Notes for Module 2 Lecture III: Complex Numbers/Quantities

Advanced Engineering Mathematics

Engr. Neil S. Sereño, SOE, BiPSU-Naval Campus
Nov 2021

Lecture III
1. Complex Numbers
2. Graphical Representation of a Complex Number
3. Different Forms of Complex Number
4. Fundamental Operations of Complex Number
5. Powers and Roots of Complex Number

1. Complex Numbers
Consider the quadratic equation ax
2
 bx  c  0 whose solution of this equation is given by the quadratic

b  b 2  4ac
formula x  which is meaningful only when the radicand b  4ac  0 , because the square of a
2

2a
real number is always positive and it cannot be negative. If b  4ac  0 , then the solution for the equation extends
2

the real number system to a new kind of number system that allows the square root of a negative numbers. The
square root of 1 ,1 , is then denoted by i or j , called the imaginary unit. Thus for any two real number a and b
, a complex number a  jb or a  bi can be formed. (First introduced by the famous mathematician, Leonhard Euler
in 1748.)

Definition: Complex Numbers

A number which of the form a  jb or a  bi where a & b are elements of real number and j or i is 1 and
is called a complex number. It consists of a real part in a and an imaginary part in jb or bi . The number 3  16
can be simplified as 3    16 and expressed as a complex number in the form 3  j 4 . A complex number is
denoted by z , so that z  a  jb and Re( z)  a ; Im( z )  jb .

The conjugate the complex number z  a  jb is defined as a  jb and is denoted by z . Thus if z  a  jb

then z  a  jb. For the A  5  j 7 , its conjugate is A  5  j 7 and vice versa.

2. Graphical Representation of Complex Number

Imaginary Axis
j
z  a  jb
b

r
 Real Axis
0 a

Where: Consequently:
r 2  a 2  b2 b
sin  
r
r  z  a 2  b 2  called the "Modulus"
b  r sin 
b
tan  a
a cos  
r
b a  r cos 
  Arc tan    called the "Argument"
 
a
 Successive powers of i or j

 1   1; j   1    1  
2 3 2
j  1; j2  3
1   1   j

  1    1    1   1
4 2 2
j4

  1    1    1   1  1
5 2 2
j5

  1    1    1    1   1
6 2 2 2
j6

3. Different Forms of Complex Number

I. Algebraic/Rectangular Form  z  a  jb
II. Trigonometric Form  z  r(cos  jsin )
III. Polar Form  z  r
 (radians)
IV. Exponential Form  z  re jR , R   
180
For the number z  3  j4 ,

4
tan   z  3  j4  Rectangular Form
3 r  a 2  b2
z  553.13  Polar Form
4
  tan 1   r  32  42 z  5(cos 53.13  j sin 53.13)  Trigonometric Form
 3
r 5 
  53.13 z  5e
j 53.13
180
 Exponential Form

4. Fundamental Operations of Complex Number

Addition and subtraction of complex number

 If two are added or subtracted, z1  a  jb & z2  c  jd , the real parts of z1 & z2 are combined and
the imaginary parts of z1 & z2 are combined.

z1  a  jb  z2  c  jd ; z1  z2  (a  jb)  (c  jd) ; z1  z2  (a  c)  j (b  d)

Example 1: Let A  4  j 6 & B  5  j 2 ; find A  B, and B  A .

Solution: A+B  (4  j 6)  (5  j 2)  (4  5)  j (6  2)  9  j 4

B  A  (5  j 2)  (4  j6)  (5  4)  j(2  6)  1  j8
 Combination of two or more complex numbers follows the parallelogram method.

Graphing the complex sum A  B, and B  A :

The sum of complex numbers in rectangular form can be obtained by a “Tip to Tail” or “Parallelogram”
graphical method.

Multiplication of complex number

Multiplication of complex numbers follows the distributive property. That is t he product of the numbers
z1  a  jb & z2  c  jd is found to be
z1 z2   a  jb  c  jd   a  c  jd  a  jb  c   jd  jb   ac  j  da  bc   j 2db

 
2
but j 2  1  1
z1 z2   ac  db   j  da  bc 

Example 2: Let A  4  j 6 & B  5  j 2 ; find AB .

Solution: AB  (4  j 6)(5  j 2)  (4  5)  j 2  4  j 6  5  j 2 6  2  20  j8  j30  12

AB  32  j 22
In Polar form:

Let z1  r11 & z2  r22 then,

z1 z2  r1r2(1   2 )
z1 z2 z3  r1r2 r3(1   2  3 )
z1 z2  zn  r1r2  rn (1   2     n )
Example 3: Let A  4  j 6 & B  5  j 2 ; find AB in polar form.

Solution: Express numbers A  4  j 6 & B  5  j 2 in polar form and proceed to multiplication.

A  4  j6 B  5  j2
rA  42  62 rB  52  (2) 2
 16  36  25  4
 52  29 Note: Angle  is traced starting from
rA  7.21 rB  5.39 the (+) real-axis to the (-) real-axis in
a counter clockwise direction. For a
6  2  negative value of the angle  , its
 A  Arc tan    B  Arc tan  
 
4  
5 complementary angle may be used
 A  56.31  B  21.80 or  B  338.20 
instead.

AB  rA rb ( A   B )
 (7.21)(5.39)(56.31  338.20)
 38.862394.51
AB  38.86234.51
AB  38.862 cos(34.51)  j38.862sin(34.51)
AB  32.02  j 22.02
AB  32  j 22
Division of complex number

a  jb
If the complex number c  jd  0 then the quotient can be simplified by multiplying both the
c  jd
numerator and denominator by the conjugate of the denominator. This rationalizes the denominator
which involves a radical expression.
 z1 a  jb c  jd
 
z 2 c  jd c  j d
ac  jbc  jda  j 2 bd

c 2  jdc  jdc  j 2 d 2
z1 (ac  bd)  j (bc  da)

z2 c2  d 2

5  j2
Example 4: Find the quotient of .
3  j4
Solution:

5  j2 5  j2 3  j4
 
3  j4 3  j4 3  j4
(15  8)  j (20  6)

32  42
7  j 26

9  16
7 26
 j
25 25
 0.28  j1.04

5 2 j
Example 5: Find the quotient of in polar form.
3  j4
Solution:

5  j 2 5.3921.8

3  j 4 5  53.13
5.39
 [21.8  (53.13)]
5
 1.07874.93
 1.078cos(74.93)  j1.078sin(74.93)
 0.2803  j1.0409

5 j
Example 6: Find the modulus and argument of the complex number .
2  j3
Solution:

5 j 5  j 2  j3
z  
2  j3 2  j3 2  j3
10  3  j (15  2)

22  32
13  j13
 b
13
z  1 j
z  11
z  2  Modulus
  Arc tan(1) a
  45  Argument