Complex Numbers

Definition of a complex number - - A number of the form z = x + iy, where x and y are real
numbers and i = −1 is called a complex number.
Note : 1) x is called the real part of z and it is denoted by R(z) or Re(z) and y is called the imaginary
part of z and it is denoted by I(z) or Im(z).
2) i = −1  i 2 = −1
3) i ,j and k are imaginary numbers and i = j = k = −1 .
Equality of two complex numbers – Two complex numbers are said to be equal if and only if their
real parts are equal and imaginary parts are equal .
Algebra of complex numbers – Let z1 = a + ib and z2 = c + id be two complex numbers where
a, b, c, d  R and i = −1 . Then addition, subtraction, multiplication and division are performed
as follows:
1) Addition: z1 + z2 = (a + ib) + (c + id )
= (a + c) + i(b+ d )
2) Subtraction: z1 − z2 = (a + ib) − (c + id )
= (a − c) + i(b− d )
3) Multiplication: z1z2 = (a + ib)(c + id )
= a(c + id ) + ib(c + id )
= ac + iad + ibc + i 2bd
= (ac − bd ) + i(ad + bc) [ i 2 = −1]
z1 a + ib
4) Division: =
z2 c + id
a + ib c − id = ac − iad + ibc − i bd = (ac + bd ) + i(bc − ad )
2
=  [ i2 = −1]
c + id c − id c2 − i 2d 2 c2 + d 2
Conjugate of complex number- Two complex numbers which differ only in the sign of imaginary
part are said to be conjugate of each other.
e.g. a + ib and a – ib are conjugates of each other.
Modulus (magnitude) and argument(amplitude) of a complex number:
1) If z = x + iy is a complex number, then the modulus of z is defined to be x 2 + y 2 and is
denoted by r or z or mod z.

r = z = x2 + y 2
2) If z = x + iy is a complex number, then the argument of z is defined as tan −1( y / x) and is
denoted by  or arg(z) or amp(z) .
 = tan −1( y / x)
Polar form of a complex number:
If z = x + iy is a complex number, then the polar form of complex number z is given by
z = r (cos + i sin  )
Exponential form of a complex number:

1
If z = x + iy (Cartesian form) is a complex number, then z = rei is called the exponential form of a
complex number.
Note: 1) ei = cos  + i sin  , 2) e−i = cos  − i sin 

Examples: 1) If z1 = −1 + 2 i, z2 = − 4 + i , find z1z2 . [IoPE 2009]

1 1
2) If z1 = −3 + 4i, z 2 = 5 − 3i , find z1z 2 and + . [IoPE2012]
z1 z 2
3) If z1 = 6 − 2i, z 2 = 2 − 5i , then find
z + z2
a) 2z1 − 3z 2 , b) 3z1 + 2z 2 , c) z1z 2 d) z1 / z 2 , e) (z1 + z 2 )(z1 − z 2 ) , f ) 1
z1 − z 2
Examples for Tutorial

z +z
1) If z1 = 5 − 2i, z 2 = 6 + 5i , find 1 2 . [IoPE2013,17]
z1 − z 2

 z1 + z2 −31 + 74i 
[ z1 + z2 = 11 + 3i, z1 − z2 = −1 − 7i , = , 
 z1 − z2 50 
 z +z 
 1 2 = −31 + 74i = 1 −31 + 74i = 6437 = 80.2309 
 z1 − z2 50 50 
 

2) If z1 = 4 − 5 i and z2 = 3 + 7i , find z1 z2 and z1 / z2 . [IoPE 2015]

[ z1z2 = 47 + 13i, z1z2 = 2378 = 48.7647

z1 −23 − 43i z1 48.7647

= , = = 0.8407]
z2 58 z2 58
2
3) If z = 1+ 3i, evaluate z + 2 z + 4 . [BTE2015] [−2 + 12i ]
Examples
Separate real and imaginary parts of the following complex numbers and also find its complex
conjugate.
Or Express in the form of x + iy and find the complex conjugate.


 1 − i3 
2 3 2 
15
 1 − i
1) [IoPE 2012] 2) 
 1 + i3   = −1, C.C. = −1
4+3j   1 + i3 
 
 
Examples for Tutorial

Express in the form of x + iy and find the complex conjugate.

Examples Answers
3 + −4  6 17 6 17 
+
 25 25 i , C.C. = − i
25 25 
1)
4 − −9
2) ( 2 + 3 i )(1 − 4i ) [BTE2017] [14 − 5i ]

3) 2 + 3 i [IoPE 2009]
1− i

2
 1 − i3  1 − i3 1 + 3i 1 3i 1 3i 
4) [IoPE 2016]  = = + , C.C. = − 
2 + i3 2+i
3
5 5 5 5 5