(1) Basics

Imaginary unit, i:

$i = $ $ \sqrt{-1} $

$i^2 = $ $ -1 $

$i^3 = $ $ -i $

$i^4 = $ $ 1 $

Real part and imaginary part:

If the complex number $z = 2 - 3i$, then

$\text{Re}(z)= $ $ 2$

$\text{Im}(z)= $ $ -3$

Comparing coefficients:

Example

Find the values of the real numbers $x$ and $y$ that satisfy the equation:

$$ (1 + 3i)x + (2 - i)y = 4 + 2i $$

Answer: $ x = {8 \over 7}, y = {10 \over 7} $

Solutions

Square root of complex number:

Example

Without the use of calculator, find the square root of $3 + 4i$.

Answer: $ 2 + i \text{ or } -2 - i $

Solutions

(2) Conjugate of a complex number

Properties:

If $z = x + yi$, where $x, y \in \mathbb{R}$, then $z^* = $ $ x - yi $

$ z z^* = $$ (x + yi)(x - yi) = x^2 + y^2 $

$ z + z^* = $ $ 2x = 2 \text{Re}(z) $

$ z - z^* = $ $ 2y = 2 \text{Im}(z) $

$ (z^*)^* = $ $ (x - yi)^* = z $

If $k$ is a real number, then $ (kz)^* = $ $ k(z^*) $

$ (z^n)^* = $ $ (z^*)^n $

Properties between two complex numbers, $w$ and $z$:

$ (w \pm z)^* = $ $ w^* \pm z^* $

$ (w \times z)^* = $ $ w^* \times z^* $

$ (w \div z)^* = $ $ w^* \div z^* $

Rationalise denominator of complex numbers (without GC):

Example 1

Simplify $ {6 + 10i \over 2i} $ without the use of calculator.

Answer: $ -3i + 5 $

Solutions


Example 2

Simplify $ {5 + 10i \over 4 + 3i} $ without the use of calculator.

Answer: $ 2 + i $

Solutions