CAIE P3 Unit 14 Complex numbers

14.1 The idea of a complex number

The complex numbers consists of numbers of the form 𝑎 + 𝑏i, where a and b are real numbers and i2= −1.

Complex numbers of the form 𝑎 + 0i are called __________________________

Complex numbers of the form 0 + 𝑏i are called ___________________________

The real part of 𝑎 + 𝑏i, Re(𝑎 + 𝑏i)=

The imaginary part of 𝑎 + 𝑏i, Im(𝑎 + 𝑏i)=

If two complex numbers are equal, 𝑎 + 𝑏i = 𝑐 + 𝑑i ⇒ 𝑎 = 𝑐 and 𝑏 = 𝑑,

The relations > and < cannot be used to compare pairs of complex numbers.

ℂ 𝕀
ℝ

14.2 Operations with complex numbers

i2 = −1

i3 = i4 = i5 = i6 = i7 = i8 =

(a) Addition and subtraction

(𝑎 + 𝑏i) ± (𝑐 + 𝑑i) = (𝑎 ± 𝑐) + (𝑏 ± 𝑑)i

(b) Multiplication

(i) (𝑎 + 𝑏i)(𝑐 + 𝑑i) =

(ii) (𝑎 + 𝑏i)(𝑎 − 𝑏i) =

⇒ 𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 =
(c) Division (𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 and 𝑑 are real.)
𝑎+𝑏i
(i) =
𝑐

𝑎+𝑏i
(ii) =
𝑑i

𝑎+𝑏i
(iii) =
𝑐+𝑑i

Example 1

The complex number w and z are defined by 𝑤 = 5 + 3i and 𝑧 = 2 − i. Express the followings in the form
𝑥 + 𝑦i.
i𝑤 𝑤𝑧
(i) (ii)
𝑧 2𝑖

𝑤+i
(iii) (iv) i𝑤 2
i𝑧+2
Example 2

The complex numbers u and w satisfy the equations i𝑢 − 𝑤 = 1 + 4i and 𝑢 + 𝑤 = 5 − 2i.

Solve the equations for u and w, giving all answers in the form 𝑥 + 𝑦𝑖, where x and y are real.

Exercise 14A

1. The complex number r and s are defined by 𝑟 = 3 + i and 𝑠 = 1 − 2i. Express the followings in the form
𝑥 + 𝑦i, where x and y are real numbers.
𝑟
(a) 𝑟 − 𝑠 (b) 2𝑟 + 𝑠 (c) 𝑟𝑠 (d) 𝑟 2 (e) 𝑠

2. Find the values of x and y if (2 + i)(𝑥 + 𝑦i) = 1 + 3i, where x and y are real numbers.
1 7
1. (a) 2 + 3i (c) 5 − 5i (e) + i 2. x =1, y =1
5 5

(b) 7 (d) 8 + 6i

14.3 Solving equations

 The meaning of conjugate complex numbers

Complex number 𝑧 = 𝑥 + 𝑦i, 𝑧 ∗ = 𝑥 − 𝑦i are conjugate complex numbers.

(a) 𝑧 + 𝑧 ∗ =

(b) 𝑧 − 𝑧 ∗ =

(c) 𝑧𝑧 ∗ =

(i) z = 5 + 2i ⇒ z* = (5 + 2i)* = (ii) 𝑧 = 7 ⇒ z*=(7)* =

(iii) 𝑧 = 2𝑖 ⇒ z* = (2i)* = (iv) (−2 + 3i)* =

Important properties of conjugate complex numbers
If w and z are complex numbers, then
(i) (𝑤 ± 𝑧)∗ = 𝑤 ∗ ± 𝑧 ∗
(ii) (𝑤𝑧)∗ = 𝑤 ∗ 𝑧 ∗ (𝑎𝑧)∗ = 𝑎𝑧 ∗ , a is a real number
𝑤 𝑤∗
(iii) ( 𝑧 )∗ = 𝑧∗
(iv) (𝑧 ) = (𝑧 ∗ )𝑛 , n is a positive integer
𝑛 ∗

If a quadratic equation with real coefficient has two complex roots, these roots are ____________________.

