CHAPTER-01

COMPLEX NUMBERS
1.0. Introduction

The equation x 2  4  0  x  2 but the equation x 2  4  0, i.e. x 2  4 has no solution in real number
system. The term “imaginary” is used because there is no real number having a negative square. John Wallis
wrote, “These imaginary quantities arising from the supposed root of a negative square (when they happen)
are reputed to imply that the case proposed is impossible”. Hence from the set  of real numbers we can
develop next large system, known as the set  of complex numbers. Thus complex numbers extend the idea of
the one-dimensional number line to the two-dimensional complex plane by using the horizontal axis for the
real part and the vertical axis for the imaginary part. The Italian mathematician Gerolamo Cardano is the first
known to have introduced complex numbers. In 1777, Euler made the symbol i stand for 1 . Complex
numbers are used in many scientific and engineering fields, including physics, chemistry, biology, economics,
electrical engineering, mathematics and statistics.

1.1. Complex Numbers

The number of the form x  iy with x, y   is called a complex number in Cartesian form, where  is
the set of real numbers and i  1 .

1.1.1. Ordered Pair Representation: A complex number z  x  iy can be defined as an ordered pair
( x, y ) , where x, y   .

Thus the set of complex numbers is given by

   2       x, y  : x, y     x  iy : x, y   and i  1 .

  .

1.1.2. Imaginary Unit : The complex number  0,1  0  i  1 is called the imaginary unit and is denoted
by i  1 .

1.1.3. Affix : The complex number z, which is given by z  x  iy , is called the affix of the point  x, y 
which represents it.

1.2. Complex Number System

The set of complex numbers together with its properties is called the complex number system.

1.3. Real and Imaginary Parts of a Complex Number

Let z  x  iy be a complex number. Then the real part of z is x , denoted by Re( z )  x and imaginary
part of z is y , denoted by Im( z )  y , where x, y   .

1.4. Equality of Two Complex Numbers

Let z1  x1  iy1 and z2  x2  iy2 be two complex numbers. Then the two complex numbers will be equal,
i.e. z1  z2 or x1  iy1  x2  iy2 if and only if x1  x2 and y1  y2 . [coordinate wise equal]
1.5. Geometrical or Graphical Representation of Complex Numbers
Let XOX  and YOY  be two rectangular axes with the intersection point O(0, 0) referred as origin in the
xy plane, where XOX  is called the real axis and YOY  is called the imaginary axis.

Since a complex number z  x  iy can

be considered as an ordered pair of real

numbers, so we can represent such

numbers by points in the xy plane.

To each complex number there corresponds one and only one point in the xy plane and conversely to
each point in the xy plane there corresponds one and only one complex number. That is why we often
refer to the complex number z  x  iy as the point z.

Note: Unlike real numbers, complex numbers do not have a natural ordering, so there is no analog of
complex-valued inequalities.

Complex numbers are viewed as being elements in the complex plane since points in a plane also lack a
natural ordering.

1.5.1. Complex Plane or z plane or Argand Diagram or Argand Plane or Gauss (or Gaussian) Plane

Definition: A geometric plot of complex numbers z  x  iy as points ( x, y ) with a Cartesian coordinate

system such that the x-axis (real axis) formed by the real numbers and the y-axis (imaginary axis) formed
by the imaginary numbers is called the complex plane or the z plane or the Argand plane or the Argand
diagram or Gauss (or Gaussian) plane.

1.5.2. Real and Imaginary Number

0  0  i 0  (0, 0) is at the crossing of real and imaginary axes. Hence 0 is the only number which is both
real and imaginary.

0 is both real and imaginary since its imaginary and real parts are 0.

1.5.3. Purely Real or Purely Imaginary Number

A complex number z  x  iy with x  0 and y  0 is neither real nor imaginary. But if y  0 , then z  x
which is purely real as it lies on the x-axis (real axis) and if x  0 , then z  iy which is purely imaginary
as it lies on the y-axis (imaginary axis).

1.6. Modulus (Absolute value or sometimes the complex norm) and

Argument (Amplitude or Phase) of a Complex Number

1.6.1. Definition: The modulus or absolute value of a complex number z  x  iy is the distance of the
complex number z from the origin in the Argand plane and is denoted by

mod z  z  x 2  y 2  0 , where z   .
1.6.2. Definition: The angle between the positive x-axis and the line joining the origin and a complex
number z  x  iy  0 is called the argument or amplitude of z. Argument or amplitude is denoted by

 
arg z  amp z  tan 1 x .
y

It is a multi-valued function operating on the non-zero complex numbers.

