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Introduction to complex numbers

Complex numbers might seem daunting at first, but they open a whole new dimension in maths. Understanding complex numbers allows you to explore their applications in engineering (like signalling in cellular and wireless technologies) and science (like studying brain waves in biology). Use this resource for an introduction to the basics.

Imaginary numbers

If you have tried to solve algebraic equations, you might notice there are sometimes, there are no "real" solutions. For example, no real number satisfies \(x^{2}+1=0\).

To find solutions to such equations, we use complex numbers. This concept centres around the imaginary number \(i\), where:

\[i=\sqrt{-1}\]

The powers of \(i\) follow a pattern, as shown in the tabke, \(i^{2}=-1\), \(i^{3}=-i\), \(i^{4}=1\), \(i^{5}=i\), and so on.

\(n\) \(i^{n}\)
\(1\), \(5\), \(9\), \(13\), etc. \(-1\)
\(2\), \(6\), \(10\), \(14\), etc. \(-i\)
\(3\), \(7\), \(11\), \(15\), etc. \(1\)
\(4\), \(8\), \(12\), \(16\), etc. \(i\)

Complex numbers

A complex number \(z\) is written as:

\(z=x+yi\) where \(x\) and \(y\) are real numbers.

  • \(x\) is called the real part of \(z\), denoted by \(\Re(z)\) or \(\textrm{Re}(z)\).
  • \(y\) is called the imaginary part of \(z\), denoted by \(\Im(z)\) or \(\textrm{Im}(z)\).

Two complex numbers are equal only if their real parts are equal and their imaginary parts are equal.

\(a+bi=c+di\) only if \(a=c\) and \(b=d\).

Example 1 – finding solutions for complex numbers

Find the real and imaginary parts of \(z=5-3i\).

Complex numbers are written in the form \(x+yi\). \(x\) is the real part of \(z\), so \(\Re(z)=5\). \(y\) is the imaginary part of \(z\), so \(\Im(z)=-3\).

Find the real and imaginary parts of \(z=\sqrt{3}i\).

\(x\) is the real part of \(z\), so \(\Re{z}=0\). \(y\) is the imaginary part of \(z\), so \(\Im(z)=\sqrt{3}\).

If \(z_{1}=x-\dfrac{i}{3}\), \(z_{2}=\sqrt{2}+yi\) and \(z_{1}=z_{2}\), find the values of \(x\) and \(y\).
\[\begin{align*} \Re(z_{1}) & = \Re(z_{2})\\
x & = \sqrt{2}
\end{align*}\] \[\begin{align*} \Im(z_{1}) & = \Im(z_{2})\\
y & = -\frac{1}{3}
\end{align*}\]

Exercise – finding solutions for complex numbers

  1. Express the following in terms of \(i\) in simplest surd form.
    1. \(\sqrt{-9}\)
    2. \(\sqrt{-2}\)
    3. \(\sqrt{-5}\times\sqrt{3}\)
    4. \(\sqrt{-5}\times\sqrt{10}\)
    5. \(\sqrt{-6}\times\sqrt{12}\)
  2. Evaluate:
    1. \(i^{4}\)
    2. \(i^{9}\)
    3. \(i^{7}-i^{11}\)
    4. \(i^{5}+i^{6}-i^{7}\)
    5. \(2i-i^{6}+2i^{7}\)
  3. State the value of \(\Re(z)\) and \(\Im(z)\) for the following complex numbers.
    1. \(2+7i\)
    2. \(10-i\)
    3. \(\pi+3i\)
    4. \(\dfrac{i}{6}\)
    5. \(-8\)
  4. Find the values of \(x\) and \(y\).
    1. \(x+yi=4+9i\)
    2. \(x+yi=3-i\)
    3. \(x+yi=23\)
    4. \(x+yi=-\sqrt{2}i\)
    5. \(x+i=-5+yi\)

    1. \(3i\)
    2. \(\sqrt{2}i\)
    3. \(\sqrt{15}i\)
    4. \(5\sqrt{2}i\)
    5. \(6\sqrt{2}i\)
    1. \(1\)
    2. \(i\)
    3. \(0\)
    4. \(2i-1\)
    5. \(1\)
    1. \(\Re(z)=2\) and \(\Im(z)=7\)
    2. \(\Re(z)=10\) and \(\Im(z)=-1\)
    3. \(\Re(z)=\pi\) and \(\Im(z)=3\)
    4. \(\Re(z)=0\) and \(\Im(z)=\dfrac{1}{6}\)
    5. \(\Re(z)=-8\) and \(\Im(z)=0\)
    1. \(x=4\) and \(y=9\)
    2. \(x=3\) and \(y=-1\)
    3. \(x=23\) and \(y=0\)
    4. \(x=0\) and \(y=-\sqrt{2}\)
    5. \(x=-5\) and \(y=1\)

Adding and subtracting complex numbers

To add or subtract complex numbers, we add or subtract the real and imaginary parts separately.

\[(a+bi)+(c+di)=(a+c)+(b+d)i\] \[(a+bi)-(c+di)=(a-c)+(b-d)i\]

This is similar to the way we group like terms in algebraic expressions.

