Complex Numbers (Definition, Formulas, Examples)
Complex Numbers (Definition, Formulas, Examples)
Maths (/maths/) > Math Article (/maths/articles/) > Complex Numbers (/maths/complex-numbers/)
Complex numbers are the numbers that are expressed in the form of a+ib where, a,b are real
numbers and ‘i’ is an imaginary number called “iota”. The value of i = (√-1). For example, 2+3i is
a complex number, where 2 is a real number (https://byjus.com/maths/real-numbers/) (Re)
and 3i is an imaginary number (Im).
Combination of both the real number and imaginary number is a complex number.
1+j
-13 – 3i
0.89 + 1.2 i
√5 + √2i
An imaginary number is usually represented by ‘i’ or ‘j’, which is equal to √-1. Therefore, the
square of the imaginary number gives a negative value.
The main application of these numbers is to represent periodic motions such as water waves,
alternating current, light waves, etc., which rely on sine or cosine waves, etc.
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9/7/24, 4:59 PM Complex Numbers (Definition, Formulas, Examples)
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Table of Contents:
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Definition
Absolute Value
Algebraic Operations
Formulas
Power of Iota
Identities
Properties
Examples
FAQs
Definition
The complex number is basically the combination of a real number and an imaginary number.
The complex number is in the form of a+ib, where a = real number and ib = imaginary number.
Also, a,b belongs to real numbers and i = √-1.
Hence, a complex number is a simple representation of addition of two numbers, i.e., real
number and an imaginary number. One part of it is purely real and the other part is purely
imaginary.
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What are Imaginary Numbers?
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The numbers which are not real are imaginary numbers. When we square an imaginary
number, it gives a negative result. It is represented as Im(). Example: √-2, √-7, √-11 are all
imaginary numbers.
The complex numbers were introduced to solve the equation x2+1 = 0. The roots of the equation
are of form x = ±√-1 and no real roots exist. Thus, with the introduction of complex numbers, we
have Imaginary roots.
We denote √-1 with the symbol ‘i’, which denotes Iota (Imaginary number).
Notation
An equation of the form z= a+ib, where a and b are real numbers, is defined to be a complex
number. The real part is denoted by Re z = a and the imaginary part is denoted by Im z = ib.
Z=a+ib
Examples
See the table below to differentiate between a real number and an imaginary number.
-1+2i -1 2i
7-9i 7 -9i
6 6 0i (Purely Real)
Is 0 a complex Number?
As we know, 0 is a real number. And real numbers are part of complex numbers. Therefore, 0 is
also a complex number and can be represented as 0+0i.
Graphical representation
In the graph below, check the representation of complex numbers along the axes. Here we can
see, the x-axis represents real part and y represents the imaginary part.
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Let us see an example here. If we have to plot a graph of complex number 3 + 4i, then:
Absolute Value
The absolute value of a real number (https://byjus.com/maths/absolute-values/) is the
number itself. The absolute value of x is represented by modulus, i.e. |x|. Hence, the modulus of
any value always gives a positive value, such that;
|3| = 3
|-3| = 3
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Now, in case of complex numbers, finding the modulus has a different method.
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Suppose, z = x+iy is a complex number. Then, mod of z, will be:
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|z| = √(x2+y2)
This expression is obtained when we apply the Pythagorean theorem in a complex plane.
Hence, mod of complex number, z is extended from 0 to z and mod of real numbers x and y is
extended from 0 to x and 0 to y respectively. Now these values form a right triangle, where 0 is
the vertex of the acute angle. Now, applying Pythagoras theorem
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|z|2 = |x|2+|y|2
|z|2 = x2 + y2
|z| = √(x2+y2)
Addition
Subtraction
Multiplication
Division
Similar Root
Addition
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(a + ib) + (c + id) = (a + c) + i(b + d)
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Subtraction
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(a + ib) – (c + id) = (a – c) + i(b – d)
Multiplication
When two complex numbers are multiplied by each other, the multiplication process should be
similar to the multiplication of two binomials. It means that the FOIL method (Distributive
multiplication process) is used.
