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Complex Numbers 01

The document discusses complex numbers, including defining them as numbers with an imaginary component, plotting them on an Argand diagram, and properties such as powers of j. Complex numbers allow solving quadratic equations with negative discriminants. The square root of -1 is defined as i or j depending on the field. Examples are given of writing numbers in complex notation and plotting them.

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Adrian Prince Lopez
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16 views3 pages

Complex Numbers 01

The document discusses complex numbers, including defining them as numbers with an imaginary component, plotting them on an Argand diagram, and properties such as powers of j. Complex numbers allow solving quadratic equations with negative discriminants. The square root of -1 is defined as i or j depending on the field. Examples are given of writing numbers in complex notation and plotting them.

Uploaded by

Adrian Prince Lopez
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 PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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1 AdEMath – Advanced Engineering Mathematics for ECE

COMPLEX NUMBERS

DEFINITION OF COMPLEX NUMBERS

A complex number is a number which is not real.

The square root of a minus one, that is, √−1 is a complex number because there is no
real number which can be multiplied by itself in order to give the answer of -1.

The square roots of four,√4, however, are equal to ±2 which are real numbers, because
2 x 2 =4 or (-2) x (-2) = 4

Let us now examine the quadratic equation which has a negative discriminant:

𝐷 = 𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 = discriminant, the quantity under the square root.

Solve the quadratic equation 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 1 = 0

−𝑏±√𝑏 2 −4𝑎𝑐
Applying the formula 𝑥 = 2𝑎

−1±√12 −4(1)(1) −1±√−3


we have 𝑥 = =
2x1 2

1 √−3 1 √−3
One root 𝑥1 = − 2 + and the other root is 𝑥2 = − 2 − ; the roots are complex but
2 2
the sum of the roots, 𝑥1 +𝑥2 = 1 and the product of the roots, 𝑥1 𝑥2 = 1

The discriminant is negative, and therefore in the set of real numbers the above
equation has no solution.

Leonhard Euler and Karl Friedrich Gauss have extended the set of real numbers so that
quadratic equations with negative discriminants can be solved.

The set of real numbers was extended to the set of complex numbers so that the set of
real numbers is a proper subset of the set of complex numbers.

Mathematicians substituted √−1 by the letter i and Engineers substituted √−1 by the
letter j.

The letter i is the first letter of the French term “imaginaire” which translated into English
means “imaginary”. Engineers use the j notation in order to avoid confusion with the
letter “i" for “intensite” (which means “current” in French).

√−3 can be written as √−3 = √−1√3 = 𝒋√3.

Exercise 1.
Write down the following numbers in complex number notation:
i. √−𝟓
ii. −𝟑 − √−𝟑
iii. 𝟒 − √−𝟕
iv. -2
v. 𝟑𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙 + 𝟏 = 𝟎
vi. −𝟓𝒙𝟐 + 𝟕𝒙 + 𝟓 = 𝟎
vii. 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟐 = 𝟎

Engr. Vanessa Marie Gabon Page 1|3


2 AdEMath – Advanced Engineering Mathematics for ECE
COMPLEX NUMBERS

PLOTTING COMPLEX NUMBERS IN AN ARGAND DIAGRAM

Graphical Representation of Complex Numbers

x + jy where x is a real number and j is the imaginary number


j

where j2 = -1
-x x
-j

Example.
1. 𝒛𝟏 = 𝟑
2. 𝒛𝟐 = −𝟐 z3
3. 𝒛𝟑 = 𝟑 + 𝒋𝟒
4. 𝒛𝟒 = −𝟑 − 𝒋𝟒

z4

Exercise 2:
Plot the following numbers in an Argand Diagram:
i. 𝒂 = 𝒋𝟑
ii. 𝒃 = −𝒋𝟐
iii. 𝒄=𝟓+𝒋
iv. 𝒅 = −𝟒 + 𝒋𝟐

Engr. Vanessa Marie Gabon Page 2|3


3 AdEMath – Advanced Engineering Mathematics for ECE
COMPLEX NUMBERS

POWERS OF j

Example.
2
𝑗 2 = (√−1) = −1

𝑗 3 = 𝑗 2 ∙ 𝑗 = −1 ∙ 𝑗 = −𝑗
𝑗 4 = (𝑗 2 )2 = (−1)2 = 1
𝑗 5 = (𝑗 2 )2 ∙ 𝑗 = 1 ∙ 𝑗 = 𝑗

Exercise 3:
Simplify the following complex numbers.
i. 𝒋𝟗
ii. 𝒋𝟑𝟏
iii. 𝒋𝟑𝟖
iv. 𝒋𝟏𝟗𝟖𝟓

Engr. Vanessa Marie Gabon Page 3|3

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