Complex Numbers

Components
- There are two different components that make a complex number. An Imaginary number and a Real
number.
- Imaginary numbers are denoted by an i and are believed to be Imaginary, due to possessing a value of
√−1
Real Number System
- Real numbers contains the values of a Real Number System
z = x+yi
- In this case Re(z) = x and Im(z) = y
Powers of i
𝑖 4𝑛 = 1 where n ∈ ℝ (0, 1, 2, 3….)
𝑖 4𝑛+1 = i

𝑖 4𝑛+2 = -1

𝑖 4𝑛+3 = -i
Addition/Subtraction of Complex Numbers
- While adding/subtracting Complex Numbers, only components with similar terms can be
added/subtracted together (eg. 2 +2 = 4, √3 + 2 ≠ 2√3 )
Addition

Assume 𝒛𝟏 = 𝒂 + 𝒃𝒊 and 𝒛𝟐 = 𝒄 + 𝒅𝒊

𝒛𝟏 + 𝒛𝟐 = (𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖) + (𝑐 + 𝑑𝑖)

=≫ (𝑎 + 𝑐) + (𝑏 + 𝑑)𝑖

Subtraction

Assume 𝒛𝟏 = 𝒂 + 𝒃𝒊 and 𝒛𝟐 = 𝒄 + 𝒅𝒊

𝒛𝟏 − 𝒛𝟐 = (𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖) − (𝑐 + 𝑑𝑖)
(𝑎 − 𝑐) + (𝑏 − 𝑑)𝑖
For Example:
Assume a = 3 + 2i and b = 6 + 3i. Solve for a+b
- Firstly, we must substitute the values of a and b.
a+b = (3 + 2i) + (6 + 3i)
- Now, we must add the identical components, which in this case are 3 and 6, and 2i and 3i.
(3 + 6) + (2 + 3)i
9 + 5i

Syndicate
- Therefore, a+b equals to 9 + 5i

Try the following examples:

Assume x = 3 + 2i, y = 5i and z = 8 – 4i
1. x + y 3. x -y

2. z – x 4. (z – x) + (y – x)

Multiplication by Scalars
- A Complex Number (Cartesian form) can be successfully be multiplied by a scalar.
k(a + bi) can be extended to ka + kbi
For Example:
Assume z = 3 – 2i and k = 2, then what is kz
kz
2(3 – 2i)
- This can be successively be multiplied algebraically.
6 – 4i

Try the following examples:

Assume y = 2 + 3i and z = 5 –i
1. ky (where k = 2) 3. ny (where n = 3)

2. nz (where n = 3) 4. kz (where k = 2)

Multiplication of Complex Numbers

- Multiplication of Complex Number (Cartesian form) can be achieved by using the distributive law.

Assume 𝑧1 = 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖 and 𝑧2 = 𝑐 + 𝑑𝑖

𝑧1 𝑧2 = (a+bi)(c+di)
- Now using the distributive law, we can simply multiply the two complex number.

ac+ adi+cbi+db𝑖 2
- We know that 𝑖 2 is equivalent to -1, thus, we must multiply db by -1
ac+adi+cbi-db
For Example:

Syndicate
Assume a = 7 + 3i and b = 2 - i. Solve for ab
- Firstly, we must substitute the values of a and b.
ab = (7 + 3i)(2 - i)
- Now, using the distributive law, we can multiply the complex numbers.
(7 x 2) + (7 x –i) + (3i x 2) + (3i x i)
14 – 7i + 6i – 3
- Now, we must collect the like terms, using the method, presented in “addition/ subtraction of
Complex Numbers”
(14 – 3) + (-7 + 6)i
11 - i
Try the following examples:
Assume x = 2 + 3i, y = 4 – 3i and z = 5i
1. z(2x – y) 3. 3y- x

2. xy + yz 4. 2z – 3i

Modulus

- Modulus of a Complex Number (z) is denoted by |𝑧|. It is the length of a Complex Number, and is
defined as √𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 (where x is the real number and y is the imaginary number). It is originally formed
from the Pythagoras Theorem, where |𝑧| can also be thought of as the hypotenuse (it will be discussed
thoroughly in the topic “Polar Forms” below).

Note: The result will always be positive.

For Example:

Assume z = 3 – 2i, find |𝑧|

|𝑧| = √32 + (−2)2

|𝑧| = √9 + 4

|𝑧| = √13

- Therefore, the length of z is √13.

Conjugate

- Conjugate of a Complex Number (z) is denoted by ̅.

𝑧 The values of Im(z) and Re(z) remains the same,
however, the sign (arithmetic symbol) changes.

Assume z = a + bi, then ̅𝑧 will equal to a – bi

- When a complex number is multiplied by its conjugate, the result will be |𝑧|2= 𝑧𝑧̅

Syndicate
- Other applying rules are: - ̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅
𝑧1+ 𝑧2 = ̅𝑧̅̅1̅+ ̅̅𝑧̅̅2
- ̅̅̅̅̅̅
𝑧1 𝑧2 = ̅𝑧̅̅1̅ x ̅̅𝑧̅̅2
̅̅̅̅̅
𝑧 ̅̅̅
𝑧1
- (𝑧1 ) = ̅̅̅
𝑧
2 2

For Example:

Assume z = 3 – 7i. Find what ̅𝑧 is.

