AT Matching Day Complex number activities

Some useful things to know about working with complex numbers

Any complex number can be plotted on a two dimensional
Complex plane, just like you are used to plotting (𝑥𝑥, 𝑦𝑦) points.
Complex numbers in Cartesian form: 𝑧𝑧 = 𝑎𝑎 + 𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏 .
a is called the real part of z and b is called the imaginary part of z.
𝑎𝑎 = 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅(𝑧𝑧), 𝑏𝑏 = 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼(𝑧𝑧).
a is like the x-coordinate and b is like the y-coordinate.
Examples
Here we plot the points 𝑧𝑧 = 1 + 𝑖𝑖 and 𝑤𝑤 = −1 + 2𝑖𝑖 on the
complex plane.
𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅(𝑧𝑧) = 1 and 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼(𝑧𝑧) = 1 (not 1𝑖𝑖).
𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅(𝑤𝑤) = −1 and 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼(𝑤𝑤) = 2

The complex conjugate 𝑧𝑧̅ of a complex number 𝑧𝑧 changes the sign of the imaginary
part:
𝑧𝑧̅ = 𝑎𝑎 − 𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏
Examples
If 𝑧𝑧 = 1 + 𝑖𝑖 and 𝑤𝑤 = −1 + 2𝑖𝑖 then 𝑧𝑧̅ = 1 − 𝑖𝑖 and 𝑤𝑤
� = −1 − 2𝑖𝑖

Adding, subtracting, multiplying complex numbers happens exactly as you would work
with real numbers. Simply remember that 𝑖𝑖 2 = −1
Example
If 𝑧𝑧 = 1 + 𝑖𝑖 and 𝑤𝑤 = −1 + 2𝑖𝑖 then 𝑧𝑧 + 𝑤𝑤 = (1 − 1) + (1 + 2)𝑖𝑖 = 0 + 3𝑖𝑖

This part is only needed for those who choose the LEVEL 2 exercise
Complex numbers in polar form:
𝑧𝑧 = 𝑎𝑎 + 𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏
= 𝑟𝑟 cos 𝜃𝜃 + 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 sin 𝜃𝜃
= 𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 (hard to believe, but trust me, it ′ s true)
Level 1 – I’m a beginner
𝑧𝑧1 = −𝑧𝑧9 + 𝑖𝑖
𝑧𝑧2 = −3 + 3𝑖𝑖
𝑧𝑧3 = −2 + 3𝑖𝑖
𝑧𝑧4 = the point that is purely imaginary , 2 units from the origin, 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼(𝑧𝑧4 ) < 0
𝑧𝑧5 = 𝑧𝑧6
𝑧𝑧6 = 2 + 2𝑖𝑖
𝑧𝑧7 = the point that is purely imaginary, 2 units from the origin, 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼(𝑧𝑧7 ) > 0
𝑧𝑧8 = 3𝑖𝑖
𝑧𝑧9 = 5 + 3𝑖𝑖
𝑧𝑧10 = (𝑧𝑧6 )(𝑧𝑧3 ) + 15
𝑧𝑧11 = 3 + 2𝑖𝑖
𝑧𝑧12 = 𝑧𝑧11
𝑧𝑧13 = (𝑖𝑖 − 2)𝑖𝑖
𝑧𝑧14 = 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼(𝑧𝑧4 )
𝑧𝑧15 = 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅(𝑧𝑧2 )
𝑧𝑧16 = 𝑧𝑧13 + 𝑧𝑧15 Finally, join the dots!
Level 2 – I’m ready for a challenge
𝑧𝑧1 = 𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑧𝑧9 + 𝑖𝑖

𝑧𝑧2 = 3√2𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖3𝜋𝜋 ⁄4

𝑧𝑧2
𝑧𝑧3 = + 5𝑖𝑖 2
𝑖𝑖
𝑧𝑧4 = the point that is purely imaginary , 2 units from the origin, 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼(𝑧𝑧4 ) < 0
𝑧𝑧5 = 𝑧𝑧6

𝑧𝑧6 = 2√2𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝜋𝜋⁄4

𝑧𝑧7 = the point that is purely imaginary, 2 units from the origin, 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼(𝑧𝑧7 ) > 0

𝑧𝑧8 = 3𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝜋𝜋⁄2

𝑧𝑧9 = 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅(𝑧𝑧10 ) + 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖(𝑧𝑧2 )
𝑧𝑧10 = (𝑧𝑧6 )(𝑧𝑧3 ) + 15
𝑧𝑧11 = 3 + 2𝑖𝑖
𝑧𝑧12 = 𝑧𝑧11
1
𝑧𝑧13 = 𝑧𝑧3 + 𝑧𝑧6
2
𝑧𝑧14 = 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼(𝑧𝑧4 )
𝑧𝑧15 = 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅(𝑧𝑧2 )
𝑧𝑧16 = 𝑧𝑧13 + 𝑧𝑧15 Finally, join the dots!
Level 2 – I’m flying
We can solve for the roots of complex-valued
polynomials using the polar form of complex numbers.
We have two tools we use the most: the quadratic root
formula and the polar form of the complex number.
Example 1
𝑧𝑧 2 + 2𝑧𝑧 + 2 = 0
−2 ± √4 − 8
𝑧𝑧 =
2
−2 ± 2√−1
=
2
= −1 ± 𝑖𝑖
Example 2
𝑧𝑧 3 = 1 + 𝑖𝑖
3
�𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 � = √2𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝜋𝜋⁄4
𝑟𝑟 3 = √2 ⟹ 𝑟𝑟 = 21⁄6
𝜋𝜋
3𝜃𝜃 = + 2𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋 , 𝑘𝑘 ∈ ℤ
4
𝜋𝜋 2𝜋𝜋
𝜃𝜃 = + 𝑘𝑘
12 3

Based on Example 1, solve for the roots of 𝑧𝑧 2 − 4𝑧𝑧 + 13 = 0.

Based on Example 2, solve 𝑧𝑧 6 = −64.
How about this one? 𝑧𝑧 4 − 2𝑧𝑧 2 + 4 = 0
Points z and w are drawn on the complex plane. Plot where p and q should be if 𝑝𝑝2 = 𝑧𝑧
and 𝑞𝑞 3 = 𝑤𝑤.