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A- LEVEL – MATHEMATICS P3 Complex Numbers

(NOTES)
1. Given a quadratic equation :

x2 + 1 = 0 or ( x2 = -1 ) has no solution in the set of real numbers, as

there does not exist any real number whose square is -1.

Here we introduce a number (symbol ) i = √-1

or i2 = -1

and we may deduce i3 = -i

i4 = 1

Now solution of x2 + 1 = 0

x2 = -1

x = + √-1

or x = + i

2. We define a complex number z = ( x + i y) ; x,y ϵ R

Example : ( 4 + 3 i ) , , 7i and 0 are complex numbers.

a) Given a complex number z = (a + i b)

Then real part of z = a or Re z = a

and Imaginary part of z = b or img z = b

b) Example i) z = ( 4 + 3 i) is a complex number

ii) = ( + 0 i ) is pure real number

iii) 7 i = (0 + 7i ) is pure imaginary number

and 0=0+i0
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3. a) Equal Complex numbers

Given Complex numbers u = ( a + i b ) and v = ( c + i d )

Then ( a + i b) = ( c + i d ) a = c real and imaginary parts

b = d are separately equal

b) Inequality in complex numbers is not defined

u = ( a + i b) , v = (c + id)

u > v or v > u is not defined

4. Algebra of Complex Numbers

a) Addition of Complex Numbers :

Given u = ( a + i b ) and v = (c + i d ) ; a , b , c and d ε R

u + v = ( (a + c ) + i (b + d) )

Example : ( 2 + 3 i ) + ( 4 - 7 i ) = ( 2 + 4 ) + i ( 3 + ( - 7 ) )

= (6–4i)

b) Subtraction of Complex Numbers :

u – v = ( a + i b ) - (c + i d )

= (a–c)+i (c–d)

Example : ( 2 + 3 i ) - ( 4 - 7 i ) = ( 2 - 4 ) + i ( 3 - ( - 7 ) )

= ( -2 + 10 i )

c) Multiplication of two complex numbers :

( a + i b ) (c + i d ) = ( ac - cd ) + i ( ad + bc)

Example : ( 2 + 3 i ) ( 4 - 7 i ) = ( 2 x 4 – 3 (-7) ) + i ( 2 (-7) + 3 x 4 )

= ( 8 + 21 ) + i ( -14 + 12 )
= (29 – 2i)
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Note : i) ( a + i b )2 = ( a2 - b 2 ) + 2 a b i ( 2 + 3 i )2 = ( 4 – 9 ) + 2x 2x3i
= ( - 5 + 12 i )

ii) ( a + i b) ( a – i b) = a2 + b 2 ( 2 + 3 i) ( 2 – 3 i ) = 2 2 + 3 2
= 13

iii) ( a – i b)2 = ( a2 - b 2 ) – 2 abi (2 – 3 i)2 = (4 – 9 ) – 2 x 2 x 3

= ( - 5 – 12 i )

d) Division of two Complex Numbers :

= x = x

= =

=
= + i
= (- i )
5. Conjugate of a Complex Numbers :
Given z = ( x + i y ) x,y εR
Conjugate of z denoted by z* = ( x – y i)

Example : i) z = 4 + 3 i z* = 4 – 3 i
ii) z = 2 - 5 i z* = 2 + 5 i

6. Properties of Conjugate Complex Numbers :

Given z = ( a + i b ) and w = ( c + i d )

then z* = a – i b and w* = c - id

i) ( z*) * = z

ii) z + z* = 2 Re (z)

iii) z – z * = 2 i Im(z)

iv) z = z* z is pure real

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v) z + z* = 0 z is pure Ima.

vi) z.z * = ( Re z ) 2 + ( Imz )2 = a2 + b2

or zz* = | z | 2

vii) ( z + w )* = z* + w*

viii) ( z - w )* = z* - w*

ix) ( z w )* = z*w*

*
x) ( = ; w ≠0

xi) A quadratic equation with real coefficients :

ax2 + bx + c = 0 such that b2 – 4ac < 0
has conjugate complex roots.