̅𝑧 = 3 +7i
Try the following examples:
Assume x = 6i, y = 3-2i and z = 1 +4i

1. ̅𝑧 3. ̅𝑥
𝑧 + 𝑦̅𝑥

2. 𝑥̅ + 𝑦 4. ̅𝑦𝑦

Division of Complex Numbers

- Division of Complex Numbers (Cartesian form) can be successfully completed, when multiplied by the
denominator’s conjugate.
𝑦
Assume z = a + bi and y = c + di. Solve 𝑧

𝑦 𝑐 + 𝑑𝑖
=
𝑧 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖

- In this situation, we must multiply by the conjugate of z to gain an appropriate answer.

𝑐 + 𝑑𝑖 𝑎 − 𝑏𝑖
𝑥
𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖 𝑎 − 𝑏𝑖

- As we learnt about multiplying complex number (in Cartesian form) in previously. Now, we can use the
distributive law to successfully solve this question.
(𝑐 + 𝑑𝑖)(𝑎 − 𝑏𝑖)
(𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖)(𝑎 − 𝑏𝑖)

𝑎𝑐 − 𝑐𝑏𝑖 + 𝑎𝑑𝑖 − 𝑑𝑏𝑖 2

𝑎2 − 𝑎𝑏𝑖 + 𝑎𝑏𝑖 − 𝑏𝑖 2
𝑎𝑐 − 𝑐𝑏𝑖 + 𝑎𝑑𝑖 + 𝑑𝑏
𝑎2 + 𝑏2

- Now, the like terms can be add/subtracted together to gain the final answer.
(𝑎𝑐 + 𝑑𝑏) + (𝑎𝑑 − 𝑐𝑏)
𝑎2 + 𝑏2

For Example:
𝑥
Assume x = 2 + 3i and y = 3 - i. Solve for
𝑦

𝑥 2+3𝑖
=
𝑦 3−𝑖

Syndicate
 2 + 4𝑖 3 + 𝑖
𝑥
3−𝑖 3+𝑖
(2 + 4𝑖)(3 + 𝑖)
(3 − 𝑖)(3 + 𝑖)

6 + 4𝑖 + 7𝑖 − 4
9 + 3𝑖 − 3𝑖 + 1
(6 − 4) + (4 + 7)𝑖
10
𝑥 𝟐+𝟏𝟏𝐢
Therefore equals to 𝟏𝟎
, 𝟐
which can also be written as 𝟏𝟎 +
𝟏𝟏
𝐢
𝑦 𝟏𝟎

Try the following examples:

Assume x = 3 + i, y = 4 - 3i and z = 1 +5i
2𝑥 𝑧
1. 3.
𝑦 𝑥𝑦

𝑥 𝑦
2. 4. 2𝑦
𝑧

Argand diagram
- An Argand diagram is used to plot a Complex Number, which can be directly plotted on the imaginary
and real axis.
- The Imaginary number can be plotted on the y-axis.
- The Real number can be plotted on the x-axis.
For Example:

Assume z = 3 + 5i. Plot z and ̅𝑧

- In this situation, 3 is the real number (x-axis), and 5 is the imaginary number (y-axis)
Im(z)

5i
Re(z)

-5i

Syndicate
Plot the following examples:
Assume x = 3 + 6i, y = 5i and z = -8 - 2i

1. xy 3. x

2. ̅𝑧 4. y-x

Im

Re

Polar Forms Representation

- The Polar form (also known as the modulus-argument form) is another method to express Complex
Numbers. The Cartesian form of a Complex Number can be ‘translated’ into the Polar form, simply by
finding the angle and the length of the Complex Number. A Complex Number in Polar form is written
as rcis𝜽
- rcis𝜽 can also be written as:

r∡𝜃

r(cos𝜃+ isin𝜃)
- To find the length of a Complex Number (denoted as a “r”), we must simply use the formula to find the
modulus of a Complex Number.

r = |𝑧| = √𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 (where x is the Re(z) and y is the Im(z))

- To find the argument (angle) of a Complex Number, we must use the formula:
𝑦
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 = 𝑥
(where x is the Re(z) and y is the Im(z))

Syndicate
 Assume z = a +bi, turn the following into Polar form

r = |𝑧| = √𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2

√𝑎2 + 𝑏 2
𝐼𝑚(𝑧)
- As we have found the radius (|z|), we can now find the angle, by using the formula 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 = 𝑅𝑒(𝑧)

𝐼𝑚(𝑧)
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 =
𝑅𝑒(𝑧)

- As we need to find the angle, we need to use simple algebraic abilities, and use 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 to leave 𝜑 by
itself.
𝑏
𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1
𝑎
NOTE: If the angle isn’t following the convention " − 𝜋 < 𝜃 < 𝜋" (-180<𝜃<180), we must add or
subtract by 𝜋 (180) or – 𝜋 (-180).
- Now we can write the following in Polar Form.

|𝑧|cis𝜃

NOTE: Complex Numbers can be written with an angle or in radians. VCAA prefers polar forms
written in radians, thus, we must always conclude with an answer in the radians form.