−𝑏±√𝑏 2 −4𝑎𝑐
𝑎𝑧 2 + 𝑏𝑧 + 𝑐 = 0 ⇒ 𝑧 = 2𝑎
2
If 𝑏 − 4𝑎𝑐 ≥ 0 ⇒ both z are ________________________
If 𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 < 0 ⇒ both z are ________________________

If p(z) with real coefficient and

if s is a complex root of the equation p(z)=0, then s* is also a root. (non-real roots occur as conjugate pairs)

Example 1
Solve the equation 𝑧 2 + 4𝑧 + 13 = 0.

Example 2
f(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 10, show that (𝑥 − 2) is a factor of f(x). Hence solve the equation f(𝑥) = 0.
Example3
(i) Show that (1 + i)4 = −4.

(ii) Prove that (1+ i) is a root of the equation 𝑧 4 + 3𝑧 2 − 6𝑧 + 10 = 0. Find all other roots.
Example 4
It is given that −1 + i√5 is a root of the equation 𝑧 3 + 2𝑧 + 𝑎 = 0, where a is real. Showing your working,
find the value of a, and write down the other complex root and the real number root of this equation.

Example 5
Solve the pair of simultaneous equations (1 + i)𝑧 + (2 − i)𝑤 = 3 + 4i and i𝑧 + (3 + i)𝑤 = −1 + 5i.
 𝟑
The values of cube roots of one, √𝟏

(i) Solve the equation 𝑧 3 = 1.

1
(ii) Hence, solve (a) 𝑧 3 = 8 (b) (𝑧 − 5)3 = 8 (c) (2𝑧 + 3)3 = 64
Exercise 14B
1. Prove that −2 + i is a root of the equation 𝑧 4 + 24𝑧 + 55 = 0. Find all the other roots.
2. Solve the pair of simultaneous equations 5𝑧 − (3 + i)𝑤 = 7 − i and (2 − i)𝑧 + 2i𝑤 = −1 + i.
3. Verify that 1 + i√3 is one of the complex roots of the equation 2𝑥 3 − 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 12 = 0. State the other
complex root.
4. Solve the equation (i) 𝑧 3 = 1 (ii) (𝑧 − 8)3 = 64.
−1±i√3
1. −2 − i, 2 ± i√7 2. 𝑧 = 1 + i, 𝑤 = 2i 3. 1−i√3 4. (i) 1, 2
(ii) 12, 6±2√3i

The square roots of a complex number

The two square roots of z are

±√𝑧 = ±(𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖)

⇒ 𝑧 = (𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖)2 where 𝑎 ∈ ℝ, 𝑏 ∈ ℝ

⇒𝑧=

⇒ Re(z)= Im(z)=

Example
Find the square roots of (a) 8i (b) 3 − 4i
14.4 Equation with complex coefficient

−𝑏±√𝑏 2 −4𝑎𝑐
If a, b and c are not all real numbers 𝑎𝑧 2 + 𝑏𝑧 + 𝑐 = 0 ⇒ 𝑧 = , the non-real root may not occurs
2𝑎
as conjugate pairs.

Example 1
Solve the equation (2 − i)𝑧 2 + (3 + i)𝑧 − 5 = 0. Give your answers in the form 𝑎 + 𝑏i.

Exercise14C
1. Find the square roots of
(a) −2𝑖 (b) −3 + 4i (c) 5 + 12i
2. Solve the following quadratic equations.
(a) 𝑧 2 + 4𝑧 + (4 + 2i) = 0 (b) (1 + i)𝑧 2 + (2i)𝑧 + 4i = 0

Answers 2. (a) −1 − i, −3 + i

1. (a) 1 − i, −1 + 𝑖 (b) −2i, −1 + i

(b) 1 + 2i, −1 − 2i

(c) 3 + 2i, −3 − 2i
14.5 Geometrical representations

Argand diagram

Show the following points on the Argand diagram:

A representing 2 − 3i, B representing −3 + i, C representing 2i and D representing 5.

