1. Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
2.4
COMPLEX NUMBERS
Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

2. What You Should Learn
Use the imaginary unit i to write complex numbers.
Add, subtract, and multiply complex numbers.
Use complex conjugates to write the quotient of two complex numbers in standard form.
Find complex solutions of quadratic equations.

3. The Imaginary Unit i

4. The Imaginary Unit i
We have learned that some quadratic equations have no real solutions. For instance, the quadratic equation x2 + 1 = 0 has no real solution because there is no real number x that can be squared to produce –1.
To overcome this deficiency, mathematicians created an expanded system of numbers using the imaginary unit i, defined as i = where i 2 = –1.
Imaginary unit

5. The Imaginary Unit i
By adding real numbers to real multiples of this imaginary unit, the set of complex numbers is obtained. Each complex number can be written in the standard form a + bi. For instance, the standard form of the complex number – is –5 + 3i because

6. The Imaginary Unit i
In the standard form a + bi, the real number a is called the real part of the complex number a + bi, and the number bi (where b is a real number) is called the imaginary part of the complex number.

7. Operations with Complex Numbers

8. Example 1 – Adding and Subtracting Complex Numbers
a. (4 + 7i) + (1 – 6i) = 4 + 7i + 1 – 6i
= (4 + 1) + (7i – 6i)
= 5 + i
b. (1 + 2i) – (4 + 2i) = 1 + 2i – 4 – 2i
= (1 – 4) + (2i – 2i)
= –3 + 0
= –3
Remove parentheses.
Group like terms.
Write in standard form.
Remove parentheses.
Group like terms.
Simplify.
Write in standard form.

9. Example 1 – Adding and Subtracting Complex Numbers
cont’d
c. 3i – (–2 + 3i) – (2 + 5i) = 3i + 2 – 3i – 2 – 5i
= (2 – 2) + (3i – 3i – 5i)
= 0 – 5i
= – 5i
d. (3 + 2i) + (4 – i) – (7 + i) = 3 + 2i + 4 – i – 7 – i
= (3 + 4 – 7) + (2i – i – i)
= 0 + 0i
= 0

10. Example 2 – Multiplying Complex Numbers
a. 4(–2 + 3i) = 4(–2) + 4(3i)
= – i
b. (2 – i)(4 + 3i) = 2(4 + 3i) – i(4 + 3i)
= 8 + 6i – 4i – 3i 2
= 8 + 6i – 4i – 3(–1)
= (8 + 3) +(6i – 4i)
= i
Distributive Property
Simplify.
Distributive Property
Distributive Property
i 2 = –1
Group like terms.
Write in standard form.

11. Example 2 – Multiplying Complex Numbers
cont’d
c. (3 + 2i)(3 – 2i) = 3(3 – 2i) + 2i(3 – 2i)
= 9 – 6i + 6i – 4i 2
= 9 – 6i + 6i – 4(–1)
= 9 + 4
= 13
Distributive Property
Distributive Property
i 2 = –1
Simplify.
Write in standard form.

12. Example 2 – Multiplying Complex Numbers
cont’d
d. (3 + 2i)2 = (3 + 2i)(3 + 2i)
= 3(3 + 2i) + 2i(3 + 2i)
= 9 + 6i + 6i + 4i 2
= 9 + 6i + 6i + 4(–1)
= i – 4
= i
Square of a binomial
Distributive Property
Distributive Property
i 2 = –1
Simplify.
Write in standard form.

13. Complex Conjugates

14. Complex Conjugates
To write the quotient of a + bi and c + di in standard form, where c and d are not both zero, multiply the numerator and denominator by the complex conjugate of the denominator to obtain
Standard form

15. Example 3 – Writing a Quotient of Complex Numbers in Standard Form
Multiply numerator and denominator by complex conjugate of denominator.
Expand.
i 2 = –1
Simplify.
Write in standard form.

16. Complex Solutions of Quadratic Equations

17. Example 4 – Complex Solutions of a Quadratic Equation
Solve (a) x2 + 4 = 0 and (b) 3x2 – 2x + 5 = 0.
Solution: a. x2 + 4 = 0
x2 = –4
x = 2i
b. 3x2 – 2x + 5 = 0
Write original equation.
Subtract 4 from each side.
Extract square roots.
Write original equation.
Quadratic Formula

18. Example 4 – Solution cont’d Simplify. Write in standard form.

19. Example: Complex Solutions
Solve x2 + 6x + 10 = 0

20. Example: Writing Complex Numbers in Standard Form
Write the following complex number in standard form:

21. Example: Writing Complex Numbers in Standard Form