A complex number is a number that can be expressed in the form a + b * i, where a and b are real numbers, and i is a solution of the equation x^2 = −1. Because no real number satisfies this equation, i is called an imaginary number. For the complex number a + b * i, a is called the real part, and b is called the imaginary part.

A Complex Number is a combination of a Real Number and an Imaginary Number:

Geometrically, complex numbers extend the concept of the one-dimensional number line to the two-dimensional complex plane by using the horizontal axis for the real part and the vertical axis for the imaginary part. The complex number a + b * i can be identified with the point (a, b) in the complex plane.

A complex number whose real part is zero is said to be purely imaginary; the points for these numbers lie on the vertical axis of the complex plane. A complex number whose imaginary part is zero can be viewed as a real number; its point lies on the horizontal axis of the complex plane.

A complex number can be visually represented as a pair of numbers (a, b) forming a vector on a diagram called an Argand diagram, representing the complex plane. Re is the real axis, Im is the imaginary axis, and i satisfies i^2 = −1.

Complex does not mean complicated. It means the two types of numbers, real and imaginary, together form a complex, just like a building complex (buildings joined together).

To add two complex numbers we add each part separately:

(a + b * i) + (c + d * i) = (a + c) + (b + d) * i

Example

(3 + 5i) + (4 − 3i) = (3 + 4) + (5 − 3)i = 7 + 2i

On complex plane the adding operation will look like the following:

To subtract two complex numbers we subtract each part separately:

(a + b * i) - (c + d * i) = (a - c) + (b - d) * i

Example

(3 + 5i) - (4 − 3i) = (3 - 4) + (5 + 3)i = -1 + 8i

To multiply complex numbers each part of the first complex number gets multiplied by each part of the second complex number:

Just use "FOIL", which stands for "Firsts, Outers, Inners, Lasts" ( see Binomial Multiplication for more details):

• Firsts: a × c
• Outers: a × di
• Inners: bi × c
• Lasts: bi × di

In general it looks like this:

(a + bi)(c + di) = ac + adi + bci + bdi^2

But there is also a quicker way!

Use this rule:

(a + bi)(c + di) = (ac − bd) + (ad + bc)i

Example

(3 + 2i)(1 + 7i) 
= 3×1 + 3×7i + 2i×1+ 2i×7i
= 3 + 21i + 2i + 14i^2
= 3 + 21i + 2i − 14   (because i^2 = −1)
= −11 + 23i

(3 + 2i)(1 + 7i) = (3×1 − 2×7) + (3×7 + 2×1)i = −11 + 23i

We will need to know about conjugates in a minute!

A conjugate is where we change the sign in the middle like this:

A conjugate is often written with a bar over it:

______
5 − 3i   =   5 + 3i

On the complex plane the conjugate number will be mirrored against real axes.

The conjugate is used to help complex division.

The trick is to multiply both top and bottom by the conjugate of the bottom.

Example

2 + 3i
------
4 − 5i

Multiply top and bottom by the conjugate of 4 − 5i:

  (2 + 3i) * (4 + 5i)   8 + 10i + 12i + 15i^2
= ------------------- = ----------------------
  (4 − 5i) * (4 + 5i)   16 + 20i − 20i − 25i^2

Now remember that i^2 = −1, so:

  8 + 10i + 12i − 15    −7 + 22i   −7   22
= ------------------- = -------- = -- + -- * i
  16 + 20i − 20i + 25      41      41   41

There is a faster way though.

In the previous example, what happened on the bottom was interesting:

(4 − 5i)(4 + 5i) = 16 + 20i − 20i − 25i

The middle terms (20i − 20i) cancel out! Also i^2 = −1 so we end up with this:

(4 − 5i)(4 + 5i) = 4^2 + 5^2

Which is really quite a simple result. The general rule is:

(a + bi)(a − bi) = a^2 + b^2

• Wikipedia
• Math is Fun