Complex Numbers

January 29, 2010

Abstract
These sheets are for reference for lectures taken on Complex numbers
taught at IIT JEE level. Kindly provide your negative/positive feedback
on the content and their understanding.
1
2 CONTENTS
Contents
1 Origin & Motivation 3
2 Set of complex numbers and structure laid on it 3
2.0.1 Real part & Imaginary part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.0.2 Geometry of complex numbers (Argand plane) . . . 4
2.0.3 Equality of complex numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.0.4 Additon or subtraction of complex numbers . . . . 5
2.0.5 Multiplication of complex numbers . . . . . . . . . 5
2.0.6 Division of complex numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
3 Three important properties of complex numbers 7
3.1 Conjugate of a complex number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3.1.1 Conjugate properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3.2 Modulus of a complex number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3.2.1 Properties of Modulus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3.3 Argument of a complex number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
3.3.1 Polar representation of a complex number . . . . . . 9
3
1 Origin & Motivation
We know solutions to equations like x
2
1 = 0 but what about solution to
equation x
2
+1 = 0. You can see that x
2
+1 = 0 x
2
= 1. So that means we
need to nd a real number whose square is a negative number. Which cannot
happen hence it was concluded that such a number has to be a totally new
number outside set of real numbers.
2 Set of complex numbers and structure laid on
it
We start with solving the above problem
x
2
= 1
x =

1
This new number was denoted using the letter (read as iota) which is
generally denoted by alphabet i .
Now we get something which is not real and hence the name imaginary
numbers came into existence.
Denition. Imaginary numbers (Im)
Im = {ai/a }
So above solution to the equation x
2
+ 1 = 0 is x = and is a imaginary
number
Now we know that there are imaginary numbers other than real numbers
which are worth studying to answer questions as possed above.
Problem 1. Solve the equation x
2
i = 0
Solution : Till here we know imaginary numbers are there for our rescue.
So we solve the given problem
x
2
= i
x =

i
Now we see that we are not able to nd the solution to this problem niether
using real nor imaginary numbers. This motivates us to think that the search
for new set is not still over and we come to the denition of complex numbers.
Denition. Complex numbers
C = {a + ib/a, b R and i =

1 }
Notation : A complex number is usually represented by z or or w
Problem 2. Find the value of i
k
+ i
k+1
+ i
k+2
+ i
k+3
and i
k
+ i
k+2
(Note
1
)
1
Note here there are four consecutive powers of i and they are 1, i, 1 & i. Now note the
location of these numbers in the argand plane. They lie at a distance of 1 from origin and on
each positive, negative real & imaginary axis. Note that they are four in number and they
are roots to the equation z
4
1 = 0. Prove this as an exercise.
4 2 SET OF COMPLEX NUMBERS AND STRUCTURE LAID ON IT
The value of any four consecutive powers of i is Zero.
i
k
+ i
k+1
+ i
k+2
+ i
k+3
= i
k
(1 + i + i
2
+ i
3
)
= i
k
(1 + i 1 i)
= i(0)
= 0
And
i
k
+ i
k+2
= i
k
(1 + i
2
)
= i
k
(1 1)
= 0
Or rather we can think it in a dierent line, the rst sum of four consecutive
powers can be though as sum of four vectors that are along axes, and hence will
cancel each other, the nal outcome is zero doesnt depend on which of the four
we start with. For the second problem, we start with either of four and add it
to the just opposite of rst selected.
2.0.1 Real part & Imaginary part
Given a complex number z = a +ib we can say Re(z) = a and is called the real
part of z and similarly Im(z) = b is called the imaginary part of z
So a complex number can also be written as z = Re(z) + i Im(z)
2.0.2 Geometry of complex numbers (Argand plane)
Complex number a + ib can be thought of a coordinate pair (a, b) a + ib. So
here we correspond the x-axis with Real axis and y-axis with Imaginary axis
Cartesian coordinate system Argand plane Vector Space
x-axis Real axis

i unit vector
y-axis Imaginary axis

j unit vector
Point (a, b) Complex number a + ib a

i + b

j
5
2.0.3 Equality of complex numbers
Given two complex numbers z
1
= a
1
+ ib
1
and z
2
= a
2
+ ib
2
and z
1
= z
2

