H2 Maths Revision Notes (Pure Maths) >>
Complex numbers
(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} $
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 $
(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^* $