Imaginary axis

real axis

Triangle/Parallelogram rule (same as vector) in Argand diagram, z and w are complex numbers.
Im Im

z 𝑧+𝑤 z 𝑤−𝑧

Re Re
O O
w w

The graph of the conjugate pairs 𝑧 and 𝑧 ∗ is a reflection in the x-axis. Im

z
Re
z*
14.6 The modulus and argument of a complex number

The modulus of 𝑧 = 𝑎 + 𝑏i is denoted by |𝑧| = √𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 (distance covered by the translation).

⇒ |𝑧|2 = 𝑧𝑧 ∗

Example1:

(i) 𝑧 = 5 − 3i ⇒ |𝑧| = (ii) 𝑧 = 3i ⇒ |𝑧| =

Example 2:

The complex number z is defined by 𝑧 = 𝑎 + 𝑏i, where a and b are real. The complex conjugate of z is denoted
by z*.

(i) Show that |𝑧|2 = 𝑧𝑧 ∗ and (𝑧 − 𝑘𝑖)∗ = 𝑧 ∗ + 𝑘i, where k is real.

(ii) Show, by squaring both sides, that the equation |𝑧 − 10i| = 2|𝑧 − 4i| can be written as

𝑧𝑧 ∗ − 2𝑖𝑧 ∗ + 2𝑖𝑧 − 12 = 0.
The argument of 𝑧 = ±𝜃, where 𝜃 is the angle between the positive real axis and the line OP where point P is
representing the complex number z. −𝜋 < 𝜃 ≤ 𝜋. ( The argument is not defined if 𝑧 = 0)

arg(𝑧1 ) = 𝜃 arg(𝑧2 ) = −𝜃

Example:

Find the modulus and the argument of the complex numbers :

(i) 1 + i (ii) −4 + 3i

(iii) 4 − 3i (iv) −1 − i

(v) 8 (vi) −8

(vii) 2i (viii) −2i

14.7 Complex numbers in polar form

The complex number 𝑧 = 𝑥 + 𝑦i (≠ 0) can be written in modulus-argument form as

𝑧 = 𝑟(cos 𝜃 + 𝑖 sin 𝜃), where 𝑟 = |𝑧| , 𝜃 = arg(z).

z* =

Write the complex numbers in modulus-argument form.

(i) 𝑧 = √3 + i = (ii) 𝑤 = −1 − √3i =

(iii) 2 = (iv) −2 =

(v) −1 + i = (vi) 1 − i =

14.8 Multiplication and division in modulus-argument form

(i) |𝑧𝑤| = |𝑧||𝑤|, arg(zw) = arg(z) + arg(w) + 𝑘(2𝜋)

𝑧 |𝑧| 𝑧
(ii) |𝑤| = |𝑤| , arg(𝑤) = arg(z) – arg(w) + 𝑘(2𝜋)

where 𝑘 = −1, 0 or 1 is chosen so that the argument, 𝜃 lies in

the interval −𝜋 < 𝜃 ≤ 𝜋.

These mean if 𝑧1 = 𝑟1 (cos 𝜃1 + 𝑖 sin 𝜃1 ) and 𝑧2 = 𝑟2 (cos 𝜃2 + 𝑖 sin 𝜃2 ),

⇒ 𝑧1 𝑧2 =
𝑧
⇒ 𝑧1 =
2
Example 1

The complex numbers w and z are defined by 𝑤 = 5 + 3i and 𝑧 = 4 + i. Find wz and hence, by considering
3 1 1
arguments, show that tan−1 (5) + tan−1 (4) = 4 𝜋.

