COMPLEX NUMBERS

Since it was not possible to solve the equations which involve square root of negative numbers,
mathematicians introduced a new type of numbers called Imaginary Numbers. For example 1 , 2 ,
3, 4 , .. are Imaginary Numbers. Generally Imaginary numbers are in the form n . 2

n2 = n 2 (1) = n 2 1 = n, where 2 = 1.

Complex Numbers:
The sum/difference of real number and Imaginary number is called Complex number or
| = { a + ib | a, b , i = 1 }
C
Complex number can be added, subtracted, divided and multiplied. A complex number can be
written in the form z = x + y where x and y are real numbers. This is called Cartesian Form.

Properties of Complex Numbers:

1) 7 + 2 = 9 2) 7 2 = 5 3) 7 2 = 14 4) 7 2 = 3.5
5) If z = x + y and z* = x y then
a) z + z* = 2x (real number)
b) z z* = 2y (imaginary number)
c) z z* = x2 + y2 (real number)
d) | z | = Modulus of z = x 2 y 2 = z z*

ARGAND DIAGRAM:

A complex number z = x + y represent a point (x, y) on the Argand Plane. Plotting / showing a
complex number on the Argand Plane is called Argand Diagram, where x-axis represent the real
part and y-axis represent the imaginary part. For example a complex number z = 3 5 can be shown as
iy iy

0
0 x x
3

OR

z
5
z

LOCI IN ARGAND DIAGRAM:

Locus of z
If z is a variable complex number, then locus of z under certain iy
conditions can be sketched in Argand Diagram in the following way:

Case 1: Locus of z when | z | = a, where a is a constant. a

Since | z | = | z ( 0 + 0i ) | = a. therefore it is a circle with 0
x
centre (0,0) and radius a. We may read it as distance of z
from (0,0) is a.
 iy

Case 2: Locus of z when | z | < a, where a is a constant.

Since | z | = | z ( 0 + 0i ) | < a. therefore it is the region
inside the circle with centre (0,0) and radius a. 0
x

iy

Case 3: Locus of z when | z | a, where a is a constant.

Since | z | = | z ( 0 + 0i ) | a. therefore it is the region x
0
inside the circle, including the boundary, with centre
(0,0) and radius a.

iy

x
0 2 4

Case 4: Locus of z when | z p | = a, where a is a constant and

p is another fixed complex number. It is a circle with p 3
p a
as the centre and radius a. For example | z 2 + 3i | = 2.
First writing it in the form | z (2 3i) | = 2. Then it is a
circle with (2, 3) as centre and radius 2 as shown in the diagram. 5

Locus of z
iy

Case 5: Locus of z when | z p | a, where a is a constant and x

0
p is another fixed complex number. It is the region inside 2 4
a circle with p as the centre and radius a.

For example | z 2 + 3i | 2. First writing it in the form 3

| z (2 3i) | 2. Then it is a circle with (2, 3) as centre
and radius 2 as shown in the diagram. 5

iy

0
x
1 2 4 5

Case 6: 2 | z 2 + 3i | 3. Write it in the form

2 | z (2 3i) | 3 then draw Argand diagram. 3

6
 iy

0
x
2 4
Case 7: Locus of z when | z | = | z 2 + 3i |. Write it in the
form | z (0 + 0i) | = | z (2 3i) |. Then it may be
read as z is equidistant from (0,0) and (2, 3). Hence 3 P
it will be a perpendicular bisector of (0, 0) and (2, 3).

iy

0 x
Case 8: Locus of z when | z | | z 2 + 3i |. Write it in the 2 4
form | z (0 + 0i) | | z (2 3i) |. Then it may be
read as the distance of z from O(0,0) is greater than its
distance from P (2, 3) i.e. OZ PZ 3 P

iy

Case 9: Draw the locus of z such that | z (1 + i) | = 1 and hence

calculate least value of | z | for the points on this locus.
B
1
Considering triangle OAB, OA = 1, AB = 1, hence by z
Pythagoras Theorem OB = 2 . Since the locus of z is A x
0 1
the circle, therefore least value of | z | = OB BZ = 2 1 = 0.414
if required maximum value of | z | is 0.414 + 1 + 1 = 2.414

iy
Case 10: Sketch the locus of z such that | z | 2 and
| z (0+2i) | | z (1 i) | and shade the region
which satisfy both inequalities. 2

0
x
2 2
| z (0+2i) | < | z (1 i)

|z|<2
 iy

r
Case 11. Sketch r( cos + i Sin )
x
0

iy

Case 12. Sketch arg z = .
5

Write it in the form arg [z ( 0 + 0i )] = .
5
This means angle will be made at (0, 0) 5
x
0

iy
2
Case 13. Sketch arg z = .
3
2 0 x
Write in the form arg [z ( 0 + 0i )] = .
3 2

3
This means angle will be made at (0, 0)

iy

3 3
Case 14. Sketch arg (z 1 2i ) = . 4
4 2
Write in the form arg [z (1 + 2i)]. This means the x
iy angle
will be at (1, 2) anti-clockwise from the horizontal.
x
0 1

iy

Case 15. Sketch 0 < arg z < .
3

Write in the form 0 < arg [z (0 + 0i)] < . This means
3
3
the region between the positive x-axix and angle of /3. x
0

2 iy
Case 16. Sketch < arg ( z + 1 i ) 2
6 3 3
2
Write in the form < arg [ z (1 + i )]
. This means
6 3
the region between the angle greater than /6 and less than 2/3
made at point (1, 1) with horizontal. 1
6

x
1 0