6/29/2021 Lecture 2 — Complex Numbers

Lecture 2 — Complex Numbers

Lecture 2 — Complex Numbers
C as a field
Addition in C
Multiplication in C
C is a field

Lecture 2 — Complex Numbers

Complex numbers have been around for a while.

In 1545, Cardano looked at real roots of x3 + ax + b. He found 5 + −15  and called it “mental
​

torture”.
In 1575, the algebraic rules for i were first described.
In 1629, a + −b  was called “solutions impossibles” by Girard.
​

In 1637, Descartes discovered imaginary numbers.

From 1831 onwards, complex numbers.

C as a field

B.C section 1-3

N = {1, 2, 3, …}
N0 = {0, 1, 2, 3, …}
​

Z = {0, ±1, ±2, ±3, …}

Q = {p/q : p, q ∈ Z, q =
 0}
​ ​

R = real numbers
C = complex numbers

Note that Q is actually equivalence classes of “quotients” of integers because certain expressions are
equivalent (see MATH2401). R can be defined in several technical ways, such as Dedekind cuts or
limits of sequences.

C can be represented in various (equivalent) ways:

z = (x, y) ∈ C, for x, y ∈ R. This is the “complex plane”. Alternatively, z = x(1, 0) + y(0, 1).
z = x + ij , where x = Re(z) and y = Im(z).
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6/29/2021 Lecture 2 — Complex Numbers

i is the complex number represented by (0, 1). We say R ⊂ C by identifying the complex number x +
0i with the real number x.

Addition in C

(x1 , y1 ) + (x2 , y2 ) = (x1 + x2 , y1 + y2 )

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

(x1 + iy1 ) + (x2 + iy2 ) = (x1 + x2 ) + i(y1 + y2 )

​ ​

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Multiplication in C

Denoted by × or ⋅ or juxtaposition (that is, putting things next to each other).

(x1 , y1 ) ⋅ (x2 , y2 ) = (x1 x2 − y1 y2 , y1 x2 + x1 y2 )

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

(x1 + iy1 ) ⋅ (x2 + iy2 ) = (x1 x2 − y1 y2 ) + i(y1 x2 + x1 y2 )

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

The definition of multiplication formally applies if we use the usual rules for algebra in R and set i2 =
−1.

Note: Multiplication of two complex numbers sums their angles (where positive is CCW) and
multiples their radius.

C is a field
With this addition and multiplication, C is a field. Check: C must be closed under the binary
operations + and ⋅.

F2: + has identity 0 + 0i and inverse (−x) + i(−y). F5: ⋅ has identity 1 + 0i and inverse

x y
z −1 = 1/(x + iy) ⋅ (x − iy)/(x − iy) = − i
x2 + y 2 x2 + y 2
​ ​

Since C is a field, it holds: z1 , z2 = 0 ⟹ z1 = 0 or z2

​ ​ ​ ​ = 0. This is the null-factor law and holds
because on all fields. Also, we have (z1 z2 )−1 = z1−1 z2−1 . ​ ​ ​ ​

Note: i2 = −1 and (−i)2 = −1. These are the only two solutions of z 2 = −1 in the complex numbers
(we cannot check this yet). This is due to the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra.

Remark: C is not ordered and, in fact, cannot be ordered. Thus, i is no more special then −i.

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6/29/2021 Lecture 2 — Complex Numbers

B.C. 4, 5

Given z = x + iy ∈ C, there are a few useful functions to have: - modulus: ∣ ⋅ ∣ : C → [0, ∞), where 
∣z∣ = x2 + y 2 , - real part: Re(z) = x, imaginary part: Im(z) = y  (both C → R),
​

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