Complex Numbers

 Imaginary element i is denoted by i = − 1 such that i 2 = −1 .

 Any number, z, of the form a + bi (Cartesian form) is called complex number.
 Re(3+2i) = 3 (Re = the real part)
 Im(7+23i) = 23 (Im = the imaginary part)

Simplification
1. − 36 = − 1 36 = 6i

− 4 × − 4 = −1 × 4 × −1 × 4
2. = i2 × ( 4)2
= −4
3. 2i + 3i = 5i

4. 16i − 12i = 4i

4i × 5i = 20i
5.
= −20
i = i ×i
3 2
6.
−i
i = (i 4 ) 5
20
7.
=1
i = i 16 × i 1
17
8.
=i
Complex Conjugation
For any complex number, z = a+ib, we define the complex conjugate to be:
z*= a - ib

Arithmetic Operations of complex numbers

Addition
z1+ z2 = {a1 + b1i} +{a2 + b2i}
= (a1 + a2) +i(b1 + b2)

Subtraction
z1- z2 = {a1 + b1i} -{a2 + b2i}
= (a1 - a2) -i(b1 - b2)

Multiplication
z1 z2 = (a1 + b1i)(a2 + b2i)
= (a1a2- b1b2) +i(a1a2 + b1b2)

Division
z 1 z1 × z 2 *
=
z2 z2 × z2 *

Examples

1. (4 − 6i) + (−3 + 7i) = [4 + (−3)] + [−6 + 7]i

=1+i

2. (10 − 4i) − (5 − 2i) = (10 − 5) + [−4 − (−2)]i

= 5 − 2i

3. (2 − 4i)(3 + 5i) = 6 + 10i - 12i -20i2

= 6-20(-1) -2i i 2 = −1
= 26- 2i
3−i (3 − i ) × (2 − 2i )
=
2 + 2i (2 + 2i ) × (2 − 2i )
6 + 2i 2 − 2i + 6i
=
4. 4 − 4i + 4i − 4i 2 i 2 = −1
4 + 4i
=
8
1 1
= + i
2 2
Evaluating squares and square roots of complex numbers

Example
1. Evaluate the square of (7 + 3i).

(7 + 3i) 2= (7 + 3i) (7 + 3i)

= 49+42i+9i2
= 40+42i

2. Evaluate the square root of i.

Let, i = a + bi
i = (a + bi ) 2
= a 2 + 2abi + b 2i 2
= a 2 − b 2 + 2abi
∴ a 2 − b 2 = 0, -------------------1
∴ 2ab = 1 -------------------------2
1
a= ,
2b

Substitute into equation 1,

2
 1 
  −b = 0
2

 2b 
1 = 4b 4
1
b=±
2
1
∴a = ±
2
1 1
i =± ± i
2 2

Solving Equations-Quadratic
 Consider the general quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 where a ≠ 0.
 The usual formula obtained by ``completing the square'' gives the solutions
 If b2 - 4ac < 0 then the equation has no real solutions. (has complex solutions)

Example
Solve z2 + 2z + 5 = 0.

− 2 ± 2 2 − 4(1)(5)
z=
2(1)
− 2 ± − 16
z=
2(1)
− 2 ± 4i
z=
2(1)
z = −1 ± 2i
Questions
1. Given that ( x − 2) is a factor of the expression x 3 + ax 2 − 4, find the value of a. Hence
solve the equation x 3 + ax 2 − 4 = 0 by expressing the complex roots in the form a + bi .
2. It is given that one of the roots of the equation 2 x 3 + 6 x 2 + 5 x + 2 = 0 is an integer. Find
this root and hence solve the equation above.

Example
Find the roots of the equation z + z + i = 0 . Express your answer in the Cartesian form.
2

− 1 ± 1 − 4i
z=
2
−1 1
z= ± 1 − 4i
2 2
Let a + bi = 1− 4i
(a + bi )2 = 1 − 4i
a = 1.60, b = −1.25i
so 1 − 4i = 1.60 − 1.25i
−1 1
z= ± (1.6 − 1.25i )
2 2