Example 2
𝑤
The complex numbers w and z are defined by 𝑤 = 1 + 2i and 𝑧 = 1 − 3i. Find and hence, by considering
𝑧
3
arguments, show that tan−1(2) + tan−1(3) = 4 𝜋.
Example 3
2
The complex number 2i is denoted by u. The complex number with modulus 1 and argument 𝜋 is
3

denoted by w.
𝑢
(i) Find in the form 𝑥 + i𝑦, where x and y are real, the complex numbers w, uw and 𝑤.

𝑢
(ii) Sketch an Argand diagram showing the points U, A and B representing the complex numbers, u, uw and 𝑤
respectively.

(iii) Prove that triangle UAB is equilateral.

 |𝑧 2 | = 𝑟 2 and arg(𝑧 2 ) = 2𝜃 + 𝑘(2𝜋), 𝑘 = −1, 0 or 1

(𝑥 + 𝑦𝑖)2 = 𝑟 2 (cos 2𝜃 + 𝑖 sin 2𝜃)

In general,

(𝑥 + 𝑦𝑖)𝑛 = 𝑟 𝑛 (cos 𝑛𝜃 + 𝑖 sin 𝑛𝜃)

Example 1: Find the value of the following complex numbers.

(i) (1 + i)4 (ii) (−1 − 𝑖)10

The square root of 𝑧 = 𝑟(cos 𝜃 + 𝑖 sin 𝜃) are √𝑧 and −√𝑧, Im

𝜃 𝜃
√𝑧 = √𝑟(cos + 𝑖 sin )
2 2
𝜃 𝜃
−√𝑧 = √𝑟 (cos (2 − 𝜋) + 𝑖 sin (2 − 𝜋)) if 𝜃 > 0
√𝑟 𝜃
𝜃 𝜃
2 Re
= √𝑟 (cos (2 + 𝜋) + 𝑖 sin (2 + 𝜋)) if 𝜃 < 0
√𝑟 𝜃
−𝜋
2

Example 2

Find the two square roots of the complex numbers in modulus-argument form.
3𝜋 3𝜋
(i) 1 + √3𝑖 (ii) 9(cos (− ) + sin(− )
4 4
Example 3
1 1 4 4
If 𝑠 = 3 (cos 𝜋 + 𝑖 sin 𝜋) and if 𝑠 2 𝑡 = 18(cos (− 𝜋) + 𝑖 sin (− 𝜋) ), express t in modulus-argument
5 5 5 5
form.

14.9 The exponential form (𝒆𝜽𝒊 = 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽 + 𝒊 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽)

The Cartesian form: 𝑧= z* =

The modulus-argument form: 𝑧= z* =

The exponential form: 𝑧= z* =

𝑒 𝑥+𝑦i =

𝑒 2+𝜋i =

Example 1

Write the complex numbers in the form 𝑒 𝜃𝑖 , where 𝑟 > 0 and −𝜋 < 𝜃 ≤ 𝜋:

(i) 𝑢 = 1 − √3i (ii) w = 8i

1 1
(iii) z =5(cos 𝜋 − i sin 𝜋) (iv) 𝑢𝑧
5 5

𝑤
(v) (vi) the two square roots of 𝑢
𝑢
Example 2
1
𝜋i
The complex number w is defined by 𝑤 = 2𝑒 4 . In an Argand diagram, the points A, B and C represent the
complex numbers 𝑤, 𝑤 3 and 𝑤 ∗ respectively ( where w* denotes the complex conjugate of w). Draw the
Argand diagram showing the points A, B and C, and calculate the area of triangle ABC.

14.10 The locus representing a complex number

Show on a Argand diagram or describe the locus of the point which represents z where

(a)(i) |𝒛 − 𝒂| = 𝒌

Let point A represents a and P represents z ⇒ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

𝐴𝑃 = 𝑧 − 𝑎

The locus of point P is a circle with centre at

P point A and radius k units.
k
A

(ii) |𝒛 − 𝒂| ≤ 𝒌
The locus is the interior and the boundary of the circle
P with centre at point A and radius k units.
k
A
Example 1

(i) On a sketch of an Argand diagram, shade the region whose points represent complex numbers satisfying the
inequalities |𝑧 − 3 − 2i| ≤ 2.