Example : z2 + 4 z + 13 = 0 has conjugate complex roots

i.e ( - 2 + 3 i ) and ( - 2 – 3 i )

6. Geometric Representation of a Complex Numbers

To each complex numbers z = ( x + i y) there corresponds a unique

ordered pair ( a, b ) or a point A (a ,b ) on Argand diagram

Example : Represent the following complex numbers on an Argand Diagram :

i) z = ( 4 + 3 i ) ii) w = -2 + 3 i iii) u = ( - 3 – 2 i ) iv) v = ( 4 - i )

v) z1 = i vi) z2 = + 3
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Solution: i) z = ( 4 + 3 i ) A ( 4,3 ) iv) v = ( 4 - i ) D (4, -1 )

ii) w = ( -2 + 3 i ) B ( - 2, 3 ) v) z1 = i E ( 0,1)
iii) u = ( - 3 – 2 i ) C ( - 3 , -2 ) vi) z2 = 3 F (3, 0)

7. Modulus of a Complex Numbers :

Z = (a+ib) A (a,b)

Y
A ( a,b )

z b

O a X

Modulus of z = z = OA
= √( a2 + b2 ) ; |z| ≥ 0
Example : z = ( 4 + 3i ) z = √( 4 2 + 32)
= 5

NOTE : z = a + ib , z* = ( a – i b)
zz* = ( a + i b) ( a – ib )

= a 2+ b 2

= ( √ (a2 + b2 ))2 = | z | 2

2
zz* = |z|

8. Properties of Modulus of a Complex Numbers

z , z1 , z2 ε C

i) z = 0 z= 0 or ( Re z = 0 and Ima z = 0 )
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ii) z = z* = -z

iii) - z ≤ Re z ≤ z and - z ≤ Ima z ≤ z

2
iv) zz* = z

v) z1z2 = z1 | | z2|

vi) = ; z2 ≠ 0

vii) =

viii) z2 = z 2

9. To find square roots of a complex number ( a + i b)

Let ( x + i y) is square root of ( a + i b )

( x + i y )2 = ( a + b i ) _______________ (i)

Or ( x2 - y 2 ) + 2xyi = ( a + b i)

Or x2 - y 2 = a ___________ (ii)

2xy = b ___________ (iii)

Taking modulus on both sides of (i)

| ( x + i y )2 | = | a + i b |

| x +i y | 2 = √(a2 + b2 )

Or x2 + y 2 = √(a2 + b2 ) _________ (iv)

Adding equation (ii) and (iv) we get,

2 x2 = (a + √(a2 + b2 )

x2 = ( a + √( a2 + b2 ) = p ( let )

x = + √p _________ (v)

Now subtract equation (ii) from (iv)

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2 y 2 = √ (a2 + b2 ) - a

y2 = (√ (a2 + b2 ) - a ) = q ( let )

y = + √q

NOTE : Case I : Now from equation (iii) if 2xy = b > 0

Then req. Square roots = + ( √p + i √q )

Case II : If 2xy = b < 0

Then req. Square roots = + ( √p - i √q )

10. Important application of modulus of complex numbers :

If Complex numbers z1 and z1 are represented by points A and B

respectively. B

i) AB = z2 - z1 z2

A z1

and | z2 - z1 | = AB o

and | z1 | = OA

ii) Given | z - z1 | = | z - z2 | represents the locus of z, which is the set of

points P equidistant from two given points A ‘z1’ and B ‘z2’

Hence , Locus of z is the perpendicular bisector of AB

iii) Equation of circle P ‘z’

a) | z –z 0 | = R R

C Z0
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Locus of z is a circle :

Centre at C ‘ z0 ‘ and radius CP = R

b) Show that : Complex equation :

z z* + a z* + a* z + b = 0 .................(i) ; aεC, b ε R
2
represent a circle with centre at ‘-a ‘ and radius R = √(|a| - b)

