Complex Numbers

Part A: Properties of the Imaginary Unit i

1. i 2 = − 1

2. i = −1

Remark:
✭ When a and b are BOTH negative numbers, a× b= a b is NOT valid.
By the definition of the imaginary unit i, −1 × −1 = i × i = − 1 .
However, (−1)(−1) = 1 = 1.
∴ −1 × −1 ≠ (−1)(−1)

3. For any positive real number p, −p = p× −1 = pi

Basic Type - Convert expressions involving square roots of negative real numbers
Simplify and express the following expression in the form bi, where b is a real number.
(a) −81 + −36
= 81 × −1 + 36 × −1
= 9i + 6i
(b) 25
− − + −9
4
25
=− × −1 + 9× −1
4
5
=− i + 3i
4
7
= i
4

(c) −32
= 32 × −1
= 4 2i

Remark:
✭ This skill is important especially when solving quadratic equations with complex roots.

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4. The powers of i repeat a cycle: i , −1 , −i , 1 .

i=i i 5 = i 4+1 = i 4 × i = (1) × i = i
i2 = i × i = −1 × −1 = − 1 i 6 = i 4+2 = i 4 × i 2 = (1) × (−1) = − 1
i 3 = i 2 × i = (−1) × i = − i i 7 = i 4+3 = i 4 × i 3 = (1) × (−i ) = − i
i 4 = i 2 × i 2 = (−1) × (−1) = 1 i 8 = i 4+4 = i 4 × i 4 = (1) × (1) = 1

i 9 = i 4×2+1 = (i 4 )2 × i = (1)2 × i = i i 4n+1 = (i 4 )n × i = (1)n × i = i

i 10 = i 4×2+2 = (i 4 )2 × i 2 = (1)2 × (−1) = − 1 i 4n+2 = (i 4 )n × i 2 = (1)n × (−1) = − 1
i 11 = i 4×2+3 = (i 4 )2 × i 3 = (1)2 × (−i ) = − i i 4n+3 = (i 4 )n × i 3 = (1)n × (−i ) = − i
i 12 = i 4×2+4 = (i 4 )2 × i 4 = (1)2 × (1) = 1 i 4n = (i 4 )n = (1)n = 1

Basic Type - Calculate the power of i

Simplify each of the following expressions.
(a) i 15 (b) i 21 (c) i 28 (d) i 34
Step 1: Divide the index by 4 and find the remainder.
15 ÷ 4 = 3...3 21 ÷ 4 = 5...1 28 ÷ 4 = 7 34 ÷ 4 = 8...2
Step 2: Express the index in form 4n + k.
i 15 = i 4(3)+3 i 21 = i 4(5)+1 i 28 = i 4(7) i 34 = i 4(8)+2
Step 3: Calculate the expression according to the remainder.
i 15 = i 4(3)+3 i 21 = i 4(5)+1 i 28 = i 4(7) i 34 = i 4(8)+2
=−i =i =1 =−1

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Part B: Complex Number

A complex number is a number that can be written in the form a + bi, where a and b are real numbers,
and i = −1 . a is called the real part and b (not bi) is called the imaginary part.

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 Complex Numbers

Exam Type - Solving quadratic equations with complex roots

Since we know how to express square roots of negative numbers using i, quadratic equations
with non-real roots can be solved by the (1) quadratic formula or (2) taking square roots method.

Examples:
1. Solve 2x (x + 3) = 9x − 5, express your answers in the form a + bi .

Step 1: Convert the equation into the general form.

2x (x + 3) = 9x − 5
2x 2 + 6x = 9x − 5
2x 2 − 3x + 5 = 0

Step 2: Solve the equation using quadratic equation.

2x 2 − 3x + 5 = 0
−(−3) ± (−3)2 − 4(2)(5)
x=
2(2)
3± −31
x=
4
1± 31i
x=
4
1 31
x= ± i
4 4

2. Solve x 2 + 100 = 0, express your answers in the form a + bi.

(x + 2)2 + 100 = 0
(x + 2)2 = − 100
x + 2 = ± −100
x = − 2 ± 10i

Remarks:
✭ Phrases like “express your answers in the form a + bi” are keywords to indicate the roots of the
equation are complex (not real). So, you have to use the quadratic formula or taking square roots
method to calculate the complex roots, instead of claiming the equation has no real roots.
✭ If p + qi is a complex root of a quadratic equation, where p and q are real numbers with q ≠ 0,
then its complex conjugate p − qi is another complex root of the equation.
[Refer to ✎ Textbook Ch.2 P.2.39-2.40]
✭ Taking square roots method is used when the coefficient of x in a quadratic equation is 0, i.e. b = 0.

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Part D: Operations of Complex Numbers

Aim: Simplify and convert expressions involving complex numbers into the form a + bi.

