Complex Numbers and Roots

Objectives:
1: Know there is a complex number i such that i2 = -1, and every complex number has the
form a + bi with a and b real.
2: Use the relation i2 = -1, and the commutative, associative, and distributive properties to
add, subtract, and multiply complex numbers.
3: Solve quadratic equations with real coefficients that have complex solutions.

For the Board: You will be able to define and use imaginary and complex numbers.
You will be able to solve quadratic equations with complex roots.

Examples
Simplify each expression.
42
1. 108 2. 6  24 3.
 3
Find the zeros of each function.
4. f(x) = x2 – 18x + 16 5. f(x) = x2 + 6x – 24

Anticipatory Set:
f(x) = x2 + 1 has no real zeros.
Solve for the zeros using square rooting.
x2 + 1 = 0 x2 = -1 x =  1

We can find solutions if we define the square root of a negative number.

This is why imaginary numbers were invented.
The imaginary unit i is defined as  1 .

An imaginary number is the square root of a negative number.

1 = I  2 = 1 ∙ 2 = i 2  4 =  1 ∙ 4 = 2i

Imaginary numbers can be written in the form bi, where b is a real number and i is the imaginary unit.
If b is a positive real number, then  b = i b .

The square of an imaginary number is the original negative number.

(  1 )2 = i2 = -1  b2 =  1  b 2 = bi (  b )2 = (i  b )2 = -b.

Open the book to page 95 and read example 1.

Example: Express each number in terms of i.
a. 5  121 b. -  96
5  1 ∙ 121 -  1 ∙ 96
5i ∙ 11 -i 16 ∙ 6
55i -4i 6
White Board Activity:
Practice: Express each number in terms of i.
1
a.  12 b. 2  36 c.   63
3
1
 1 ∙ 12 2  1 36   1  63
3
1
i 4∙ 3 2i ∙ 6  i 9 7
3
1
2i 3 12i  i 3 7
3
i 7

Open the book to page 95 and read example 2.

Example: Solve each equation. Use square rooting.
a. x2 = -144 b. 5x2 + 90 = 0
x =   144 5x2 = -90 x2 = -18
x =   1  144 x =   18 x =   1  18
x = ±12i x = ±i 9  2 x = ±3i 2

White Board Activity:

Practice: Solve each equation. Use square rooting.
a. x2 = -36 b. x2 + 48 = 0 c. 9x2 + 25 = 0
x = ±  36 x2 = -48 9x2 = -25
25
x = ±  1  36 x = ±  48 x2 = 
9
25
x = ±6i x = ±  1  48 x=± 
9
25
x = ±i 16  3 x = ± 1 
9
5
x = ±4i 3 x=  i
3

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 .
Examples: 3 - 5i -5 + i 2 2 ± 4i 3

The set of real numbers is a subset of the set of complex numbers C.

Open the book to page 95 and study the Venn Diagram.

Every complex number has a real part “a” and an imaginary part “b”.
Real numbers are complex numbers where b = 0.

Imaginary numbers are complex numbers where a = 0 and b ≠ 0.

These are sometimes called pure imaginary numbers.
Two complex numbers are equal if and only if their real parts are equal and their imaginary parts are
equal .

Example: Find the values of x and y that make the equation 4x + 10i = 2 – (4y)i true.
4x + 10i = 2 + (-4y)i
4x = 2 10 = -4y
X=½ y = 10/-4 y = -2.5

White Board Activity:

Practice: Find the values of x and y that make each equation true.
a. 2x – 6i = -8 + (20y)i b. -8 + (6y)i = 5x - i 6
2x + (-6)I = -8 + (20y)I -8 + (6y)I = 5x + (- 6 )i
2x = -8 -6 = 20y -8 = 5x 6y = - 6
6
x = -4 y = -6/20 x = -8/5 y= 
6
= -3/10

Example: Find the zeros of each function using completing the square.
a. f(x) = x2 + 10x + 26 b. g(x) = x2 + 4x + 12
x2 + 10x + 26 = 0 x2 + 4x + 12 = 0
2
(x + 10x + _____) = -26 + _____ (x2 + 4x + _____) = -12 + _____
½ (10) = 5; 52 = 25 ½ (4) = 2; 22 = 4
(x2 + 10x + 25) = -26 + 25 = -1 (x2 + 4x + 4) = -12 + 4 = -8
2
(x + 5) = -1 (x + 2)2 = -8
x + 5 =  1 x + 2 =   8    1  8  i 4  2
x = -5 ± i x = -2 ± 2i 2

White Board Activity:

Practice: Find the zeros of each function using completing the square.
a. f(x) = x2 + 4x + 13 b. g(x) = x2 – 8x + 18
2
x + 4x + 13 = 0 x2 - 8x + 18 = 0
(x2 + 4x + _____) = -13 + _____ (x2 - 8x + _____) = -18 + _____
½ (4) = 2; 22 = 4 ½ (8) = 4; 42 = 16
2
(x + 4x + 4) = -13 + 4 = -9 (x2 - 8x + 16) = -18 + 16 = -2
(x + 2)2 = -9 (x - 4)2 = -2
x + 2 =  1  9 x - 4 =   2   1  2
x = -2 ± 3i x=4±i 2

Solutions like all of the above are called complex conjugate pairs.
-5 + I and -5 – I -2 + 2i 2 and -2 - 2i 2
-2 + 3i and -2 - 3i 4 + i 2 and 4 - i 2
Their real parts are equal and their imaginary parts are opposites.
The complex conjugate of a + bi is a – bi.

Note: If a quadratic equation has non-real roots, then these roots are complex conjugates.

Example: Find each complex conjugate.

a. 8 + 5i b. 6i
8 – 5i -6i

White Board Activity:

Practice: Find each complex conjugate.
a. 9 – i b. i + 2 c. -8i
9+i -I + 2 8i

MLS
Comple Analysis