Solution : from equation ( i )

z z* + a z* + a* z = - b

Add aa* on both the sides

z z* + a z* + a* z + a a* = - b + a a*

z* ( z + a ) + a* ( z +a ) = a a* – b

(z +a ) ( z* + a* ) = |a|2 - b
*
(z +a ) (z +a ) = |a|2 - b

|z +a | 2 = |a|2 - b

|z +a | = √ (|a|2 - b ) ----------------------------(ii)

Comparing it with { |z - a | = R } equation ( ii ) represent a circle with

centre at ‘ – a ’ and R = √ (|a|2 - b )

c) | z – z1 | = k | z – z1 | ; k R + , k ≠ 1 represent a circle , = k

P z

A z1 B z2
‘z1 ‘ P(z)
iv) A B ‘z 2 ‘
C
|z- z1 | + |z- z2 | = |z1- z2 | ( or PA + PB = AB )
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P lies on segment AB

‘z1 ‘ z2
v) A P ‘z ‘
B

|z- z1 | - |z- z2 | = |z1- z2 | or PA - PB = AB

P lies on segment BP

11) Argument of a Complex Numbers :

z = ( a + b i ) complex number is represented by point A

arg z = AOX = θ
tan θ =
θ = tan-1 ( )
-π < θ < π

Here θ is principal arguments of z. Y

A (a,b)
θ b
O a N X

CASE I a> 0 , b > 0 Y A(a,b)

θ = tan-1 ( ) = α α b

O a X

CASE II a <0 and b>0 z= a+ib Y

tan-1 | | = α A(a,b)

θ=(π - α ) b α π- α
N a
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CASE III a<0 and b< 0

tan-1 | | = α O
θ= - (π - α ) Z -(π-α)

CASE IV a>0 and b< 0 O

tan-1 | | = α - α X
θ= - α -
A
12. Application of argument of Complex numbers
i) arg z =

Locus of z is half line OP

ii) arg ( z - 1) =

Locus of z is half line AP

iii) arg ( z – 1 + 3 i ) =
or arg [ z- (1 – 3 i ) =

Locus of z is half line BP

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iv) arg ( z + 2 – i ) =
or ( z – ( -2 + i ) ) =

Locus of z is half line CP

13. Polar form of a Complex Numbers

Y
Given a Complex number z = x + i y P(z)
|z| = √ ( x2 + y2 ) = r (let)
And arg z = tan -1 = θ |z| = r y
θ
Then Polar form of z O r N

z = r (cos θ + i sin θ )

14. Multiplication of Complex Numbers in Polar form:

Given complex numbers

z1 = r 1 ( cos θ1 + i sin θ1 )
and z2 = r 2 ( cos θ2 + i sin θ2 )

Then , z1 z2 = r 1 r 2 [ cos (θ1 + θ2) + i sin(θ1 + θ2) ]

Note : i) | z1 z2 | = |z1 | | z2 | = = r 1 r 2
ii) arg (z1 z2 ) = θ1 + θ2
= arg z1 + arg z2 + K ( 2 π)

K = 0 if - π < ( θ1 + θ2 ) ≤ π
-1 if (θ1 + θ2 ) > π
+1 if ( θ1 + θ2 ) < -π

15. Division of Complex Numbers In Polar Form:

= [ cos (θ1 – θ2 ) + i sin ( θ1 - θ2)]

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| | = ; arg ( ) = θ1 - θ2

θ = ( arg z1 - arg z2 ) + K ( 2 π)

K = 0 if - π < θ1 - θ2 ≤ π
-1 if (θ1 - θ2 ) > π
+1 if ( θ1 - θ2 ) < -π

16. Square root of a Complex Number in Polar Form

Given Complex number z = r ( cos θ + i sin θ )

Let the square root of z is w = p ( cos α + i sin α ) ____________ (i)
[ p( cos α + i sin α ) ] 2 = r ( cos θ + i sin θ )
Or p2 ( cos 2α + i sin 2 α ) = r ( cos θ + i sin θ )
p2 = r p = √r
and 2 α = θ α =
i) arg w and - π if θ ≥ 0
α= or
and + π if θ < 0

17. Exponential form a complex Number :

Given a Complex number in Polar form z = r ( cos θ + i sin θ )

Then exponential form z = re iθ