Division
The division of two complex numbers can be performed by multiplying the numerator and
denominator by its conjugate value of the denominator, and then applying the FOIL Method.
Similarly, we can find for the negative power of i, which are as follows;
i-1 = 1 / i
Note: √-1 × √-1 = √(-1 × -1) = √1 = 1 contradicts to the fact that i2 = -1.
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1. (z1 + z2)2 = (z1)2 + (z2)2 + 2 z1 × z2
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2. (z – z )2 = (z )2 + (z )2 – 2 z × z
1 2 1 2 1 2
Properties
The properties of complex numbers are listed below:
The addition of two conjugate complex numbers will result in a real number
The multiplication of two conjugate complex number will also result in a real number
If x and y are the real numbers and x+yi =0, then x =0 and y =0
If p, q, r, and s are the real numbers and p+qi = r+si, then p = r, and q=s
The complex number obeys the commutative law of addition and multiplication.
z1+z2 = z2+z1
z1 . z 2 = z 2 . z 1
The complex number obeys the associative law of addition and multiplication.
(z1.z2).z3 = z1.(z2.z3)
If the sum of two complex number is real, and also the product of two complex number is
also real, then these complex numbers are conjugate to each other.
For any two complex numbers, say z1 and z2, then |z1+z2| ≤ |z1|+|z2|
The result of the multiplication of two complex numbers and its conjugate value should
result in a complex number and it should be a positive value.
Mathematically,
|z| = Live
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T he conjugate of z is denoted by z̄.
Mathematically,
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z̄ = a–ib
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Argand Plane and Polar Form
Similar to the XY plane, the Argand(or complex) plane is a system of rectangular coordinates in
which the complex number a+ib is represented by the point whose coordinates are a and b.
We find the real and complex components in terms of r and θ, where r is the length of the vector
and θ is the angle made with the real axis. Check out the detailed argand plane and polar
representation of complex numbers (https://byjus.com/maths/argand-plane-and-polar-
representation-of-complex-number/) in this article and understand this concept in a detailed
way along with solved examples.
Solved Problems
Example 1: Simplify
a) 16i + 10i(3-i)
b) (7i)(5i)
c) 11i + 13i – 2i
Solution:
a) 16i + 10i(3-i)
= 16i +30i – 10 i2
= 46 i – 10 (-1)
= 46i + 10
(5+√3i)/(1-√3i).
Solution:
Given: (5+√3i)/(1-√3i)
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Practice Questions
Based on the explanation given above in this article, try to solve the following questions.
1. Solve (4i-7)+(1-i)
2. Solve i.(i-1)
3. (1+i)/(1-i) =
4. i2000 =
5. Find z2, if z = 6i
The complex number is the combination of a real number and imaginary number. An
example of a complex number is 4+3i. Here 4 is a real number and 3i is an imaginary
number.
To divide the complex number, multiply the numerator and the denominator by its
conjugate. The conjugate of the complex number can be found by changing the sign
between the two terms in the denominator value. Then apply the FOIL method to simplify
the expression.
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Q4 Write down the additive identity and inverse of complex numbers.
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The additive identity of complex numbers is written as (x+yi) + (0+0i) = x+yi. Hence, the
additive identity is 0+0i.
The additive inverse of complex numbers is written as (x+yi)+ (-x-yi) = (0+0i). Hence, the
additive inverse is -x-yi.
Q5 Write down the multiplicative identity and inverse of the complex number.
The multiplicative identity of complex numbers is defined as (x+yi). (1+0i) = x+yi. Hence, the
multiplicative identity is 1+0i.
The multiplicative identity of complex numbers is defined as (x+yi). (1/x+yi) = 1+0i. Hence,
the multiplicative identity is 1/x+yi.
Learn more about the Identities, conjugate of the complex number, and other complex
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there is no particular information about square root of a complex number
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