Engineering Mathematics 1

Complex Numbers
B.Eng(Hons) in Aerospace Engineering
B.Eng(Hons) in Mechanical Engineering
Complex Numbers

Introduction
We call −1 an imaginary number to distinguish it from
those numbers to which we can associate quantity which
we call real numbers.

The solutions to the quadratic equation 𝑥 2 − 1 = 0 are:

𝑥1 = 1 𝑥2 = −1
The solutions to the quadratic equation 𝑥 2 + 1 = 0 are:
𝑥1 = −1 𝑥2 = − −1
We avoid the clumsy notation by defining: i = −1
Some text books use
notation of j = −𝟏
Complex Numbers

Because i2 = −1 then:
Because i = −1 then: 1
𝑖 = − = −𝑖 −1
𝑖
Positive powers Negative powers
𝑖 2 = −1 𝑖 −1 = −𝑖
𝑖 3 = 𝑖 2 𝑖 = −1 −1 = −𝑖 𝑖 −2 = 𝑖 2 −1 = −1 −1 = −1
𝑖 4 = 𝑖 3 𝑖 = −𝑖 ∙ 𝑖 = 1 𝑖 −3 = 𝑖 −2 𝑖 −1 = −1 ∙ −𝑖 = 𝑖
𝑖 5 = 𝑖 4 𝑖 = 1 −1 = 𝑖 𝑖 −4 = 𝑖 2 −2 = −1 −2 =1
𝑖 6 = 𝑖 5 𝑖 = 𝑖 ∙ 𝑖 = −1 𝑖 −5 = 𝑖 −4 𝑖 −1 = 1 ∙ −𝑖 =− −𝑖
𝑖 7 = 𝑖 6 𝑖 = −1𝑖 = −𝑖 𝑖 −6 = 𝑖 2 −3
= −1 −3
= −1

i raised to a positive or negative power is reduced to one of

four possible values: 1 or i.
Complex Numbers

A complex number is a mixture of a real number and an

imaginary number. The symbol z is used to denote a
complex number.

In the complex number z = 3 + i5:

• the number 3 is called the real part of z and denoted
by Re(z)
• the number 5 is called the imaginary part of z, denoted
by Im(z)
Complex Numbers

The real parts and the imaginary parts are added or

subtracted separately:

4 + 𝑖5 + 3 − 𝑖2 = 4 + 𝑖5 + 3 − 𝑖2
4 + 3 + 𝑖5 − 𝑖2 = 7 + 𝑖3

Complex numbers are multiplied just like any other binomial

product:

4 + 𝑖5 3 − 𝑖2 = 4(3 − 𝑖2) + 𝑖5(3 − 𝑖2)

12 − 𝑖8 + 𝑖15 + 10 = 22 + 𝑖7
because i2 =−1
Complex Numbers

[Ans: 2 + i6]

[Ans: i12]

[Ans: 12 - i59]

[Ans: 89]
Complex Numbers

The complex conjugate of a complex number is obtained by

switching the sign of the imaginary part. So that:

(5 + i8) and (5 – i8)

are complex conjugates of each other.

The product of a complex number and its complex

conjugate is always a real number:

𝑎 + 𝑖𝑏 𝑎 − 𝑖𝑏 = 𝑎 𝑎 − 𝑖𝑏 + 𝑖𝑏 𝑎 − 𝑖𝑏
𝑎2 − 𝑖𝑎𝑏 + 𝑖𝑎𝑏 − 𝑖 2 𝑏 2 = 𝑎2 + 𝑏 2
Complex Numbers

To divide two complex numbers both numerator and

denominator are multiplied by the complex conjugate of
the denominator:

7 − 𝑖4 7 − 𝑖4 4 − 𝑖3
= ×
4 + 𝑖3 4 + 𝑖3 4 − 𝑖3

7 − 𝑖4 4 − 𝑖3
=
4 + 𝑖3 4 − 𝑖3

16 − 𝑖37 16 37
= = −𝑖
16 + 9 25 25
Complex Numbers

WORKED EXAMPLE
Solve the following complex arithmetic operations
4 − 𝑖3 4 + 𝑖3
[Ans: 25]
4 − 𝑖5
1 + 𝑖2 [Ans: -1.2 – i2.6]

3 + 𝑖2
1 − 𝑖3 [Ans: -0.3 – i1.1]

2 + 𝑖3 1 − 𝑖2
[Ans: 0.8 – i1.4]
3 + 𝑖4
Complex Numbers

Argand Diagram
The complex number z = a + ib can be represented by the
line joining the origin to the point (a, b) set against
Cartesian axes.

