MODULE 1

COMPLEX NUMBERS

At the end of the module 1, the students should be able to:

1. know complex numbers

2. evaluate the properties and operations of complex numbers
3. apply the properties of conjugates
4. transform a polar form
5. apply the Euler form
6. multiply in Polar form
7. know the DE MOIVRE’S Theorem
8. finding the nth root of complex numbers
9. solve the complex variables

A complex number can be represented by an expression of the form 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖, where a and b are real
numbers and 𝑖 is a symbol with the property that 𝑖 2 = −1. The complex number 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖 can also be represented
by the ordered pair (𝑎. 𝑏 ) and plotted as a point in a plane ( called the Argand plane ).
The real part of the complex number 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖 is the real number 𝑎 and the imaginary number part is the real
number 𝑏. In the Argand plane, the x-axis is called the real axis and the y-axis is called the imaginary axis.
Thus the real part of 4 − 3𝑖 is 4 and the imaginary part is −3. Two complex numbers 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖
and 𝑐 + 𝑑𝑖 are equal if 𝑎 = 𝑐 and 𝑏 = 𝑑, that is, the real part are equal and their imaginary part are equal.

2 + 3𝑖

−4 + 2𝑖

−2 − 2𝑖 3 − 2𝑖
PROPERTIES and OPERATIONS on COMPLEX NUMBERS
1. The sum and difference of two complex numbers are defined by adding or subtracting their real parts
and their imaginary parts respectively:
(𝒂 + 𝒃𝒊) + (𝒄 + 𝒅𝒊) = (𝒂 + 𝒄) + (𝒃 + 𝒅)𝒊
(𝒂 + 𝒃𝒊) − (𝒄 + 𝒅𝒊) = (𝒂 − 𝒄) + (𝒃 − 𝒅)𝒊

Example: Find the sum of (1 − 𝑖) + (4 + 7𝑖)

Solution: (1 − 𝑖) + (4 + 7𝑖) = (1 + 4) + (−1 + 7)𝑖 = 𝟓 + 𝟔𝒊

2. The product of complex number is defined so that the usual commutative and distributive law
hold: (𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖)(𝑐 + 𝑑𝑖) = 𝑎(𝑐 + 𝑑𝑖) + 𝑏𝑖(𝑐 + 𝑑𝑖)
= 𝑎𝑐 + 𝑎𝑑𝑖 + 𝑏𝑐𝑖 + 𝑏𝑑𝑖 2 , since 𝑖 2 = −1, then
= 𝑎𝑐 + 𝑎𝑑𝑖 + 𝑏𝑐𝑖 + 𝑏𝑑(−1)
= 𝑎𝑐 + 𝑎𝑑𝑖 + 𝑏𝑐𝑖 − 𝑏𝑑
= (𝒂𝒄 − 𝒃𝒅) + (𝒂𝒅 + 𝒃𝒄)𝒊

3. Division of complex numbers is much like rationalizing the denominator of a rational expression. For the
complex number 𝑧 = 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖, we define its complex conjugate to be 𝑧̅ = 𝑎 − 𝑏𝑖. To find the quotient of
two complex numbers, multiply numerator and denominator by the complex conjugate of the
denominator.

−1 + 3𝑖
Example 1: Express the number in the form 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖.
2 + 5𝑖

−1 + 3𝑖 −1 + 3𝑖 2 − 5𝑖
Solution: = ∙
2 + 5𝑖 2 + 5𝑖 2 − 5𝑖
(−1 + 3𝑖 )( 2 − 5𝑖 ) −2 + 5𝑖 + 6𝑖 − 15𝑖 2
= =
( 2 + 5𝑖 )( 2 − 5𝑖 ) 4 − 25𝑖 2
−2 + 5𝑖 + 6𝑖 + 15 13 + 11𝑖 𝟏𝟑 𝟏𝟏
= 4 + 25
= 29
= 𝟐𝟗
+ 𝟐𝟗
𝒊

̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅
3 − 2𝑖
Example 2: Express the number in the form 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖.
3−𝑖

̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅
3 − 2𝑖 3 + 2𝑖 3+𝑖
Solution: = ∙
3−𝑖 3−𝑖 3+𝑖
(3 + 2𝑖 )( 3 + 𝑖 ) 9 + 3𝑖 + 6𝑖 + 2𝑖 2
= =
( 3− 𝑖 )( 3 +𝑖 ) 9 − 𝑖2
9 + 9𝑖 +2(−1) 7 + 9𝑖 𝟕 𝟗
= = = + 𝒊
9 − (−1) 10 𝟏𝟎 𝟏𝟎
 ̅̅̅̅̅̅̅
4−𝑖 ̅̅̅̅̅̅̅
4+𝑖
Example 3: Express the number + ( 𝑖 ) in the form 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖.
5𝑖

̅̅̅̅̅̅̅
4−𝑖 ̅̅̅̅̅̅̅
4+𝑖 4+𝑖 ̅̅̅̅̅̅̅
4+𝑖
Solution: +( 𝑖 ) = +
5𝑖 5𝑖 𝑖̅
4+𝑖 4− 𝑖 4+𝑖 𝑖 4− 𝑖 𝑖
= + = ∙ +
5𝑖 −𝑖 5𝑖 𝑖 −𝑖 𝑖
4𝑖 + 𝑖2 4𝑖 − 𝑖2
= +
5𝑖 2 −𝑖 2
4𝑖 + (−1) 4𝑖 − (−1)
= +
5(−1) −(−1)
4𝑖 − 1 4𝑖 + 1 4𝑖 − 1 4𝑖 + 1
= + = −5 [ + ]
−5 1 5 1

= 4𝑖 − 1 − 20𝑖 − 5 = −6 − 16𝒊

PROPERTIES OF CONJUGATES

̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅
𝒛 + 𝒘 = 𝒛̅ + 𝒘
̅ ̅̅̅̅
𝒛𝒘 = 𝒛̅ 𝒘
̅ ̅̅̅
𝒛𝒏 = 𝒛̅ n

The modulus , or absolute value, |𝑧| of a complex number 𝑧 = 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖 is its distance from the
origin.

|𝒛| = √ 𝒂𝟐 + 𝒃𝟐

Notice that if 𝑧 𝑧̅ = (𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖)(𝑎 − 𝑏𝑖) = 𝑎2 − 𝑎𝑏𝑖 + 𝑎𝑏𝑖 + 𝑏 2 𝑖 2

= 𝑎2 + 𝑏 2

2
Then, using [|𝑧| = √ 𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 ] , |𝑧|2 = 𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 , therefore 𝒛𝒛̅ = |𝒛|𝟐

𝑏𝑖 𝑧 = 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖

0 0 a

−𝑖
This explains that division procedure works in general:
Since 𝑖 2 = −1, it follows that 𝑖 = √−1 , but we have (−𝑖)2 = 𝑖 2 = −1,
and so – 𝑖 = √−1
We say that 𝑖 is the principal square root of −1 and write √−1 = 𝑖. In general, if 𝑐 is any positive
number, write √−𝒄 = √𝒄 𝒊.

Quadratic Equation and Formula:

Quadratic form 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0 are valid even when 𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 < 0.
−𝑏 ± √ 𝑏2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑥=
2𝑎

Example: Find the roots of the equation 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 1 = 0.

Solution: Using the quadratic formula, 𝑎 = 1, 𝑏 = 1, 𝑐 = 1
−1 ± √ (1)2 − 4(1)(1)
𝑥=
2(1)

−1 ± √ − 3 −1 ± √ 3 𝑖
𝑥= =
2 2