Complex numbers
We know from algebra about the Cartesian (or rectangular) coordinate
system, and we’ve learned also about the polar coordinate system.
The reason we have different number systems like this is because they
allow us to solve problems that we wouldn’t otherwise be able to using
just one system alone. Different number systems can also make it easier to
solve a particular kind of problem.
Imaginary numbers
Now we want to introduce the complex number system, which is based on
the imaginary unit called i. This imaginary number is defined as
i 2 = − 1 or i = −1
Without imaginary numbers, we had no way to find the value of x in
something like x 2 = − 16, because we would take the square root of both
sides to get
x=± −16
and we’d be stuck, since the square root of a negative number isn’t
defined in the real number system. But if we use imaginary numbers, we’re
able to simplify this value of x as
x=± −16
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x=± 16(−1)
x=± 16 −1
x = ± 4i
Simplifying powers of imaginary numbers
A natural extension of the definition of the imaginary unit i is that the
powers of i follow a predictable, cyclical pattern. We already know that
any non-zero value raised to the power of 0 is 1, so i 0 = 1. Putting that
together with the definition of i, we have this:
i0 = 1 i 4 = i 2 ⋅ i 2 = (−1)(−1) = 1
i1 = −1 i5 = i ⋅ i4 = −1(1) = −1
i2 = −1 −1 = − 1 i 6 = i 2 ⋅ i 4 = (−1)(1) = − 1
i3 = i ⋅ i2 = − −1 = − i i7 = i3 ⋅ i4 = − i ⋅ 1 = − i
This −1, −1, −i, 1 pattern repeats over an over again, no matter how
large you make the exponent on the imaginary number. Because the
pattern is predictable, we can simplify any power of i just by pulling out
the largest power that’s divisible by 4. For instance,
i 202
i 200 ⋅ i 2
(i 4)50 ⋅ i 2
171
(1)50 ⋅ i 2
1 ⋅ i2
i2
−1
Complex numbers
We’ve defined imaginary numbers, and we already know about real
numbers from previous math classes. The interesting thing is that complex
numbers actually include all of the real numbers and all of the imaginary
numbers. In other words, all real numbers are complex numbers, and all
imaginary numbers are complex numbers. Let’s talk about why.
The standard form of a complex number is z = a + bi, where a and b are real
numbers. If a and b are real numbers, then you can see that a complex
number is always the sum of the real number a, and the imaginary number
bi.
The real part of the complex number is a, and we describe that as Re(z).
The imaginary part of the complex number is b, and we describe that as
Im(z). These are all examples of complex numbers:
z =4+i
z = − 2 + 3i
z = π − 6i
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z= 2 − ei
In each of these complex numbers, both the real part and the imaginary
part are non-zero. If the real-number part of a complex number is 0, then
we end up with
z = a + bi
z = 0 + bi
z = bi
Since we’re left with only the imaginary part, we call z = bi a pure
imaginary number. But if instead the imaginary part of a complex number
is 0, then we end up with
z = a + bi
z = a + 0i
z=a
Since we’re left with only the real part, we call z = a just a real number. But
notice that in both cases we started with z = a + bi. What that tells you is
that
1. all real numbers and all imaginary numbers are complex numbers,
2. in the special case of a = 0, the complex number is a pure
imaginary number, and
3. in the special case of b = 0, the complex number is a real number.
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