GCE A Level Maths 9709

SMIYL
April 2023

3.9 Complex Numbers

In this topic we will learn how to:

• understand the idea of a complex number, recall the meaning of the terms
real part, imaginary part, modulus, argument and conjugate
• carry out the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and divi-
sion of two complex numbers expressed in Cartesianform x + iy
Complex Numbers: Basics
Imaginary numbers

The square root of a negative number does not exist. However, we

define the square root of −1 as i,
√
i = −1

As a result, we can write the square root of any negative number in

terms of i. When you write a number in terms of i it is called an
imaginary number.
Complex numbers

A number that consists of the combination of both real and imaginary

numbers is called a complex number. It is written in the form,

a + ib

Where a and b are real numbers. a is considered as the real part

of the complex number because a is a real number. ib is considered
as the imaginary part of the complex number because any number
written in terms of i is an imaginary number.

Addition of complex numbers

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To add two complex numbers group the real parts together and add
them, then group the imaginary parts together and add them to-
gether. Let’s look at an example,

Example 1
Add 2 + 3i to 3 + 8i.
(2 + 3i) + (3 + 8i)

Remove the brackets,

2 + 3i + 3 + 8i

Group the like terms,

2 + 3 + 3i + 8i

Simplify,
5 + 11i

Therefore, the sum of the two complex numbers is,

5 + 11i

Subtraction of Complex Numbers

To subtract complex numbers, follow the same procedure as in addi-

tion.

Example 2

Subtract 3 + 4i from 5 + 7i.

(5 + 7i) − (3 + 4i)

Remove the brackets,

5 + 7i − 3 − 4i

Group like terms,

5 − 3 + 7i − 4i

Simplify,
2 + 3i

2
Therefore, the difference of the two complex numbers is,

2 + 3i

Multiplication of Complex Numbers

To multiply two complex numbers, expand the brackets and simplify.

Let’s look at example.

Example 3

Given that u = 2 + 3i and w = 4 + 2i. Find u × w.

u×w
(2 + 3i) × (4 + 2i)
(2 + 3i)(4 + 2i)

Expand the brackets,

(2 × 4) + (2 × 2i) + (3i × 4) + (3i × 2i)

Simplify,
8 + 4i + 12i + 6i2
8 + 16i + 6i2

i2 can be simplified. If, √

i= −1

Then, √
i2 = ( −1)2
i2 = −1

Substitute i2 with −1,

8 + 16i + 6i2
8 + 16i + 6(−1)
8 + 16i − 6

Group like terms and simplify,

8 − 6 + 16i

2 + 16i

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Therefore, the product of the two complex numbers is,
2 + 16i

Note: Always write complex numbers in the form a + ib, with the real
part coming before the imaginary part.
Division of Complex Numbers

To be able to divide complex numbers we have to know what a com-

plex conjugate is. Complex conjugates have the same real part and
imaginary part, however, they differ in the sign between the two
parts. For the complex number z the complex conjugate is denoted
by z ∗ . For example, If
u = 2 + 3i

Then the complex conjugate is,

u∗ = 2 − 3i

If,
w = 4 + 2i

Then the complex conjugate is,

w∗ = 4 − 2i

When dividing a complex number by a complex number, multiply

both the numerator and denominator by the complex conjugate of
the denominator. Let’s look at an example,

Example 4
u
Given that u = 2 + 3i and w = 4 + 2i. Express w in the form x + iy, where x
and y are real numbers.
u
w
2 + 3i
4 + 2i

The first step is to multiply both the numerator and denominator

with the complex conjugate of w, which is 4 − 2i,
2 + 3i 4 − 2i
×
4 + 2i 4 − 2i
(2 + 3i)(4 − 2i)
(4 + 2i)(4 − 2i)

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Expand the numerator,
8 − 4i + 12i − 6i2
(4 + 2i)(4 − 2i)

Simplify the numerator,

8 + 8i − 6(−1)
(4 + 2i)(4 − 2i)
8 + 6 + 8i
(4 + 2i)(4 − 2i)
14 + 8i
(4 + 2i)(4 − 2i)

Expand the denominator,

14 + 8i
(4 + 2i)(4 − 2i)
14 + 8i
16 − 4i2

Note: when you multiply complex conjugates you get a difference of

two squares which results in a real number.

Simplify the denominator,

14 + 8i
16 − 4(−1)
14 + 8i
16 + 4
14 + 8i
20

Simplify the fraction,

14 8i
+
20 20
7 2
+ i
10 5

Therefore, we can conclude that,

u 7 2
= + i
w 10 5

Complex plane

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Complex numbers can be plotted on a Cartesian plane. When com-
plex numbers are plotted on a Cartesian plane it is known as a Com-
plex plane. The real part is plotted along the x-axis and the imaginary
part along the y-axis. However, note that, when dealing with com-
plex numbers the x-axis is called the real axis. It is denoted by ℜez.
The y-axis is called the imaginary axis. It is denoted by ℑmz. When
you plot a complex number on a Complex plane, you can either plot
it as a point or you can plot it as a position vector i.e A line from the
origin to the point.
ℑmz

3 2 + 3i

ℜez
O 2

The complex number 2 + 3i plotted as a point.

ℑmz

3 2 + 3i

ℜez
O 2

The complex number 2 + 3i plotted as a vector.

Modulus

We can calculate the magnitude or modulus of the complex number

using the formula below. If u = a + ib then,
p
|u| = a2 + b2

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 Argument

The argument of a complex number is the angle it forms with the

positive real axis when plotted on a Complex plane. For the complex
number z it is denoted by,
arg(z)

There are four possible scenarios when calculating the argument of a

complex number.

1. The complex number lies in the first quadrant

ℑmz
u

α ℜez
O a

The complex number u = a + ib in the first quadrant

Note: In this case α is equal to arg(u).

For the complex number u = a + ib, the formula to get arg(u) is,
 
b
arg(u) = tan−1
a

2. The complex number lies in the second quadrant

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 ℑmz
a
u

b
arg(u)
α
ℜez
O

The complex number u = a + ib in the second quadrant

Note: α is equal to tan−1 a

b

For the complex number u = a + ib, the formula to get arg(u) is,
a
arg(u) = 90◦ + tan−1
b
3. The complex number lies in the third quadrant

ℑmz

ℜez
O
α
arg(u)
b

u
a

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 The complex number u = a + ib in the third quadrant

Note: α is equal to tan−1 a

b

For the complex number u = a + ib, the formula to get arg(u) is,
a
arg(u) = −90◦ − tan−1
b

4. The complex number lies in the fourth quadrant

ℑmz

a ℜez
O α

The complex number u = a + ib in the fourth quadrant

Note: In this case α is equal to −arg(u).

For the complex number u = a + ib, the formula to get arg(u) is,
 
−1 b
arg(u) = − tan
a

Note: The formulae above are in degrees, and we are assum-

ing that −180◦ < arg(u) < 180◦ . Use that interval unless told
otherwise.