = 0 and 𝑏 ≠ 0, then 𝑧 = 𝑏𝑖
• purely imaginary complex number
1
• ex. −7𝑖, 𝑖, 3𝑖, 𝜋𝑖
2
• If 𝑎 ≠ 0 and 𝑏 = 0, then 𝑧 = 𝑎
• real number
• ex. 5, 2.5, 7
• If 𝑎 = 0 and 𝑏 = 0, then 𝑧 = 0

• ∴Real numbers are particular cases of complex numbers

1. Complex Numbers

Example:
Simplify each of the following using 𝑖
1. −36

2. 25 ∙ −4
2. Positive Integral Powers of 𝑖
𝑖 2 = −1
𝑖 3 = 𝑖 2 ∙ 𝑖 = −1 𝑖 = −𝑖
𝑖 4 = (𝑖 2 )2 = (−1)2 = 1
𝑖 5 = (𝑖 2 )2 ∙ 𝑖 = 1 𝑖 = 𝑖
𝑖 6 = (𝑖 2 )3 = (−1)3 = −1
𝑖 7 = (𝑖 2 )3 ∙ 𝑖 = −𝑖
𝑖 8 = (𝑖 2 )4 = 1
• Any higher powers of 𝑖 can be expressed in terms of one of four values: 𝑖, −1, −𝑖,
or 1
𝑛
• If 𝑛 = positive integer such that 𝑛 > 4, let 𝑚 = and 𝑟 = remainder
4
• Then 𝑛 = 4𝑚 + 𝑟 , where 0 ≤ 𝑟 < 4
𝑖 𝑛 = 𝑖 4𝑚+𝑟 = 𝑖 4𝑚 ∙ 𝑖 𝑟 = 𝑖 4 𝑚 ∙ 𝑖 𝑟 = 𝑖 𝑟
2. Positive Integral Powers of 𝑖

Note: For any two real numbers 𝑎 and 𝑏, 𝑎 × 𝑏 = 𝑎𝑏 is

true only when at least one of 𝑎 and 𝑏 is either 0 or positive.
• In fact

−𝑎 × −𝑏 = 𝑖 𝑎 × 𝑖 𝑏
= 𝑖 2 𝑎𝑏
= − 𝑎𝑏

• where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are positive real numbers

2. Positive Integral Powers of 𝑖

Example:
10 20
Find the value of 1 + 𝑖 + 𝑖 + 𝑖 30
2. Positive Integral Powers of 𝑖

Example:
3 16 11
Express 8𝑖 + 6𝑖 − 12𝑖 in the form 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖
Contents
Part B
3. Conjugate of a Complex Number
4. Geometrical Representation of a Complex Number
5. Modulus of a Complex Number
3. Conjugate of a Complex Number
• Consider the equation [1]: 𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 25 = 0

𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 25 = 0
(𝑥 − 3)2 +16 = 0
(𝑥 − 3)2 = −16
𝑥 − 3 = ± −16 = ± (−1)(42 )
𝑥 = 3 ± 4𝑖

• The roots are 3 + 4𝑖 and 3 − 4𝑖

3. Conjugate of a Complex Number
• Consider the equation [2]: 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 2 = 0

𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 2 = 0
(𝑥 + 1)2 +1 = 0
(𝑥 + 1)2 = −1
𝑥 + 1 = ± −1 = ±𝑖
𝑥 = −1 ± 𝑖

• The roots are −1 + 𝑖 and −1 − 𝑖

3. Conjugate of a Complex Number

• Both equations [1] and [2] have roots of the type 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖 and 𝑎 − 𝑏𝑖
• Such roots are known as conjugate roots and read as
“𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖 is conjugate to 𝑎 − 𝑏𝑖 and vice versa”
• The complex conjugate (or simply conjugate) of a complex number
𝒛 = 𝒂 + 𝒃𝒊 is defined as the complex number 𝒛ത = 𝒂 − 𝒃𝒊

Note: The conjugate of a complex number is obtained by

changing the sign of the imaginary part.
• Following are some examples of complex conjugates:
• 𝑧 = 2 + 3𝑖 and 𝑧ҧ = 2 − 3𝑖
• 𝑧 = 1 − 𝑖 and 𝑧ҧ = 1 + 𝑖
• 𝑧 = −2 + 10𝑖 and 𝑧ҧ = −2 − 10𝑖
3. Conjugate of a Complex Number

Properties of Complex Conjugates

If 𝑧 is a real number, then 𝑧 = 𝑧ҧ

• The conjugate of a real number is the number itself

• Ex. Let 𝑧 = 5
𝑧 = 5 + 0𝑖
𝑧ҧ = 5 − 0𝑖
𝑧 = 5 = 𝑧ҧ
3. Conjugate of a Complex Number

Properties of Complex Conjugates

If 𝑧 is a purely imaginary number, then 𝑧ҧ = −𝑧

• Ex. If 𝑧 = 3𝑖
𝑧ҧ = 0 − 3𝑖
𝑧ҧ = −3𝑖 = −𝑧
3. Conjugate of a Complex Number

Properties of Complex Conjugates

The conjugate of the conjugate is the number itself

(𝑧)ҧ = 𝑧

• Ex. If 𝑧 = 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖
𝑧ҧ = 𝑎 − 𝑏𝑖
(𝑧)ҧ = 𝑎 − 𝑏𝑖 = 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖 = 𝑧
(𝑧)ҧ = 𝑧
3. Conjugate of a Complex Number

Example: Find the conjugate of each of the

following complex numbers
1. 3 − 4𝑖

2. (2 + 𝑖)2

3. 2𝑖

𝑖+1
4. 2
4. Geometric Representation of a Complex
Number
4. Geometric Representation of a Complex Number
4. Geometric Representation of a Complex Number

Example: Represent complex numbers 2 + 3𝑖

and 3 + 2𝑖 in the same Argand Plane.
4. Geometric Representation of a Complex Number

Example: Represent complex numbers 2 + 3𝑖 and

– 2– 3𝑖 in the same Argand Plane.
4. Geometric Representation of a Complex Number

Example: Represent complex numbers 2 + 3𝑖

and 2– 3𝑖 in the same Argand Plan
4. Geometric Representation of a Complex Number

Example: Represent complex numbers 2 + 3𝑖,

– 2– 3𝑖, 2– 3𝑖 in the same Argand Plane
5. Modulus of a Complex Number
• We have learnt that any complex number 𝑧 = 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖 can be
represented by a point in the Argand Plane.
• How can we find the distance of the point from the origin?
• Let 𝑃(𝑎, 𝑏) be a point in the plane representing 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖.
• Draw perpendiculars PM and PL on x-axis and y-axis respectively.
• Let OM=a and MP=b.
• We have to find the distance of P from the origin.
Properties of Modulus
Properties of Modulus
Properties of Modulus
Properties of Modulus
Example:
Find the modulus of 𝑧 and 𝑧ҧ if 𝑧 =– 4 + 3𝑖
Example:
Find the modulus of 𝑧 and −𝑧 if 𝑧 = 5 + 2𝑖
Example:
Find the modulus of 𝑧, −𝑧 and 𝑧ҧ if 𝑧 = 1 + 2𝑖
Example: Find the modulus of the following
1. 1 + 𝑖

2. 2𝜋

3. 0

1
4. 2
𝑖
Example: Find the absolute value of the conjugate
of the complex number 𝑧 =– 2 + 3𝑖
Example: Find the modulus of the complex
numbers shown in an Argand Plane (Fig. 1.9)