A. Addition
1. (−2 + i ) + (3 − 6i ) 2. (2 + xi ) + (y − zi )
= − 2 + i + 3 − 6i = 2 + xi + y − zi
= 3 − 5i = y + 2 + xi − zi
= y + 2 + (x − z)i

B. Subtraction
1. (−8 + 7i ) − (−2 − 9i ) 2. ( p − qi ) − (3 + r i )
= − 8 + 7i + 2 + 9i = p − qi − 3 − r i
= − 6 + 16i = p − 3 − qi − r i
= p − 3 − (q + r)i

C. Multiplication
1. (5 − 2i )(−3 + i ) 2. (x + i )(2 − 3i )
= − 15 + 5i + 6i − 2i 2 = 2x − 3xi + 2i − 3i 2
= − 15 + 11i − 2(−1) = 2x − 3xi + 2i − 3(−1)
= − 13 + 11i = 2x + 3 − (3x − 2)i

3. (−5 + 3i )(−5 − 3i )
= (−5)2 − (3i )2 → applying (a + b)(a − b) = a 2 − b 2
= 25 − 9i 2
= 25 − 9(−1)
= 34

Remark:
✭ From example 3, we notice that the product of two complex numbers −5 + 3i and −5 − 3i is
a real number. In general, the product of a complex number c + di and its complex conjugate
c − di is a non-negative real number.

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 Complex Numbers

Exam Type - Find the unknown coefficients in a quadratic equation with complex roots.
Consider the quadratic equation x 2 + 4x + q = 0, where q is a real constant. It is given that
p + i is a root of the equation, where p is a real constant.
(a) Find the values of p and q.
(b) If r is a real constant, find the range of values of r such that the quadratic equation
x 2 + 4x + q = r has real roots.

(a) Since p + i is a root of the equation, p − i is the other root.

q
−4 αβ =
α +β= 1
1 (−2 + i )(−2 − i ) = q
(p + i) + (p − i) = − 4
(−2)2 − i 2 = q
2p = − 4
4 − (−1) = q
p=−2
q=5

(b) Rewrite the quadratic equation with the known value q = 5 and express it in its general form.
x 2 + 4x + 5 = r
x 2 + 4x + 5 − r = 0

∵ The quadratic equation has real roots.

∴ Δ≥0
(4)2 − 4(1)(5 − r) ≥ 0
16 − 20 + r ≥ 0
r≥4

Remark:
⭑ Since the roots of a quadratic equation with complex roots must exist in pair of complex number
and its complex conjugate, a + bi and a − bi, the sum of roots α + β and product of roots αβ
must be real numbers.
α + β = (a + bi ) + (a − bi ) = 2a
αβ = (a + bi )(a − bi ) = a 2 − (bi )2 = a 2 − b 2i 2 = a 2 − b 2(−1) = a 2 + b 2

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D. Division
Aim: Make the denominator of the fraction a real number and then separate the fraction to
express it in the form a + bi.
1. If the denominator is a real number.
−2 + 15i 2 15
=− + i
5 5 5
2
= − + 3i
5

2. If the denominator is a purely imaginary number (bi where b is a real number).

10 − 12i 10 − 12i i
= ×
−4i −4i i
10i − 12i 2
=
−4i 2
10i − 12(−1)
=
−4(−1)
12 + 10i
=
4
12 10
= + i
4 4
5
=3+ i
2

3. If the denominator is an imaginary number (a + bi where a and b are real numbers).

3i
4−i
Step 1: Multiply the expression by a fraction of the complex conjugate of the denominator.
3i 4+i
= ×
4−i 4+i
Step 2: Simplify the numerator and apply (a − b)(a + b) = a 2 − b 2 in the denominator.
12i + 3i 2
= 2 2
4 −i
Step 3: Simplify the denominator. You must get a real number in the denominator.
12i + 3(−1)
=
16 − (−1)
−3 + 12i
=
17
Step 4: Separate the fraction and express it in the form a + bi.
3 12
=− + i
17 17
⭑ In this case, we make use of the property that the product of a complex number c + di with its
complex conjugate c − di is a real number.
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Exam Type: Form a quadratic equation with one complex root given.
1
(a) Express in the form a + bi , where a and b are real numbers.
1 + 2i
1
(b) If is a root of the quadratic equation x 2 + px + q = 0, find the values of the real numbers
1 + 2i
p and q.

(a) 1 1 1 − 2i
= ×
1 + 2i 1 + 2i 1 − 2i
1 − 2i
= 2
1 − (2i )2
1 − 2i
=
5
1 2
= − i
5 5
1 1 2 1 2
(b) Since = − i is a root of the quadratic equation, its complex conjugate + i is the
1 + 2i 5 5 5 5
other root.

(5 5 ) (5 5 ) 5
1 2 1 2 2
α +β = − i + + i =

(5 5 )(5 5 ) (5) (5 )
2 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 4 1
αβ = − i + i = − i = + =
25 25 5
2 1
∴ The required quadratic equation is x 2 − x + = 0, i.e. 5x 2 − 2x + 1 = 0 .
5 5
2 1
∴ p = − and q = .
5 5

✭ In this example, we make use of the property that if p + qi is a complex root of a quadratic equation,
where p and q are real numbers with q ≠ 0, then its complex conjugate p − qi is another complex
root of the equation.

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Part E: Equality of Complex Numbers

For two complex numbers a + bi and c + di , if a + bi = c + di, then

a = c (real parts) and b = d (imaginary parts)

Exam Type - Find the unknown real constants in an equality of complex numbers
In each of the following, find the values of the real numbers x and y.
1.

2.

3. xi 3
=
y − 2i 2+i
xi(2 + i ) = 3(y − 2i )
2xi + xi 2 = 3y − 6i
−x + 2xi = 3y − 6i

By comparing the real part and imaginary part, we have −x = 3y and 2x = − 6 respectively.
2x = − 6
x=−3
By substituting x = − 3 into −x = 3y, we have
−(−3) = 3y
y=1
∴ x = − 3 and y = 1.

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