(ii) Calculate the maximum value of arg z for points lying in the shaded region.

Example 2

A complex number z satisfies |𝑧 − 3 − 4i| = 2. Show on an Argand diagram the locus of the point which
represents z. Find

(i) the greatest value of |𝑧|,

(ii) the difference between the greatest and the least values of arg z.
Example 3

The complex number z is defined by the equation |𝑧 − 2i| = 4. Describe the set of points representing complex
numbers z geometrically.

(b) (i) |𝒛 − 𝒂| = |𝒛 − 𝒃|

Let point A represents a, B represents b and P represents z

⇒ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐴𝑃 = 𝑧 − 𝑎 and ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐵𝑃 = 𝑧 − 𝑏
B
The locus is a perpendicular bisector of AB.

A
P

(ii) |𝒛 − 𝒂| ≤ |𝒛 − 𝒃|

Point P is a point lies in the shaded region and on the

B line of perpendicular bisector of AB.

Example 1

On a sketch of an Argand diagram, illustrate the set of possible positions of point P which represents the
complex number z if |𝑧 + 3 − 2i| = |𝑧|.
Example 2

(i) On a sketch of an Argand diagram, shade the region whose points represent complex numbers satisfying the
inequalities |𝑧 − 2 − i| ≤ 1 and |𝑧 − i| ≤ |𝑧 − 2|.

(ii) Calculate the maximum value of arg z for points lying in the region.

(c) Arg(𝒛 − 𝒂) = 𝜽

Im
The locus is a straight line start from point A and makes
Px
an angle 𝜃 with the horizontal.
𝜃
A

Re
O

Example 1

In an Argand diagram, the point P represents the complex number z. Illustrate the set of possible positions of
1
point P for arg(𝑧 − 1 + 2i) = − 4 𝜋.
Example 2

On an Argand diagram, sketch the locus representing complex numbers z satisfying |𝑧 + i| = 1 and the locus
3
representing complex numbers w satisfying arg(𝑤 − 2) = 4 𝜋. Find the least value of |𝑧 − 𝑤|for points on
these loci.
Spiral enlargement
𝐶 The points A, B and C representing the complex number a, b and c.

𝑧1 = ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐴𝐵 = 𝑏 − 𝑎, 𝑧2 = ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐴𝐶 = 𝑐 − 𝑎
𝑧2
𝐵 Transformation from 𝑧1 to 𝑧2 is a spiral enlargement where |𝑧2 | = 𝑘|𝑧1 | and
𝛼 𝑧1 turn at an angle, 𝛼 anticlockwise or 𝛽 clockwise from 𝑧1 .
𝛽
𝐴 𝑧1 = 𝑟1 (cos 𝜃1 + i sin 𝜃1 ), 𝑧2 = 𝑟2 (cos 𝜃2 + i sin 𝜃2 )
𝑧2
𝑧2 𝑟2
𝐶 = (cos(𝜃2 − 𝜃1 ) + i sin(𝜃2 − 𝜃1 ))
𝑧1 𝑟1
𝑟
since 𝑟2 = 𝑘𝑟1 ⇒ 𝑟2 = 𝑘 and 𝜃2 − 𝜃1 = 𝛼 or −𝛽
1

𝑧2
⇒ = 𝑘(cos 𝛼 + i sin 𝛼) or 𝑘(cos(−𝛽) + i sin(−𝛽))
𝑧1

Example 1
Example 2

A is a point in an Argand diagram representing 3 − 2i. Find the complex numbers represented by the two
𝜋
possible points B such that 𝑂𝐵 = 2𝑂𝐴 and angle 𝐴𝑂𝐵 = 3 .