Re(z
1
) = Re(z
2
) & Im(z
1
) = Im(z
2
) i.e. a
1
= a
2
& b
1
= b
2
Problem 3. Solve for x,y
(x + iy) + (7 5i) = 9 + 4i
x = 9 7 = 2
y = 4 + 5 = 9
Problem 4. True or false 2 + 3i < 1 i
We the question is absurd. Since there is no order dened on set of C
numbers. So we cannot talk which complex number is greater.
2.0.4 Additon or subtraction of complex numbers
Given complex numbers z
1
= a
1
+ ib
1
and z
2
= a
2
+ ib
2
then
z
1
z
2
= (a
1
a
2
) + i(b
1
b
2
)
Geometrically also we can see it as vector addition
2
2.0.5 Multiplication of complex numbers
Given a complex number z
1
= a
1
+ ib
1
and z
2
= a
2
+ ib
2
then
z
1
z
2
= (a
1
+ ib
1
) (a
2
+ ib
2
)
= (a
1
a
2
b
1
b
2
) + i(a
1
b
2
+ a
2
b
1
)
2.0.6 Division of complex numbers
Given a complex number z
1
= a
1
+ ib
1
and z
2
= a
2
+ ib
2
then
z
1
z
2
=
z
1
z
2
|z
2
|
2
=
(a
1
+ ib
1
)(a
2
ib
2
)
a
2
2
+ b
2
2
Problem 5. Now we revisit the problem discussed above, nd the roots of
x
2
i = 0
So we need to nd x =

i Let the positive root be

a + ib =

i
(a + ib)
2
= i
(a
2
b
2
) + i2ab = i
a
2
b
2
= 0 and 2ab = 1
a
2
= b
2
and ab =
1
2
This solves to get us the solution as
1 + i

2
and
1 + i

2
. This can be seen
more beautifully geometrically and easily guessed if we know multiplication is
rotation of complex vectors.
2
Remember : Complex numbers, Coordinate geometry and Vectors go hand in hand while
learning and problem solving. So be conscious of this fact. But are they all three alike??
6 2 SET OF COMPLEX NUMBERS AND STRUCTURE LAID ON IT
Example. Square root of a complex number a + ib
Let the
c + id =

a + ib
(c
2
d
2
) + i(2cd) = a + ib
c
2
d
2
= a
2cd = b
So we we can create
c
2
+ d
2
=
_
(c
2
d
2
)
2
+ 4c
2
d
2
=
_
a
2
+ b
2
Therefore
c =

a
2
+ b
2
+ a
2
d =

a
2
+ b
2
a
2
So we have

a + ib = c + id
=
_

__

a
2
+ b
2
+ a
2
+ i
_

a
2
+ b
2
a
2
_
; if b > 0

__

a
2
+ b
2
+ a
2
i
_

a
2
+ b
2
a
2
_
; if b < 0
=
=
_

_
_
|z| + Re(z)
2
+ i
_
|z| Re(z)
2
_
; if Im(z) > 0

_
_
|z| + Re(z)
2
i
_
|z| Re(z)
2
_
; if Im(z) < 0
This can be easily written in one go as under
=
__
|z| + Re(z)
2
+ i Signum(Im(z))
_
|z| Re(z)
2
_
where
Signum(x) =
_
1 if x0
1 if x<0
We will touch the geometrically representation of the root once we get full
throttle into the euler representation of complex number i.e. see multiplication
as rotation in complex numbers.
Problem 6. Find the square root of the numbers
7
1. 9 + 40i
2. 50i
Using the above formula,

