Chapter 17

Complex Numbers and Complex Impedance

for Series AC Circu its
INTRODUCTION
It is important to understand complex numbers because impedance, voltage, and current of ac circuits are
best expressed in terms of complex numbers. Circuit calculations are simplified when using complex numbers.
In previous chapters, ac circuits were analyzed without applying complex numbers.

DEFINITION OF A COMPLEX NUMBER

A complex number z has the form x + j y where x and y are real numbers and j is the unit imaginary
number. It is conventional to use a bold face letter symbol for all complex numbers. In complex number
x + jy, the first term x is called the real part and the second term jy is called the imaginary part.

X + jy
Real part
y Imaginary part

Complex numbers can be represented by perpendicular axes, one axis representing the real part and the
other axis the imaginary part (Fig. 17-1 ).

+ Imaginary axis

-Real axis + Real axis

0

- Imaginary axis

Fig. 17-1 Real and imaginary axes

Eight complex numbers, z 1, through zs, are plotted in Fig. 17-2.

Note that for z1 = 4, so y = 0 and hence z1 is a real number 4 and corresponds to a point on the real
axis. Note that for Z4 = j6, x = 0, so that Z4 is a pure imaginary number j6 and corresponds to a point on
the j axis. Thus, complex numbers include all real and all pure imaginary numbers.

OPERATOR j
The unit imaginary number j is known as operator j. When operator j is multiplied by a real number a,
j x a means a 90° change of a in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 17-3a). When we multiply j twice,
j x j x a = j 2 x a = -a, the result is 180° counterclockwise change in direction shown in (b ). When we
multiply j three times, j x j x j x a = j 3 x a = j (j 2 ) x a = - j x a, the change in direction is 270° shown
in (c). And when j is multiplied four times, j x j x j x j x a= j 4 x a= (j 2 ) (j 2 ) x a= (-1) (-1) x a= a,
we go back full circle as shown in (d).

385
386 COMPLEX NUMBERS AND COMPLEX IMPEDANCE FOR SERIES AC CIRCUITS [CHAP. 17

j Imaginary

•
j5
Z3 = 3 + j4
j4 --------------~
I
I
I
j3 I
I
I
z6 =-3 + j2 I
I
t------------j2 I
I
I
z7 =2+jl:
jl ---------, :
:
I
: z, =4
I
Real

-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -J 2 3 4 5 6
I I
I I
I
I
-jl I
I
I I
I I
I I
I -j2 I
I I
I I
I I
I I
I
•------ ---------- j3 I
z 5 =-4-j3 I
I
I
- j4
i
-------------- · I
~ =3-j4
I
-j5 -----------------------------•
Zg=6 - j5
-j6

-j

Fig. 17-2 Plots of complex numbers

Imaginary

ja Counterclockwise
)Xa j3x a

- - - - - I - - - - - Real
a -a a a

-ja

(a) j x a (b) j2 X a (c)j 3 xa (d) j 4 X a

Fig. 17-3 j operations

Mathematically, j is defined as j = .J=T

j2 = j X j = -1
i=/xj=-j

j4 = j2 X j2 = (-1) X (-1) = 1
.5 .4 . 1 . .
) =] Xj= Xj=j
CHAP. 17] COMPLEX NUMBERS AND COMPLEX IMPEDANCE FOR SERIES AC CIRCUITS 387

and so on. [i is used outside electrical engineering to represent j .] Figure 17-4 illustrates the operator j
principle when a = 3 for j3 , -3 , - j3 , and 3.

j Imaginary

j3

I
;/ ' ~,
I
I
I
'' \
I \
I \

,,
I \
I
I Real

- 3\
,,
0 'a=3
I
I I
\ I
\ I
\ I
\ I

' ;1'
4..,,, ,-' j rotates number 90°
' ,
---- j3 --- ' counterclockwise

Fig. 17-4 Plot of points when a= 3

RECTANGULAR AND POLAR FORMS OF COMPLEX NUMBERS

Consider the complex number

Z =X + jy (17-1)

The graph of z is shown in Fig. 17-5. The quadrature (90-degree) components of z are given by the numbers
x and y . Since y is multiplied by j, it lies on the imaginary axis. The form x + j y is called the rectangular
form . Another way to indicate a complex number is the polar form expressed as

z = z,& (17-2)

Imaginary

z =x + jy, rectangular form

j y -- - -- -- ------
z =z LO, polar form
z

Fig. 17-5 Graph of complex number z = x + jy

388 COMPLEX NUMBERS AND COMPLEX IMPEDANCE FOR SERIES AC CIRCUITS [CHAP. 17

where z = magnitude of z
0 = direction of z with respect to the positive real axis
To convert from rectangular to polar form, refer to Fig. 17-5. From trigonometry
x = z cos0
y = z sin0

Substituting z= x + jy = z(cos 0 + j sin 0)

z=Jx2+y2
0 = arctan(y / x)
Substituting z and 0 values into Eq. (17-2),

z = Jx2 + y2 /2ctan(y/ x) (17-3)

Example 17.1 Convert the polar form z = !OL2Q0 into the rectangular form and show graph.
Write the rectangular form:

Z =X + jy (17-1)

Find x :

x = z cos0 = 10cos30° = 10(0.866) = 8.66

Find y :

y = z sin0 = 10sin30° = 10(0.500) =5

Therefore, z = 8.66 + )5 Ans.

Imaginary

)5 z = 8.66+j5
I
I
I
I
Graph. Ans.

Example 17.2 Convert the rectangular form z = 8.66 + )5 to the polar form.
Write the polar form :

z= z,dz. (17-2)

Find z:

J J
z = x2 + y2 = (8.66) 2 + (5) 2 = v'100 = 10