Example 1 – adding and subtracting complex numbers

\[\begin{align*} (2+3i)+(4-i) & = (2+4)+(3-1)i\\
& = 6+2i
\end{align*}\]

If \(z_{1}=1-i\) and \(z_{2}=3-5i\), find \(z_{1}-z_{2}\).
\[\begin{align*} z_{1}-z_{2} & = (1-i)-(3-5i)\\
& = (1-3)+(-1-(-5))i\\
& = -2+4i
\end{align*}\]

Exercise – adding and subtracting complex numbers

    1. \((3+4i)+(5+2i)\)
    2. \((-1+6i)+(2-3i)\)
    3. If \(z_{1}=7+i\) and \(z_{2}=2+3i\), find \(z_{1}+z_{2}\).
    4. \((4-5i)+(-3+7i)\)
    5. If \(z_{1}=2i\) and \(z_{2}=-4+i\), find \(z_{1}+z_{2}\).
    1. \((5+9i)-(8+3i)\)
    2. \((-1+7i)-(2-4i)\)
    3. \((6+2i)-(3+4i)\)
    4. If \(z_{1}=4+8i\) and \(z_{2}=10-3i\), find \(z_{2}-z_{1}\).
    5. If \(z_{1}=9-2i\) and \(z_{2}=7+i\), find \(z_{2}-z_{1}\).

    1. \(8+6i\)
    2. \(1+3i\)
    3. \(9+4i\)
    4. \(1+2i\)
    5. \(-4+3i\)
    1. \(-3+12i\)
    2. \(-3+11i\)
    3. \(3-2i\)
    4. \(6-11i\)
    5. \(-2+3i\)

Multiplying complex numbers

We also multiply complex numbers like how we multiply algebraic expressions. To multiply by a constant \(k\), we just expand the expression.

\[k(a+bi)=ka+kbi\]

When we multiply one complex number by another, we also expand.

\[\begin{align*} (a+bi)(c+di) & = ac+adi+bci+bdi^{2}\\
& = ac+adi+bci-bd\quad\textrm{since }i^{2}=-1\\
& = (ac-bd)+(ad+bc)i
\end{align*}\]

Example 1 – multiplying complex numbers

Expand and simplify \(i(3+4i)\).
\[\begin{align*} i(3+4i) & = 3i+4i^{2}\\
& = 3i-4\\
& = -4+3i
\end{align*}\]

If \(z_{1}=1-i\) and \(z_{2}=3-5i\), find \(z_{1}z_{2}\).
\[\begin{align*} z_{1}z_{2} & = (1-i)(3-5i)\\
& = 3-5i-3i+5i^{2}\\
& = 3-8i-5\\
& = -2-8i
\end{align*}\]

Exercise – multipying complex numbers

  1. Expand and simplify the following.
    1. \(i(3-2i)\)
    2. \(2i^{3}(1-5i)\)
    3. \(8-3i)(2-5i)\)
    4. \((4-3i)^{2}\)
    5. \((3+2i)(3-2i)\)
  2. If \(z_{1}=-1+3i\) and \(z_{2}=2-i\), find the following.
    1. \(z_{1}z_{2}\)
    2. \(2z_{1}-z_{2}\)
    3. \((z_{1}-z_{2})^{2}\)
  3. Find the values of \(x\) and \(y\) if \((x+yi)(2-3i)=-13i\).

    1. \(2+3i\)
    2. \(-10-2i\)
    3. \(1-46i\)
    4. \(7-24i\)
    5. \(13\)
    1. \(1+7i\)
    2. \(-4+7i\)
    3. \(-7-24i\)
  3. \(x=3\) and \(y=-2\)

Complex conjugates

A pair of complex numbers of the form \(a+bi\) and \(a-bi\) are called complex conjugates. This is similar to conjugate surds.

The complex conjugate of \(z=x+yi\) is denoted by \(\overline{z}\), where \(\overline{z}=x-yi\).

When you multiply a pair of complex conjugates, you get a real number.

\[z\overline{z}=(x+yi)(x-yi)=x^{2}+y^{2}\]

This looks like the difference of two squares rule, but the sign is a plus rather than a minus. This is because \(i^{2}=-1\), so we invert the sign.

