Complex Numbers 21

Solution: Completing squares,

9 1
2x2 + 6x + 5 = 2x2 + 6x + +
√ 2 2
3 1
= ( 2x + √ )2 − (i √ )2
2 2
√ 3 1 √ 3 1
= ( 2x + √ − i √ )( 2x + √ + i √ ).
2 2 2 2
3 1
Then x = − ± i .
2 2
If a, b are real numbers then the object a + bi is called a complex number. If a + bi, c + di are complex numbers, then the
sum of them is naturally defined as
(a + bi) + (c + di) = (a + c) + (b + d)i (2.29)
The product of a + bi and c + di is obtained by multiplying the binomials:

(a + bi)(c + di) = ac + adi + bci + bdi2 = (ac − bd) + (ad + bc)i (2.30)

160 Definition If a, b are real numbers, then the conjugate a + bi of a + bi is defined by

a + bi = a − bi (2.31)

The norm |a + bi| of a + bi is defined by

È p
|a + bi| = (a + bi)(a + bi) = a2 + b2 (2.32)

161 Example Find |7 + 3i|.

È p √
Solution: |7 + 3i| = (7 + 3i)(7 − 3i) = 72 + 32 = 58.

2 + 3i
162 Example Express the quotient in the form a + bi.
3 − 5i

Solution: We have
2 + 3i 2 + 3i 3 + 5i −9 + 19i −9 19i
= · == = +
3 − 5i 3 − 5i 3 + 5i 34 34 34
If z1 , z2 are complex numbers, then their norms are multiplicative.

|z1 z2 | = |z1 ||z2 | (2.33)

163 Example Write (22 + 32 )(52 + 72 ) as the sum of two squares.

Solution: The idea is to write 22 + 32 = |2 + 3i|2, 52 + 72 = |5 + 7i|2 and use the multiplicativity of the norm. Now

(22 + 32 )(52 + 72 ) = |2 + 3i|2|5 + 7i|2

= |(2 + 3i)(5 + 7i)|2
= | − 11 + 29i|2
= 112 + 292

164 Example Find the roots of x3 − 1 = 0.