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College Algebra
Tutorial 12:
Complex Numbers

Learning Objectives

After completing this tutorial, you should be able to:

1. Take the principle square root of a negative number.

2. Write a complex number in standard form.
3. Add and subtract complex numbers.
4. Multiply complex numbers.

5. Divide complex numbers.

Introduction

In this tutorial we will be looking at imaginary and complex numbers.

Imaginary numbers allow us to take the square root of negative numbers. I will
take you through adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing complex
numbers as well as finding the principle square root of negative numbers. I do
believe that you are ready to get acquainted with imaginary and complex
numbers.

Tutorial
 Imaginary Unit

where

This is the definition of an imaginary number.

From here on out, anytime that you have the square root of -1 you can
simplify it as i and anytime you have you can simplify it as -1.

Standard Form
of
Complex Numbers

Complex numbers are made up of a real number part and an imaginary number
part.

In this form, a is the real number part and b is the imaginary number part.

Note that either one of these parts can be 0.

An example of a complex number written in standard form is

Equality
of
Complex Numbers

if and only if a = c AND b = d.

In other words, two complex numbers are equal to each other if their real
numbers match AND their imaginary numbers match.

Addition and Subtraction of

Complex Numbers

In other words, when you add or subtract two complex numbers together,
you add or subtract the real number parts together, then add or subtract
their imaginary parts together and write it as a complex number in
standard form.

Example 1: Add .

*Add the real num. together and the imaginary

num. together
*Complex num. in stand. form

Example 2: Subtract .

*Subtract the real num. together and the

imaginary num. together
*Complex num. in stand. form
 Multiplying
Complex Numbers

Step 1: Multiply the complex numbers in the same manner as

polynomials.

If you need a review on multiplying polynomials, go to Tutorial 6:

Polynomials.

Step 2: Simplify the expression.

Add real numbers together and imaginary numbers together.

Whenever you have an , use the definition and replace it with -1.

Step 3: Write the final answer in standard form.

Example 3: Multiply .

Step 1: Multiply the complex numbers in the same manner as

polynomials

AND

Step 2: Simplify the expression.

 *Use dist. prop. to multiply

*i squared = -1

Step 3: Write the final answer in standard form.

*Complex num. in stand. form

Example 4: Multiply .

Step 1: Multiply the complex numbers in the same manner as

polynomials

AND

Step 2: Simplify the expression.

*Use FOIL method to multiply

*Combine imaginary numbers

*i squared = -1

Step 3: Write the final answer in standard form.

*Complex num. in stand. form

 Dividing
Complex Numbers

Step 1: Find the conjugate of the denominator.

You find the conjugate of a binomial by changing the sign that is

between the two terms, but keep the same order of the terms.

a + bi and a - bi are conjugates of each other.

Step 2: Multiply the numerator and the denominator of the

fraction by the conjugate found in Step 1.

Keep in mind that as long as you multiply the numerator and

denominator by the exact same thing, the fractions will be equivalent.

When you multiply complex conjugates together you get:

Step 3: Simplify the expression.

Add real numbers together and imaginary numbers together.

Whenever you have an , use the definition and replace it with -1.

Step 4: Write the final answer in standard form.

 Example 5: Divide .

Step 1: Find the conjugate of the denominator.

In general the conjugate of a + bi is a - bi and vice versa.

So what would the conjugate of our denominator be?

It looks like the conjugate is .

Step 2: Multiply the numerator and the denominator of the

fraction by the conjugate found in Step 1

AND

Step 3: Simplify the expression.

*Multiply top and bottom by conj. of den.

*i squared = -1

Step 4: Write the final answer in standard form.

 *Divide each term of num. by 5

*Complex num. in stand. form

Example 6: Divide .

Step 1: Find the conjugate of the denominator.

In general the conjugate of a + bi is a - bi and vice versa.

So what would the conjugate of our denominator be?

It looks like the conjugate is .

Step 2: Multiply the numerator and the denominator of the

fraction by the conjugate found in Step 1

AND

Step 3: Simplify the expression.

 *Multiply top and bottom by conj. of den.

*i squared = -1

Step 4: Write the final answer in standard form.

*Divide each term of num. by 29

*Complex num. in stand. form

Principle Square Root

of a Negative Number

For any positive real number

b, the principal square root of
the negative number, -b, is
defined by

Example 7: Simplify .
 *Principle square root of -100

*Complex num. in stand. form (note real num. part is 0)

Working problems with

square roots of
negative numbers.

Step 1: Express the square root of any negative number in terms

of i.

In other words use the definition of principle square roots of negative

numbers before performing any operations.

Step 2: Perform the indicated operation.

Step 3: Write the final answer in standard form.

Example 8: Perform the indicated operation. Write answer in standard

form.

Step 1: Express the square root of any negative number in terms

of i.
 *Square root of a negative is i

Step 2: Perform the indicated operation

AND

Step 3: Write the final answer in standard form.

*Rewrite 12 as (4)(3)

*The square root of 4 is 2

*Subtract like radicals: 2i- i = i
*Complex num. in stand. form (note real num.
part is 0)

Example 9: Perform the indicated operation. Write answer in standard

form.

Step 1: Express the square root of any negative number in terms

of i.

*Square root of a negative is i

Step 2: Perform the indicated operation

AND
Step 3: Write the final answer in standard form.

*Square the binomial

*i squared = -1

*Complex num. in stand. form

Example 10: Perform the indicated operation. Write answer in

standard form.

Step 1: Express the square root of any negative number in terms

of i.

*Square root of a negative is i

Step 2: Perform the indicated operation

AND

Step 3: Write the final answer in standard form.

 *Rewrite 75 as (25)(3)

*The square root of 25 is 5

*Divide each term of num. by 5

*Complex num. in stand. form

Example 11: Perform the indicated operation. Write answer in

standard form.

Step 1: Express the square root of any negative number in terms

of i.

*Square root of a negative is i

Step 2: Perform the indicated operation

AND

Step 3: Write the final answer in standard form.

 *i squared = -1
*Rewrite 60 as (4)(15)
*The square root of 4 is 2
*Complex num. in stand. form (note that the
imaginary part is 0)

Practice Problems

These are practice problems to help bring you to the next level. It will allow
you to check and see if you have an understanding of these types of problems.
Math works just like anything else, if you want to get good at it, then you
need to practice it. Even the best athletes and musicians had help along the
way and lots of practice, practice, practice, to get good at their sport or
instrument. In fact there is no such thing as too much practice.

To get the most out of these, you should work the problem out on your own
and then check your answer by clicking on the link for the
answer/discussion for that problem. At the link you will find the answer as
well as any steps that went into finding that answer.

Practice Problems 1a - 1i:

Perform the indicated operation.

Write the answer in standard form.

1a. 1b. 1c.

(answer/discussion to 1a) (answer/discussion to 1b) (answer/discussion to 1c)

1d. 1f.
(answer/discussion to 1d) 1e. (answer/discussion to 1f)
(answer/discussion to 1e)
 1g. 1i.
(answer/discussion to 1g) 1h. (answer/discussion to 1i)
(answer/discussion to 1h)

Need Extra Help on These Topics?

No appropriate web pages could be found to help you with the topics on this
page.

Go to Get Help Outside the Classroom found in Tutorial 1: How to Succeed

in a Math Class for some more suggestions.

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All contents copyright (C) 2002, WTAMU and Kim Peppard. All rights reserved.
Last revised on June 29, 2002 by Kim Peppard.