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Complexnumbers Teacher

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47 views4 pages

Complexnumbers Teacher

Uploaded by

api-356394827
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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TImath.

com Precalculus

Complex Numbers Time required


ID: 10887 15 minutes

Activity Overview
In this activity, students calculate problems from the student worksheet to determine the rules
for adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing complex numbers.

Topic: Complex Numbers


Operations with Complex Numbers

Teacher Preparation and Notes


Students have space on the handout to write solutions. If you are using Connect-to-
Class, students can insert a Notes Application Page (Home: Notes) and type their
explanations for collection.
Multiplying by the complex conjugate is not a part of this activity. It is a natural extension
for after this activity.
To download the student worksheet, go to education.ti.com/exchange and enter
10887 in the keyword search box.

Associated Materials
ComplexNumbers_Student.doc

Suggested Related Activities


To download any activity listed, go to education.ti.com/exchange and enter the number in
the keyword search box.
Complex Numbers: Plotting and Polar Form (TI-Nspire technology) 8908
Steady State Circuit Analysis & Filter Design (TI-89 Titanium) 3063

2010 Texas Instruments Incorporated Teacher Page Complex Numbers


TImath.com Precalculus

Students will enter problems in their calculators and record answers on the student worksheet.
Students should work in pairs or small groups in order to help look for patterns and determine
an algorithm for operations with complex numbers.
Remind students that i is found by pressing ` + .
Adding Complex Numbers
Students will use their calculator to find an algorithm for
adding complex numbers and solve some addition
problems. Encourage students to try solving the
problems on their own before entering the problems in
the Calculator application. Students may mention that
adding two complex numbers is similar to adding two
binomial expressions, such as (2 + 3x) + (5 4x)

Subtracting Complex Numbers


Students should discover that subtracting complex
numbers is similar to adding complex numbers.

Multiplying Complex Numbers


Students will move on to multiplying complex numbers.
If students have trouble seeing why there is no i2 term in
the answers, encourage them to work through the
problems by hand and use 1 instead of i. Students
should see i 2 i gi 1 g 1 1.

Dividing Complex Numbers


Students will divide a complex number by another
complex number. In order to explain why i is not in the
denominator of the answers, tell students to think of
possible ways to eliminate the i in the denominator.
Students should recall that i2 = 1. What happens if this
was changed to i i? (i i = (i i) = (1) = 1)

2010 Texas Instruments Incorporated Page 2 Complex Numbers


TImath.com Precalculus

Because the numerator and denominator have both


been multiplied by i. This results in an i2 in the
denominator that is then replaced with 1.
8 5i i 8i 5i 2 8i 5( 1) 8i 5 8 5
i
2i i 2i 2 2( 1) 2 2 2

4i 2.5 = 2.5 + 4i
Solutions Student worksheet
Adding Complex Numbers
1. 5 + 9i
2. 4 8i
3. 8 3i
4. 1 + i
5. 1 10i
6. Sample answer: when adding two complex numbers, add the real parts together and
then add complex parts together.
Subtracting Complex Numbers
1. 1 i
2. 2 4i
3. 4 + 13i
4. 3 + 5i
5. 9 + 4i
6. Sample answer: when subtracting two complex numbers, subtract the real parts and
then subtract complex parts.
Multiplying Complex Numbers
1. 14 23i
2. 9 20i
3. Sample answer: there is no i2 in the answers because i 2 i gi 1 g 1 1

4. 52 + 14i
5. 4 + 7i
6. 41 13i
7. Sample answer: when multiplying two complex numbers, apply the Distributive Property,
and replace i2 with 1, and simplify.

2010 Texas Instruments Incorporated Page 3 Complex Numbers


TImath.com Precalculus

Dividing Complex Numbers


4 2
1. i
3 3
1
2. 1 i
2
i
3. Sample answer: I can multiply by to eliminate the imaginary number in the
i
denominator.
3 1
4. i
4 2
7 4
5. i
3 3
5
6. 4i
2
i
7. Again, students should multiply the expressions by to establish a pattern.
i
8. Sample answer: Students should begin seeing a pattern. For example,
(2 3i ) (2 3i ) i ( 2i 3i 2 ) ( 2i 3( 1)) ( 2i 3) ( 3 2i )
. The numbers in
4i 4i i 4i 2 4( 1) 4 4
the numerator changes positions with i remaining in the second term of the numerator
and change the sign of the new second term. Then, i is no longer in the denominator
because multiplying i by i gives 1.
9. CHALLENGE:
3 4i 2 5i 6 15i 12i 20i 2 6 27i 20 14 27i 14 27
i
2 5i 2 5i 4 10i 10i 25i 2 4 25 29 29 29

2010 Texas Instruments Incorporated Page 4 Complex Numbers

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