1.6.3. Principal and General Arguments of a Complex Number z ≠ 0

The particular value of arg z chosen within the principal interval [0, 2) or (, ] each of length 2 is
called the principal value or the principal argument of z  0 and is denoted by Arg z .

Thus if the particular value is  such that 0    2 or      , then  is called the principal
argument of z  0 and is denoted by Arg z .

The principal and general arguments of z are respectively

   
Arg z  tan 1 x and arg z  2n  tan 1 x , where n  0, 1, 2,
y y

The notations arg z and Arg z may be interchanged in different texts and

generally arg z is used to denote the principal argument in most texts.

Note: To define a single-valued function, the principal value of the argument is used. The principal value is
denoted by Arg z , especially when a general version of the argument, i.e. arg z is also being considered.

1.6.4. Geometrical Representation of Modulus and Argument of z

Let the point P( z ) in the xy plane

represent a complex number z  x  iy .

We join OP and draw perpendicular

PM on OX from P.

(i) OP represents the modulus or absolute value of z and is denoted by mod z  z . Geometrically
OP  z is the distance of P( x, y ) from the origin.

(ii) POM represents the argument or amplitude of z ( 0) and is denoted by arg z or amp z .

From the figure

OP 2  OM 2  PM 2  x 2  y 2  OP  mod z  z  x 2  y 2  0 .

y
and tan   tan POM  PM  x
OM  
   arg z  amp z  tan 1 x .
y
1.6.5. Modulus and Argument of z = 0, i.e. the origin
Here z  0  0  i0  (0, 0) . Then mod 0  0  02  02  0 .

 
arg z  tan 1 00 which is not defined.

Thus z  0 (the origin) has modulus 0 but does not really have an angle.

Problem-1.9 Find the moduli and principal arguments of the following complex numbers :

(i) (2  i ) [NUH-13] (ii) 2  2i [DUCH-18]

(iii) 2i (iv) 5  5i

2i

3 i
 
2
(v) (vi) 1i
3 i 1i

(vii) 1  sin   i cos  [NUH-10] (viii) 1 2i [JNUH-13]

1(1i )2

Solution (i) 2  i  22  12  5

and Principal argument of 2  i is tan 1 12 .  

Also 2  i  (2)2  (1)2  5 and principal argument of 2  i is

 2   tan
tan 1 1 1
tan   tan 1
tan          , where tan   12 .

(ii) 2  2i  (2)2  (2)2  2 2 and principal argument of 2  2i is

 
tan 1 22  tan 1 tan 4  tan 1 tan   
4 
 54 . 
(2i )(2i ) 44i 1 34i 3 4
(iii) Let z  2i     i .
2i (2i ) (2i ) 4(1) 5 5 5

 53    54   
2 2
z   9  16  1 and arg z  tan 1 4/5
25 25 3/5

 arg z  tan 1 ( tan )  tan 1 tan(2  )  2   , where tan   34 .

(iv) Modulus and principal argument of z  5  5i are respectively

52  (5)2  25  25  50  5 2

   
and tan 1 5  tan 1 (1)  tan 1  tan   tan 1 tan 2    7 .
5 4 4 4  
   
(v) Let z  3 i  3 i 3 i  3 2i 3 1  2 2i 3  1i 3  1  i 3
3 i  3 i  3 i  3(1) 4 2 2 2

 12    23 
2
 1 and arg z  tan 1  3/2   tan 1 ( 3)   .
2
 z 
 1/2  3

   11ii)(1)(1ii       22i 
2 2
i
(vi) Here z  11
2

( ) 1 2i i 2 2
 i 2  1  i  0
i ( ) 1i 2

 
z  1  1 and arg z  tan 1 0  tan 1 (0)  tan 1 tan   
1

(vii) Let z  1  sin   i cos  .

 z  (1  sin )2  (cos )2  1  2sin   sin 2   cos 2 

 1  2sin   1  2(1  sin )

 2 sin 2 
2 
 cos 2 
2
 2sin 
2
cos 
2
 2 sin 
2
 cos 
2
.   
 sin     
 2sin      cos     
arg( z )  tan 1
 1sin  
cos   tan 1  2

  tan 1 
1 cos    2 
4 2
2cos 2  
 4 2 
  4 2
  

 tan 1  tan 
 
 .
4 2  4 2 
(viii) Here z  1 2i 2  1 2i  1 2i  11 2i  1  i 0
1(1i ) 1(1 2i i 2 ) 1(12i 1)  2i

 z  (1)2  (0)2  1 and arg( z )  tan 1 0  tan 1 0  0 .

1 
Problem-1.10 Find the moduli, principal arguments and general arguments of the following complex
numbers:

(i) 1 3i

(ii) i

(iii) a  ai .

