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COMPLEX
NUMBERS
Intended Learning Outcomes
1. Understand complex numbers
2. Familiarize with the basic
complex number operations
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COMPLEX NUMBERS
The mathematics used in
Electrical Engineering to add
together resistances, currents
or DC voltages use what are
called “real numbers” used as
either integers or as fractions.
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• This type of number is called an “imaginary number” and to
distinguish an imaginary number from a real number the letter
“ j ” known commonly in electrical engineering as the j-operator,
is used. Thus the letter “j” is placed in front of a real number to
signify its imaginary number operation.
Examples of imaginary numbers are: j3, j12, j100 etc. Then
a complex number consists of two distinct but very much related
parts, a “ Real Number ” plus an “ Imaginary Number ”.
• The rules and laws used in mathematics for the addition or
subtraction of imaginary numbers are the same as for real
numbers, j2 + j4 = j6 etc. The only difference is in multiplication
because two imaginary numbers multiplied together becomes a
negative real number. Real numbers can also be thought of as a
complex number but with a zero imaginary part labelled j0.
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• The rules and laws used in mathematics for the addition or
subtraction of imaginary numbers are the same as for real
numbers, j2 + j4 = j6 etc. The only difference is in multiplication
because two imaginary numbers multiplied together becomes a
negative real number. Real numbers can also be thought of as a
complex number but with a zero imaginary part labelled j0.
• The j-operator has a value exactly equal to √-1, so successive
multiplication of “ j “, ( j x j ) will result in j having the following
values of, -1, -j and +1. As the j-operator is commonly used to
indicate the anticlockwise rotation of a vector, each successive
multiplication or power of “ j “, j2, j3 etc., will force the vector to
rotate through a fixed angle of 90º in an anticlockwise direction
as shown below. Likewise, if the multiplication of the vector
results in a -j operator then the phase shift will be -90º, i.e. a
clockwise rotation.
Vector Rotation of the j-operator
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COMPLEX NUMBER using the RECTANGULAR FORM
We saw that a complex number is represented by a real part and
an imaginary part that takes the generalized form of:
Where:
Z - is the Complex Number representing the Vector
x - is the Real part or the Active component
y - is the Imaginary part or the Reactive component
j - is defined by √-1
ADDITION and SUBTRACTION of COMPLEX NUMBERS
The addition or subtraction of
complex numbers can be done either
mathematically or graphically in
rectangular form. For addition, the real
parts are firstly added together to form the
real part of the sum, and then the
imaginary parts to form the imaginary part
of the sum and this process is as follows
using two complex numbers A and B as
examples.
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FOR ADDITION:
A + B = (4 + j1) + (2 + j3)
= (4 + 2) + j(1 + 3)
= 6 + j4
FOR SUBTRACTION:
A + B = (4 + j1) - (2 + j3)
= (4 - 2) - j(1 - 3)
= 2 – 2j
MULTIPLICATION and DIVISION of COMPLEX
NUMBERS
The multiplication of
complex numbers in the rectangular
form follows more or less the same
rules as for normal algebra along
with some additional rules for the
successive multiplication of the j-
operator where: 𝑗 = 1 . So for
example, multiplying together our
two vectors from right
of A = 4 + j1 and B = 2 + j3 will give
us the following result.
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MULTIPLICATION and DIVISION of COMPLEX
NUMBERS
The multiplication of complex numbers in the rectangular
form follows more or less the same rules as for normal algebra along
with some additional rules for the successive multiplication of the j-
operator where: 𝑗 = 1. So for example, multiplying together our two
vectors from right of A = 4 + j1 and B = 2 + j3 will give us the following
result.
COMPLEX CONJUGATE
• The Complex Conjugate, or simply Conjugate of a complex
number is found by reversing the algebraic sign of the complex
numbers imaginary number only while keeping the algebraic sign
of the real number the same and to identify the complex
conjugate of z the symbol z is used. For example, the conjugate
of z = 6 + j4 is z = 6 – j4, likewise the conjugate of z = 6 –
j4 is z = 6 + j4.
• The points on the Argand diagram for a complex conjugate have
the same horizontal position on the real axis as the original
complex number, but opposite vertical positions. Thus, complex
conjugates can be thought of as a reflection of a complex
number. The following example shows a complex
number, 6 + j4 and its conjugate in the complex plane.
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MULTIPLICATION and DIVISION of COMPLEX
NUMBERS
Mathematically, the division of complex numbers in
rectangular form is a little more difficult to perform as it requires the
use of the denominators conjugate function to convert the
denominator of the equation into a real number. This is called
“rationalizing”. Then the division of complex numbers is best carried
out using “Polar Form”, which we will look at later. However, as an
example in rectangular form lets find the value of vector A divided by
vector B.
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SAMPLE PROBLEMS
1. (5 + 2j) + (5 – 3j)
2. (4 + 5j) (4 + 5j)
3. (10 + 2j) - (7 – 8j)
4. (5 + 2j) ÷ (5 + 6j)
5. (7 + 2j) + (7 – 3j)
6. (3 - 2j) ÷ (4 + 5j)
7. (8 - 6j) (9 + 5j)
8. (13 – 11j) - (4 + 6j)
THANK YOU