9 + 40i =
_
_
41 + 9
2
+ i
_
41 9
2
_
= (

25 + i

16) = (5 + 4i)
And for the second problem,

50i = (5 + 5i)
3 Three important properties of complex num-
bers
3.1 Conjugate of a complex number
Given z = a + ib then conjugate of z is
z = a ib
This can be looked upon in multiple ways one way is
Geometrically, z & z are reections in Real axis (x-axis)
Another way to look at conjugate of z is using transformation. Replacing
every occurance of with .
Problem 7. Find the conjugate of the complex number z =
2 + i
i(i 3)
+
2 i
i(3 + i)
So conjugate of a complex number z = z (try replacing i by i everywhere.
3.1.1 Conjugate properties
1. z
1
z
2
= z
1
z
2
2. z
1
z
2
= z
1
z
2
3.
_
z
1
z
2
_
=
_
z
1
z
2
_
4. z + z = 2Re(z) = 2Re( z) is always real (think in argand plane)
5. z z = 2i Im(z) = 2i Im( z) is always imaginary (think in argand plane)
Problem 8. For z
1
, z
2
C, value of Im(z
1
z
2
+ z
1
z
2
) is
Note here z
1
z
2
= z
1
z
2
Im(z
1
z
2
+ z
1
z
2
) = Im(z
1
z
2
+ z
1
z
2
)
= Im(Re(z
1
z
2
))
= 0
Problem 9. For z
1
, z
2
C, value of Re(z
1
z
2
z
1
z
2
)
8 3 THREE IMPORTANT PROPERTIES OF COMPLEX NUMBERS
3.2 Modulus of a complex number
Modulus of a complex number z is denoted as |z|. It can be dened in multiple
similar ways as
For a complex number z = a + ib the modulus |z| =

a
2
+ b
2
OR Geometrically the distance
3
of the point z in argand plane from origin.
Geometrically seeing is much easier using Pythogoras theorem. Go-
ing further we are going to generalise the idea of modulus
3.2.1 Properties of Modulus
1. Triangle Inequality
4
(a) |z
1
+ z
2
| |z
1
| +|z
2
| equality is set z
1
= kz
2
where k > 0
(b) |z
1
z
2
| ||z
1
| |z
2
|| equality holds for z
1
= kz
2
where k < 0
2. |z
1
z
2
| = |z
1
||z
2
|
3.

z
1
z
2

=
|z
1
|
|z
2
|
4. Now comes the most important identity :
z z = |z|
2
This property is important as it gives the movement to us from complex
to real and real to complex.
Problem 10. If x + iy =
_
a + ib
c + id
then prove that (x
2
+ y
2
) =
a
2
+ b
2
c
2
+ d
2
3
Generalizing |z
1
z
2
| =distance of complex number z
1
z
2
from origin. Geometrically
that can be seen as distance between z
1
and z
2
4
Triangle inequality are used to nd the upper and lower bound of a complex number
||z
1
| |z
2
|| |z
1
+ z
2
| |z
1
| +|z
2
|
3.3 Argument of a complex number 9
Problem 11. For a complex number z & w prove that |z|
2
w |w|
2
z = z w
i z = w or z w = 1
This problem is a double implication i.e. if and only if . So rst lets prove
if z = w or z w = 1 then prove |z|
2
w |w|
2
z = z w
Proof : for z = w
LHS = |z|
2
w |w|
2
z
= |w|
2
w |w|w
= 0
= w w
= z w
Or for z w = 1
LHS = |z|
2
w |w|
2
z
= z( zw) w( wz)
= z(

1) w(1)
= z w
Now we prove the converse if |z|
2
w |w|
2
z = z w then z = w or z w = 1
Proof :
|z|
2
w |w|
2
z = z w
w(|z|
2
+ 1) = z(|w|
2
+ 1)
w
z
=
|w|
2
+ 1
|z|
2
+ 1
that implies that w and z are scalar multiple of each other
w = cz where c R
+
Using this in the given we get
c|z|
2
z c
2
|z|
2
z = z cz
c|z|
2
c
2
|z|
2
= 1 c
c|z|
2
(1 c) = 1 c
c|z|
2
= 1 or c = 1

w
z
|z|
2
= 1 or z = w
w z = 1 or z = w
z w = w z =

1 = 1 or z = w
Hence proved.
There can be a geometrical interpretation for the problem
3.3 Argument of a complex number
3.3.1 Polar representation of a complex number
In argand plane, a complex number can be represented as
z = r(cos + i sin)
= r(cis)
10 3 THREE IMPORTANT PROPERTIES OF COMPLEX NUMBERS
where = arg(z) and r = |z|
Denition. Argument
5
of a complex number is dened as the angle made by
the complex number with the positive xaxis. For a complex number z = a+ib
we dene it as arg(z) = tan
1
_
b
a
_
. Now any z = r cis(2 + ) So there are
innite value of argument that are true for a given complex number hence we
dene principal argument denoted by Arg(z)
5
argument of a complex number is a one to many mapping and hence needs to be dened
on a domain so as to make it one-to-one.