(iv) 1i [DUH-05; NUH-14, 20]

1i

(v) 2 [NUH-17]
1i 3
  23ii 
2
(vi) [NUH-11]

Solution

(i) Let z  1  3i . Then z  12  ( 3)2  4  2 .

Arg z  tan 1 3   and arg z  2n   , where n  0, 1, 2,

1 3 3

(ii) Let z  i . Then z  0  i  02  (1)2  1 .

   
Principal argument of z  tan 1 1  tan 1  tan 2   2
0

General argument of z  2n  2 , where n  0, 1, 2,

(iii) Let z  a  ai . Then z  a 2  a 2  2a 2  a 2

Arg z  tan 1  a  1 1 1  
a  tan (1)   tan 1   tan tan 4   4

and arg z  2n   , where n  0, 1, 2,

4

(1i )(1i ) 12i i 2 12i 1 2i

(iv) Here z  1i      i  0  1  i  1 .
1i (1i )(1i ) 1i 2 11 2

 z  02  (1)2  1

0  
Arg z  tan 1 1  tan 1      tan 1    
2
.

and arg z  2n  2 , where n  0, 1, 2,

(v) Here z  2 
2(1i 3)  2i 2 3  1i 3   1  i 3 .
1i 3 (1i 3)(1i 3) 13 2 2 2

Re( z )   12 and Im( z )  23 .

   12   
2 2
 z   3  1  3  4  1 1.
2 4 4 4

 
Arg z  tan 1 3 /2  tan 1 ( 3)  tan 1  tan   tan 1 tan     2
1/2 3 3 3  
arg z  2n  2  (6n  2)  , where n  0, 1, 2,
3 3

   (2i)(3i)

2
(vi) Here z  2i      
2 2 2
 6 2i 3i 1  55i  1i
2

3i 32 i 2 91 10 2

 1 2i 1  i and so z  02  1  1 .  
2
4 2 2 2

Principal argument is tan 1 1/2

0  
 tan 1 ()  tan 1 tan   
2 2  
General argument of z is 2n   , where n  0, 1, 2,
2

1.7. Euler’s Formula

Theorem-1.1. ei  cos   i sin   cis  .

Proof : We have cos   1       and sin         

2 4 3 5
2! 4! 3! 5!
2 3
Also e x  1  x  x  x   . Putting x  i , we get
2! 3!

(i)2 (i)3 (i)4 (i)5

ei  1  i     
2! 3! 4! 5!

 1  i    i     i   
2 3 4 5
2! 3! 4! 5!

 2! 4!
4 3
3! 5!
5
  
 1        i         cos   i sin   cis  .
2

Note: ei  cos   i sin  . [replacing i by i in ei ]

1.8. De Moivre’s Theorem

Theorem-1.2. Statement: (i) If n is any integer (positive or negative), the value of (cos   i sin )n is
cos n  i sin n , where    ;

(ii) If n is a rational fraction (positive or negative), one of the values of (cos   i sin )n is cos n  i sin n
p
where n  q , p is any integer (positive or negative) and q ( 1) is a positive integer. In this case, the

total number of values is equal to q (the denominator of n), where    .

1.9. Polar (Exponential) Form of a Complex Number

Let P( z ) be a complex number in Cartesian form with z  x  iy  ( x, y ) .

We join OP and draw perpendicular PM on OX from P . So OM  x and PM  y . Let POM  

and OP  r .

From POM , cos POM  OM

OP
or cos   rx  x  r cos 
sin POM  PM
OP
or sin   ry  y  r sin 

By Euler’s formula cos   i sin   ei ,

a complex number is written as

z  x  iy  r (cos   i sin )  r cis   rei  z ei . [polar form]

This is called the polar form or exponential form or phasor (phase related) form of the complex number
z  x  iy , where r and  are called modulus and argument respectively and (r , ) is called polar co-
ordinates.

1.10. Complex Conjugate or Conjugate Complex Number

Definition: The complex conjugate (or simply conjugate) of a complex

number z  x  iy is defined as the complex number x  iy and is

denoted by z  z*  x  iy  ( x,  y ) .

In polar coordinates, (r ,  ) is the

conjugate of (r , ) . Then

z  x  iy  r (cos   i sin  )  re i .

 z  x 2  ( y )2  x 2  y 2  z  r

y
   
and arg z  tan 1 x   tan 1 x   arg z   .
y

Remark: Conditions for two complex numbers z1 & z2 to be conjugate:

(i) z1  z2 and (ii) arg z1   arg z2 , i.e. arg z1  arg z2  0 .

Thank You