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Complex Numbers 1 Introduction

The document introduces complex numbers, explaining their notation and how they arise in quadratic equations with no real solutions. It defines a complex number as having a real part and an imaginary part, and discusses operations such as addition, subtraction, and multiplication of complex numbers. Exercises are provided to reinforce understanding of these concepts.

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15 views2 pages

Complex Numbers 1 Introduction

The document introduces complex numbers, explaining their notation and how they arise in quadratic equations with no real solutions. It defines a complex number as having a real part and an imaginary part, and discusses operations such as addition, subtraction, and multiplication of complex numbers. Exercises are provided to reinforce understanding of these concepts.

Uploaded by

mmatipashe
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Complex numbers 1 (introduction)

Complex numbers are often first encountered when solving a quadratic equation
of the type for which there are no real solutions eg; x2 + 1 = 0 or x2 + 2x + 5 = 0
(because for both equations the discriminant, b2- 4ac, is negative i.e. <0).
NOTATION
Consider √(-1) = i this implies that (±𝒊)𝟐 = −𝟏
THEN: (i) √−𝟗 = ±𝟑𝒊
(ii) √(−𝟑) = 𝒊√𝟑 basically √−𝟏𝟖 = √−𝟗 × 𝟐 = 𝟑𝒊√𝟐
NOTE that
√−𝟏 is an 𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 number hence we use the letter 𝒊 in some text books they use 𝒋
Try these
(𝑖)√−75 (𝑖𝑖)√−121 (𝑖𝑖𝑖)√−8 (𝑖𝑣)√−7 (𝑣)√−125
(𝑎) (5𝑖) 2 (𝑏) (−7𝑖) 2 (𝑐) 𝑖 3 (𝑑) 𝑖 4 (𝑒) 𝑖 10
COMPLEX NUMBERS; introduced
NOW LET’S CONSIDER the solutions of the following equations
(a) 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 5 = 0 (𝑏) 3𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 2 = 0 (𝑐) 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 1 = 0

SOLUTIONS
−𝟏±𝒊√𝟐𝟑 −𝟏±𝒊√𝟑
(a) 𝑥 = −𝟏 ± 𝟐𝒊 (𝑏) 𝒙 = (c) x = We notice that the
𝟔 𝟐
solutions are in two parts eg on (a) -1 ± 2𝑖 we have -1 which is real and
2i which imaginary we say the solutions are said to be complex.
BY DEFINITION: A complex number x+iy is made up of two parts the real
part x and the imaginary part y
NOTE that any number real or imaginary can be written as a complex number
for example the following cases where;
(i) 5 = 5+0i
(ii) 3i = 0+3i
(iii) -7= -7 + 0i
(iv) -4i = 0 – 4i:
That is why the set of complex numbers ℂ is the mother set of all types of
numbers.
N – natural numbers
Z – integers
Q – rational numbers
R – real numbers
C – complex numbers

ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION OF COMPLEX NUMBERS

When adding and /or subtracting complex numbers the real part is added or
subtracted from the real part and imaginary likewise.
Exercise
Evaluate the following giving your answers in the form a + bi
(i) (2+i) + (-4 – 3i)
(ii) (-7+5i) – (2 – 4i)
3 2
(iii) ( + 𝑖) + (1 − 𝑖)
4 3
(iv) (5 – 4i) – (5 – 3i)
(v) (7+i) – (-3 – 2i) + (1 – 3i)

MULTIPLICATION OF COMPLEX NUMBERS


Multiplication of complex numbers is almost an algebraic process BUT
special care should be taken on dealing with the powers of i
NOTE THAT: i2 = -1
(-i)2 = -1
i3 = -i
i10 = -1
i12 = 1
in = -1, if n is even but not a multiple of 4
in = 1, if n is even and also a multiple of 4
in = -i, if n is odd and n+1 is a multiple of 4
in = i, if n is odd but n+1 is not a multiple of 4
EXERCISE
Evaluate the following giving your answers in the form x+iy where x;y∈ ℝ and
i=√-1
(a) (3 – i)2
(b) (2 + 3i) (3 – 2i)
(c) (1+i) (1-i)
(d) 4i(1-i)
(e) (2+i) (3-i)
(f) (2+5i)3
(g) (1-i)6

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