Example
Verify that z = 2i is a root of the equation z − 2 z + 7 z − 8 z + 12 = 0. Hence determine the
4 3 2

other roots.
f ( z ) = z 4 − 2 z 3 + 7 z 2 − 8 z + 12
f (2i ) = (2i ) 4 − 2(2i ) 3 + 7(2i ) 2 − 8(2i ) + 12
f (2i ) = 16 + 16i − 28 − 16i + 12
f ( z ) = 0 shown
Since z-2i is a factor then z+2i is also a factor

(
z 4 − 2 z 3 + 7 z 2 − 8 z + 12 = ( z − 2i )( z + 2i ) z 2 + bz + c )
( )(
0 = z 2 + 4 z 2 + bz + c )
∴ c = 3, b = −2
(z 2
)(
+ 4 z 2 + bz + c = 0 )
(z 2
+ 4)(z 2
− 2 z + 3) = 0

z = 2i @ z = −2i @ z = −1 + 2i @ z = −1 − 2i
For complex roots: If a+bi is a root then a-bi also a root
Questions
1. If z = −1 + i is a root of the equation z 3 + az + b = 0 where a, b are real numbers. Find the
values of a and b. Show that z = −1 − i is also the root for the equation.
2. Show that (1 + i ) 4 = −4 . Hence find all the roots for z 4 + 4 = 0 .
3. Solve the equation z 5 − 6 z 3 − 2 z 2 + 17 z − 10 = 0 .

Argand Diagram
 We modify the familiar coordinate system by calling the horizontal axis the real axis and
the vertical axis the imaginary axis.
 Each complex number a + bi determines a unique position vector with initial point (0, 0)
and terminal point (a, b).

Relationships Among a, b, r, and θ

a = r cosθ
b = r sin θ
r = a2 + b2
b b
tan θ = , a ≠ 0
a
a

Example
The complex number −2 + i is denoted by u. Find the modulus and argument of u.

Trigonometric (Polar) and Euler Form

Substituting a = r cos θ and b = r sin θ into a + bi gives

a + bi = (r cos θ ) + (r sin θ )i
a + bi = r (cosθ + i sin θ ) - Polar Form

since e iθ = cos θ + i sin θ

a + bi = re iθ - Euler Form
Example
Express z = 2(cos 120° + i sin 120°) in Euler and a+bi forms.
2π
i
z = 2e 3
(
z = 2 cos120 0 + i sin 120 0 )
 −1 3
= 2 + i 

 2 2 
= −1 + 3i

Converting from a+bi form to Trigonometric Form

 Sketch a graph of the number a + bi in the complex plane.
 Find r by using the equation
 Find θ by using the equation choosing the quadrant indicated

Example
Find trigonometric and Euler form for −1 − i.

r = (−1) 2 + (−1) 2
= 2

1
θ = π − tan −1  
1
3
θ= π
4

 5π 5π 
− 1 − i = 2  cos + i sin  - Trigonometric form
 4 4 
5π
i
= 2e 4
− Euler form

z = a + bi

z = r (cos θ + i sin θ )

z = reiθ
De Moivre’s Theorem

If r1 (cosθ1 + i sin θ1 ) is a complex number, and if n is any real number, then

 r ( cosθ1 + i sin θ1 )  = r n ( cos nθ + i sin nθ ) .

n

LOCUS
Equation Type of Locus Diagram

z−w =r Circle with radius r,

centre, w

Perpendicular line
z − w1 = z − w2
bisector of line w1w2

Half line with end point

arg( z − w) = α w, inclined at an angle α
to the Re-axis

Example 1
Sketch the following graphs

z − 2 − 3i = 7
z − 3 − 2i = z + 4 − i

π
arg z − 3 + 2i =
3

π
arg z + 2 = −
4
 Example 2
Given that z − 1 + 2i ≤ 3 , illustrate the locus of the point representing the complex number z in
an Argand diagram. Hence
i. Find the greatest and least possible value of z − 4 + 6i , given that z − 1 + 2i ≤ 3 .
ii. Find the range of arg( z − 5 + 2i ) , given that z − 1 + 2i ≤ 3 .

Greatest Distance = 8units

Least Distance = 2units

3
sin θ =
4
θ = 48.6°

Therefore
- 48.6° ≤ arg( z − 5 + 2i ) ≤ 48.6°
 Example 3

On a single Argand diagram, sketch the following loci.

i. z −1− i = 2
π
ii. arg( z ) =
4
Hence or otherwise, find the exact value of z satisfying both the equation above.

Point of intersection is (2,2)