- If drawn, the polar form would look like:

- where r is the modulus, and

𝜃 is the argument of z
- b is the Imaginary number,
and a is the Real number.

Syndicate
- On the diagram, the point (a, b) are Complex Numbers plotted on the Argand Diagram. The modulus
(r) is the length of from the origin and (a, b), while 𝜃 is the argument located between the modulus and
the real-axis.

For Example:
Assume z = 2 - 2i. Turn the following into Polar form.

- Firstly, we must find the modulus of z

r = |𝑧| = √𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2

√22 + (−2)2

√4 + 4 = 2√2 =
- Now, we must find Arg(z) (angle)
𝐼𝑚(𝑧)
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜑 =
𝑅𝑒(𝑧)
−2
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜑 = 2
= 𝜑 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 − 1

∴ 𝜑 = −45°
𝜋
- 45° can also be written as an exact radian value, which is − 4
- Therefore, the Polar form of z = 2 - 2i is:
𝜋
2√2cis− 4
𝜋 𝜋
2√2 (cos- + isin- )
4 4

Try the following examples:

Convert the following into Polar form:
1. 3 + 4i 3. 2 – 3i

2. 1 – i 4. (7 +3i) + ( -5 – 2i)
Conversion from Polar form to Cartesian form
- Polar form can also be converted into the Cartesian form of a Complex Number, simply by multiply the
radius (modulus) by cos and isin
- Re(z) can be worked out by finding the value of cos𝜃 and then multiplying it by the modulus (r).

Syndicate
- Im(z) can be worked out by finding the value of sin𝜃, and then multiplying it by the modulus (r).

Imaginary Number

Real Number

For Example:
𝜋
Convert 2√2cis-4 into rectangular (Cartesian) form
𝜋 𝜋
Re(z) = 2√2 x cos-4 and Im(z) = 2√2 x isin-4

𝜋 𝜋 √2 𝜋 −√2
- As we know that- 4 is -45°, we can find the exact values of cos-4 ( 2 ) and sin-4 ( 2
)

√2 −√2
Re(z) =2 √2 x and Im(z) =2 √2 x
2 2

Re(z) = 2 and Im(z) = -2i

𝜋
- Therefore, the rectangular form of 2√2cis- is 2 - 2i
4

Try the following questions:

Convert the following into Cartesian form
3𝜋 3𝜋
1. 8cis 3. 3cis
4 2

4𝜋
2. 2cis 4. Cis𝜋
3

Division/ Multiplication in Polar form

- Multiplication of Complex Numbers can be achieved by multiplying the modulus and adding the
arguments (angles)

Assume z = rcisθ and w = gcisα

𝑤𝑧 = 𝑟𝑐𝑖𝑠𝜃 × 𝑔𝑐𝑖𝑠𝛼
(𝑟 × 𝑔)𝑐𝑖𝑠 (𝜃 + 𝛼)

Syndicate
For Example:
𝜋 𝜋
Find zw, where z = 2cis4 and w = 3cis12
𝜋 𝜋
2cis x 3cis
4 12
3𝜋 𝜋
2x3 cis 12 + 12
𝜋 3𝜋
- 4
is the same as 12

4𝜋
6𝑐𝑖𝑠
12
4𝜋 𝜋
- 12
can be simplifies down to 3

𝜋
- Therefore zw equals to 6𝑐𝑖𝑠
3

- Division can be successively worked out by dividing the modulus, and subtracting the arguments from
one another.

Assume z = rcisθ and w = gcisα

𝑤𝑧 = 𝑟𝑐𝑖𝑠𝜃 ÷ 𝑔𝑐𝑖𝑠𝛼
(𝑟 ÷ 𝑔)𝑐𝑖𝑠 (𝜃 − 𝛼)

For Example:
𝑧 𝜋 𝜋
Find 𝑤 where z = 2cis4 and w = 3cis12
𝜋 𝜋
2cis 4 ÷3cis12
3𝜋 𝜋
2÷3 cis -
12 12
𝜋 3𝜋
- 4
is the same as 12

2 2𝜋
𝑐𝑖𝑠
3 12
2𝜋 𝜋
- 12
can be simplifies down to 6

𝑧 2 𝜋
- Therefore 𝑤 equals to 3 𝑐𝑖𝑠 6

Syndicate
Try the following questions:
3𝜋 𝜋 3𝜋 4𝜋
1. 8cis × 2𝑐𝑖𝑠 3. 6cis ÷ 3𝑐𝑖𝑠
4 6 12 3

𝜋 2𝜋 𝜋
2. 2cis 3 × 5𝑐𝑖𝑠 6
4. 4Cis𝜋 ÷ 5𝑐𝑖𝑠 5

Syndicate