This is called the Argand diagram and the plane of points

is called the complex plane.
Complex Numbers

Complex numbers add (subtract) according to the

parallelogram rule:
𝑧1 = 5 + 𝑖2 𝑧2 = 2 + 𝑖3

𝑧 = 𝑧1 + 𝑧2 = 5 + 𝑖2 + 2 + 𝑖3 = 7 + 𝑖5
Complex Numbers

A complex number can be expressed in

polar coordinates r and q

𝑟 2 = 𝑎2 + 𝑏2
𝑏
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 =
𝑎
𝑎 = 𝑟𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
𝑏 = 𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃

Since z = a + ib we have:

𝑧 = 𝑟(𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 + 𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃) Polar form of complex number

Complex Numbers

Many functions can be expressed as series:

𝑥 2 𝑥 3 𝑥 4 𝑥 𝑛
𝑒𝑥 = 1 + 𝑥 + + + + ⋯ +
2! 3! 4! 𝑛!

𝑥3 𝑥5 𝑥7 −1 𝑛 2𝑛+1
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥 = 𝑥 − + − + ⋯ + 𝑥
3! 5! 7! 2𝑛 + 1

𝑥2 𝑥4 𝑥6 −1 𝑛 2𝑛
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥 = 1 − + − + ⋯ + 𝑥
2! 4! 6! 2𝑛!
Complex Numbers

Now consider the series for ex replacing x with iq:

𝑖𝜃 2 𝑖𝜃 3 𝑖𝜃 4 𝑖𝜃 𝑛
𝑒 𝑖𝜃 = 1 + 𝑖𝜃 + + + + ⋯+
2! 3! 4! 𝑛!
𝜃2 𝜃3 𝜃4 𝜃5
= 1 + 𝑖𝜃 − −𝑖 + +𝑖 +⋯
2! 3! 4! 𝑛!
𝜃2 𝜃4 𝜃3 𝜃5
= 1− + +⋯ +𝑖 𝜃− + +⋯
2! 4! 3! 5!
= 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 + 𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
Exponential form
So can write: 𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 + 𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 = 𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝜃 of complex number
Complex Numbers

Three ways of expressing a complex number:

o Cartesian form
▪ 𝑧 = 𝑎 + 𝑖𝑏
o Polar form
▪ 𝑧 = 𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 + 𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
o Exponential form
▪ 𝑧 = 𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝜃
Remember that exponential form is obtained from polar
form and in this case:
• The value of r is the same in each form
• The angle is the same in each form but MUST be
expressed in radians in the exponential form
Complex Numbers

WORKED EXAMPLE

Express 𝑧 = 4 + 𝑖3 in polar form

[Ans: 5(cos36.52 +isin36.52)]

Express 𝑧 = 4(𝑐𝑜𝑠65 + 𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛65) in Cartesian form

[Ans: 1.69 – i3.63]

Express 𝑧 = 5(𝑐𝑜𝑠60 + 𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛60) in exponential form

𝜋
𝑖3
[Ans: 5𝑒 ]

𝜋
1−𝑖
Express 𝑧 = 𝑒 4 in Cartesian form 𝑒
[Ans: (1-i)]
2
Complex Numbers

Remember that the polar form of a complex number is

readily obtained from the Argand diagram of the number
in Cartesian form.
Remembering that z = a + ib then:

𝑟 2 = 𝑎2 + 𝑏2 ⇒ 𝑟 = 𝑎2 + 𝑏2 Make sure that correct value of

𝑏 𝑏 q is selected and it is consistent
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 = ⇒ 𝜃 = 𝑎𝑡𝑎𝑛 with the quadrant the complex
𝑎 𝑎 number lies in

The length r is called the modulus of the complex number

and the angle q is called the argument of the complex
number
Complex Numbers

The shorthand notation for a positive angle (anti-clockwise

rotation) is given as, for example:
z=r q

The shorthand notation for a negative angle (clockwise

rotation) is given as, for example:
z=r q
Complex Numbers

When two complex numbers, written in polar form are

multiplied, the product is given as a complex number
whose modulus is the product of the two moduli and
whose argument is the sum of the two arguments.

𝑧1 = 𝑟1 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃1 + 𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃1
𝑧2 = 𝑟2 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃2 + 𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃2

𝑧 = 𝑧1 𝑧2 = 𝑟1 𝑟2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃1 + 𝜃2 + 𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃1 + 𝜃2
Complex Numbers

When two complex numbers, written in polar form are

divided, the quotient is given as a complex number
whose modulus is the quotient of the two moduli and
whose argument is the difference of the two arguments.

