2

2
 i
i  1
• You can't take the square root of a negative
number, right?

• When we were young and still in Coordinate

Algebra, no numbers that, when multiplied
by themselves, gave us a negative answer. 

• Squaring a negative number always gives

you a positive.   (-1)² = 1. (-2)² = 4 (-3)² = 9
So here’s what the math people did:
They used the letter “i” to represent
the square root of (-1). “i” stands for
“imaginary.”
So, does 1
really exist?

i  1
Examples of how we use i  1
16  16  1 81  81  1

 4i 9i

 4i  9i
Examples of how we use i  1

45  45  1

 3 5  1
 3 5 i

 3i 5
200  200  1

 10 2  i

 10i 2
 The first four powers of i establish an
important pattern and should be memorized.

Powers of i
1 2
i i i  1
3 4
i  i i 1
 4
i 1

3
i  i 1
i i

2
i  1
Divide the exponent by 4
No remainder: answer is 1.
Remainder of 1: answer is i.
Remainder of 2: answer is –1.
Remainder of 3: answer is –i.
 Powers of i

Find i23  i
Find i2006  1
Find i37 i
Find i828 1
 Complex Number System
Reals
Imaginary

Rationals i, 2i, -3-7i, etc.

(fractions, decimals)
Integers
(…, -1, -2, 0, 1, 2, …)

Irrationals
Whole (no fractions)
(0, 1, 2, …) pi, e

Natural
(1, 2, …)
Express these numbers in terms of i.
1.) 5  1  5  1 5  i 5

2.)  7   1  7   1 7
 i 7
3.) 99  1  99  1 99

 i 9 11  3i 11
 You try…

4. 7  i 7

5.  36  6i
6. 160  4i 10
 Multiplying
7. 47i  2  94i
8. 2i  5  2i  1 5  2i  i 5
2
 2i 5
 2 5
2
9.  3  7  i 3  i 7  i 21

 (1) 21  21
 To mult. imaginary
numbers or an imaginary
number by a real number,
it’s important to 1st
express the imaginary
numbers in terms of i.
 Complex Numbers

a + bi
real imaginary

The complex numbers consist of all sums a +

bi, where a and b are real numbers and i is the
imaginary unit. The real part is a, and the
imaginary part is bi.
 Add or Subtract
7.)
10. 7i  9i  16i

8.)
11. (5  6i)  (2  11i)  3 5i

9.)
12. (2  3i )  (4  2i)  2  3i  4  2i
 2  i
 Examples
2
1. (i 3 ) 2. Solve 3x 2  10  26
2
 i 2 ( 3)2 3 x  36
2
 1( 3  3) x  12
 1(3) 2
x   12
 3 x  i 12
x  2i 3
 Multiplying
Treat the i’s like variables, then change any
that are not to the first power

Ex:  i (3  i ) Ex: (2  3i )(6  2i )

2
 3i  i  12  4i  18i  6i 2

 3i  (1)  12  22i  6(1)

 12  22i  6
 1 3i  6  22i
 3  11i
Ex :  25  5i
1  2i 
(3  11i )(1  2i ) 5

(1  2i )(1  2i )
2
 3  6i  11i  22i
  25 5i
1  2i  2i  4i 2
 
5 5
 3  5i  22(1)

1  4(1)
 3  5i  22
 5  i

1 4