There are two properties of complex conjugates worth remembering:

  1. \(\overline{z_{1}+z_{2}}=\overline{z_{1}}+\overline{z_{2}}\)
  2. \(\overline{z_{1}z_{2}}=\overline{z_{1}}\times\overline{z_{2}}\)

Example – multiplying complex conjugates

If \(z=2-i\) and \(w=-3+4i\), find:

  1. \(\overline{z}\)
  2. \(\overline{z}-\overline{w}\)
  3. \(\overline{z+w}\).

\[\overline{z} = 2+i\] \[\begin{align*} \overline{z}-\overline{w} & = (2+i)-(-3-4i)\\
& = 2+i+3+4i\\
& = 5+5i
\end{align*}\] \[\begin{align*} \overline{z+w} & = \overline{(2-i)+(-3+4i)}\\
& = \overline{-1+3i}\\
& = -1-3i
\end{align*}\]

Exercise – multiplying complex conjugates

  1. Find the conjugate of the following complex numbers.
    1. \(4+9i\)
    2. \(-3-15i\)
    3. \(\sqrt{3}-4i\)
  2. Find the conjugate of \((2-i)(4+7i)\).
  3. If \(z=2-i\) and \(w=1+2i\), express the following in the form \(x+yi\).
    1. \(\overline{z}\)
    2. \(\overline{z+w}\)
    3. \(\overline{z}+\overline{w}\)
    4. \(\overline{zw}\)
    5. \(\overline{\overline{z}-\overline{w}}\)

    1. \(4-9i\)
    2. \(-3+15i\)
    3. \(\sqrt{3}+4i\)
  2. \(15-13i\)
    1. \(2+i\)
    2. \(3-i\)
    3. \(3-i\)
    4. \(4-3i\)
    5. \(1-3i\)

Dividing complex numbers

To divide complex numbers, we rewrite them as fraction and rationalise the same way we do with surds. We multiply both the numerator and denominator by the complex conjugate of the denominator, then simply to the form \(x+yi\).

\[\frac{a+bi}{c+di}\times\frac{c-di}{c-di}\]

Example 1 – dividing complex numbers

Express \(\dfrac{2-i}{1+3i}\) in the form \(x+yi\).
\[\begin{align*} \frac{2-i}{1+3i}\times\frac{1-3i}{1-3i}\\
& = \frac{(2-i)(1-3i)}{(1+3i)(1-3i)}\\
& = \frac{2-6i-i+3i^{2}}{1+9}\\
& = \frac{2-7i-3}{10}\\
& = \frac{-1-7i}{10}\\
& = -\frac{1}{10}-\frac{7}{10}i
\end{align*}\]

Express \(\dfrac{i}{1-4i}\) in the form \(x+yi\).
\[\begin{align*} \frac{i}{1-4i}\times\frac{1+4i}{1+4i}\\
& = \frac{i(1+4i)}{(1-4i)(1+4i)}\\
& = \frac{i+4i^{2}}{1+16}\\
& = \frac{i-4}{17}\\
& = -\frac{4}{17}+\frac{1}{17}i
\end{align*}\]

Exercise – dividing complex numbers

  1. Express the following in the form \(x+yi\).
    1. \(\dfrac{4-9i}{3}\)
    2. \(\dfrac{1}{3-i}\)
    3. \(\dfrac{5+i}{2-7i}\)
  2. Simplify \(\dfrac{2}{1-i}+\dfrac{3+i}{i}\).
  3. If \(w=-1+6i\), express \(\dfrac{w+1}{w-i}\) in the form \(x+yi\).

    1. \(\dfrac{4}{3}-3i\)
    2. \(\dfrac{3}{10}+\dfrac{1}{10}i\)
    3. \(\dfrac{3}{53}+\dfrac{37}{53}i\)
  2. \(2-2i\)
  3. \(\dfrac{15}{13}-\dfrac{3}{13}i\)

Argand diagrams

You can present complex numbers graphically using Argand diagrams. For the complex number \(z=ax+byi\), the \(x\) coordinate will be \(a\) and the \(y\) coordinate will be \(bi\). In other words, the point is \((a,bi)\).

A coordinate plane with the vertical axis labelled i for the imaginary axis and the horizontal axis labelled x for the real axis. There are three points plotted on the plane. At x equals 4 and i equals 3 is point 4 plus 3i. At x equals negative 7 and i equals 5 is point negative 7 plus 5i. At x equals negative 6 and i equals negative 6 is point negative 6 minus 6i.

Exercise – drawing Argand diagrams

  1. If \(z=2-3i\) and \(w=1+4i\), illustrate the following on an Argand diagram.
    1. \(z\)
    2. \(w\)
    3. \(z+w\)
    4. \(\overline{z+w}\)
    5. \(2z-w\)

  1. A coordinate plane with the vertical axis labelled i for the imaginary axis and the horizontal axis labelled x for the real axis. There are five points plotted on the plane. At x equals 2 and i equals negative 3 is point z. At x equals 1 and i equals 4 is point w. At x equals 3 and i equals negative 1 is z plus w. At x equals 3 and i equals 1 is the conjugate of z plus w. At x equals 3 and i equals negative 10 is 2z minus w.

Images on this page by RMIT, licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

Further resources

Surds

A good understanding of surds will help you with calculations involving complex numbers. Use this resource if you need a refresher.

Expansion

Multiplying complex numbers is similar to expanding algebraic expressions. Use this resource to review expansion.

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