𝑧1 = 𝑟1 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃1 + 𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃1
𝑧2 = 𝑟2 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃2 + 𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃2

𝑧1 𝑟1
𝑧= = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃1 − 𝜃2 + 𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃1 − 𝜃2
𝑧2 𝑟2
Complex Numbers

WORKED EXAMPLE

Simplify 𝑧 = 4(𝑐𝑜𝑠35 + 𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛35) × 3(𝑐𝑜𝑠20 + 𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛20)

[Ans: 12(cos55 + isin55)]
6(𝑐𝑜𝑠72+𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛72)
Simplify 𝑧 =
2(𝑐𝑜𝑠41+𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛41)
[Ans: 3(cos31 + isin31)]

If 𝑧1 = 8(𝑐𝑜𝑠65 + 𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛65) and 𝑧2 = 4 𝑐𝑜𝑠23 + 𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛23

find:
a) 𝑧 = 𝑧1 𝑧2 [Ans: 32(cos88 + isin88)]
𝑧1
b) 𝑧 = 𝑧2
[Ans: 2(cos42 + isin42)]

5(𝑐𝑜𝑠60+𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛60)×4(𝑐𝑜𝑠30+𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛30)
Simplify 𝑧 =
2(𝑐𝑜𝑠50+𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛50) [Ans: 10(cos40 + isin40)]
Complex Numbers

De Moivre’s Theorem
If a complex number is raised to the power n the result is
a complex number whose modulus is the original modulus
raised to the power n and whose argument is the original
argument multiplied by n.

𝑧 = 𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 + 𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
Then

𝑧 𝑛 = 𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 + 𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 2 = 𝑟 𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑛𝜃 + 𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑛𝜃

Complex Numbers

WORKED EXAMPLE

Simplify 𝑧 = 2(𝑐𝑜𝑠37 + 𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛37) 4

[Ans: 16(cos148 + isin148]]

Find the square root of: 𝑧 = 4 𝑐𝑜𝑠30 + 𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛30

[Ans: 2(cos35 + isin35]]

Find the cube root of: 𝑧 = 8 𝑐𝑜𝑠120 + 𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛120

[Ans: 8(cos120 + isin120]]
Complex Numbers

There are n distinct values of the nth roots of a complex

number z. Each root has the same modulus and is
separated from its neighbouring root by
2
radians n – number of roots
n
Complex Numbers

From De Moivre’s Theorem we know that:

𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 + 𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 𝑛 = cos 𝑛𝜃 + 𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑛𝜃

expanding the right-hand side by the binomial theorem

we can find expressions for cos 𝑛𝜃 and 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑛𝜃 in
terms of powers of cos 𝜃 and 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
Complex Numbers

WORKED EXAMPLE

Find the fifth root o𝑓 𝑧 = 12 300

[Ans: 1.644(cos72 + isin72)]

Find the expansion for 𝑧 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠3𝜃 + 𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛3𝜃

[Ans: cos3q = cos3q – 3cosq(1 – cos2q); sin3q = 3sinq - 4sin3q]
Complex Numbers

1
For 𝑧 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 + 𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 then = 𝑧 −1 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 − 𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
𝑧

so that:
1 1
𝑧 + = 2𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝑧 − = 𝑖2𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
𝑧 𝑧

From De Moivre’s Theorem we have therefore:

1 1
𝑧𝑛 + = 2cos(𝑛𝜃) 𝑧𝑛 − = 𝑖2sin(𝑛𝜃)
𝑧𝑛 𝑧𝑛

From which we can expand cosnq and sinnq in terms

of powers of cosq and sinq.
Complex Numbers

The locus of a point in the Argand diagram is the curve

that a complex number is constrained to lie on by virtue
of some imposed condition.
That condition will be imposed on either the modulus of
the complex number or its argument.

The locus of z constrained by the

condition that |z| = 5 is a circle.
Complex Numbers

WORKED EXAMPLE

Expand cos3q
[Ans: 0.25(cos3q + 3cosq)]

Find an expression for sin4q

[Ans: 0.125(cos4q − 4cos2q +3)]

𝜋
If z = x + iy find the locus defined as arg(z) =
4
[Ans: y = x]

𝑧+1
If z = x + iy find the equation of the locus =2
𝑧−1
[Ans: 3x2 -10x + 3 + 3y2]
Questions ?