2.

5 Complex Numbers and Roots

Objectives:
N.CN.1: Know there is a complex number i such that i2 = -1, and every complex number has the
form a + bi with a and b real.
N.CN.2: Use the relation i2 = -1, and the commutative, associative, and distributive properties to
add, subtract, and multiply complex numbers.
N.CN.7: Solve quadratic equations with real coefficients that have complex solutions.

For the Board: You will be able to define and use imaginary and complex numbers.
You will be able to solve quadratic equations with complex roots.

Bell Work 2.5:

Simplify each expression.
42
1. 108 2. 6  24 3.
 3
Find the zeros of each function.
4. f(x) = x2 – 18x + 16 5. f(x) = x2 + 6x – 24

Anticipatory Set:
f(x) = x2 + 1 has no real zeros.
Solve for the zeros using square rooting.
x2 + 1 = 0 x2 = -1 x =  1

We can find solutions if we define the square root of a negative number.

This is why imaginary numbers were invented.
The imaginary unit i is defined as  1 .

An imaginary number is the square root of a negative number.

1 = I  2 = 1 ∙ 2 = i 2  4 =  1 ∙ 4 = 2i

Imaginary numbers can be written in the form bi, where b is a real number and i is the imaginary unit.
If b is a positive real number, then  b = i b .

The square of an imaginary number is the original negative number.

(  1 )2 = i2 = -1  b2 =  1  b 2 = bi (  b )2 = (i  b )2 = -b.

Open the book to page 95 and read example 1.

Example: Express each number in terms of i.
a. 5  121 b. -  96
5  1 ∙ 121 -  1 ∙ 96
5i ∙ 11 -i 16 ∙ 6
55i -4i 6
White Board Activity:
Practice: Express each number in terms of i.
1
a.  12 b. 2  36 c.   63
3
1
 1 ∙ 12 2  1 36   1  63
3
1
i 4∙ 3 2i ∙ 6  i 9 7
3
1
2i 3 12i  i 3 7
3
i 7

Open the book to page 95 and read example 2.

Example: Solve each equation. Use square rooting.
a. x2 = -144 b. 5x2 + 90 = 0
x =   144 5x2 = -90 x2 = -18
x =   1  144 x =   18 x =   1  18
x = ±12i x = ±i 9  2 x = ±3i 2

White Board Activity:

Practice: Solve each equation. Use square rooting.
a. x2 = -36 b. x2 + 48 = 0 c. 9x2 + 25 = 0
x = ±  36 x2 = -48 9x2 = -25
25
x = ±  1  36 x = ±  48 x2 = 
9
25
x = ±6i x = ±  1  48 x=± 
9
25
x = ±i 16  3 x = ± 1 
9
5
x = ±4i 3 x=  i
3

A complex number is a number that can be written in the form a + bi, where a and b are real numbers
and i =  1 .
Examples: 3 - 5i -5 + i 2 2 ± 4i 3

The set of real numbers is a subset of the set of complex numbers C.

Open the book to page 95 and study the Venn Diagram.

Every complex number has a real part “a” and an imaginary part “b”.
Real numbers are complex numbers where b = 0.

Imaginary numbers are complex numbers where a = 0 and b ≠ 0.

These are sometimes called pure imaginary numbers.
Two complex numbers are equal if and only if their real parts are equal and their imaginary parts are
equal .

Open the book to page 95 and read example 3.

Example: Find the values of x and y that make the equation 4x + 10i = 2 – (4y)i true.
4x + 10i = 2 + (-4y)i
4x = 2 10 = -4y
X=½ y = 10/-4 y = -2.5

White Board Activity:

Practice: Find the values of x and y that make each equation true.
a. 2x – 6i = -8 + (20y)i b. -8 + (6y)i = 5x - i 6
2x + (-6)I = -8 + (20y)I -8 + (6y)I = 5x + (- 6 )i
2x = -8 -6 = 20y -8 = 5x 6y = - 6
6
x = -4 y = -6/20 x = -8/5 y= 
6
= -3/10

Open the book to page 96 and read example 4.

Example: Find the zeros of each function using completing the square.
a. f(x) = x2 + 10x + 26 b. g(x) = x2 + 4x + 12
x2 + 10x + 26 = 0 x2 + 4x + 12 = 0
2
(x + 10x + _____) = -26 + _____ (x2 + 4x + _____) = -12 + _____
½ (10) = 5; 52 = 25 ½ (4) = 2; 22 = 4
(x2 + 10x + 25) = -26 + 25 = -1 (x2 + 4x + 4) = -12 + 4 = -8
2
(x + 5) = -1 (x + 2)2 = -8
x + 5 =  1 x + 2 =   8    1  8  i 4  2
x = -5 ± i x = -2 ± 2i 2

White Board Activity:

Practice: Find the zeros of each function using completing the square.
a. f(x) = x2 + 4x + 13 b. g(x) = x2 – 8x + 18
2
x + 4x + 13 = 0 x2 - 8x + 18 = 0
(x2 + 4x + _____) = -13 + _____ (x2 - 8x + _____) = -18 + _____
½ (4) = 2; 22 = 4 ½ (8) = 4; 42 = 16
2
(x + 4x + 4) = -13 + 4 = -9 (x2 - 8x + 16) = -18 + 16 = -2
(x + 2)2 = -9 (x - 4)2 = -2
x + 2 =  1  9 x - 4 =   2   1  2
x = -2 ± 3i x=4±i 2

Solutions like all of the above are called complex conjugate pairs.
-5 + I and -5 – I -2 + 2i 2 and -2 - 2i 2
-2 + 3i and -2 - 3i 4 + i 2 and 4 - i 2
Their real parts are equal and their imaginary parts are opposites.
The complex conjugate of a + bi is a – bi.

Note: If a quadratic equation has non-real roots, then these roots are complex conjugates.

Open the book to page 96 and read example 5.

Example: Find each complex conjugate.
a. 8 + 5i b. 6i
8 – 5i -6i

White Board Activity:

Practice: Find each complex conjugate.
a. 9 – i b. i + 2 c. -8i
9+i -I + 2 8i

Assessment:
Question student pairs.

Independent Practice:
Text: pg. 97 – 98 prob. 2 – 35, 43 - 57.

For a Grade:
Text: pg. 97 – 98 prob. 4, 8, 16, 24, 34.