Complex numbers Tshwane University of Technology: EL Voges 11/05/12 Page 63

COMPLEX NUMBERS
Summary of the theory
pp 464 506

THEORY
Argand diagram: A representation of a complex number in a complex plane
o The horizontal axis represents the real part of the complex numbers, while the vertical axis represents
the imaginary part of the complex number
o When we multiply a complex number by 1 j = , its representation in an Argand diagram rotates anti-
clock wise through 90
0

o A complex number and its conjugate is symmetrical about the real axis
o A complex number is often represented by a directed line segment (an arrow), similar to a vector
Argument/amplitude/phase angle: If z r u = Z , then the argument, denoted by arg( ) z , is given by
arg( ) z u =
Cartesian form: Rectangular form
Complex conjugate
o Rectangular form: If z x jy = + , then the complex conjugate of z, denoted by z , is given by z x jy =
o Polar form: If (cos sin ) z r r j u u u = Z = + , then ( ) (cos sin ) z r r j u u u = Z =
o Exponential form: If
j
z re
u
= , then
j
z re
u
=
Complex number: Any number z x jy = + where , x ye and 1 j =
o Pure real numbers and pure imaginary numbers are sub sets of the set of complex numbers
Complex plane: The x-y plane where the x-axis represents the real numbers and the y-axis represents the imaginary numbers
Conversions:
( )
2 2 1
cos ; sin ; ; tan
y
x
x r y r r x y u u u

= = = + =
De Moivre's theorems: If
1 1 1
z r u = Z and
2 2 2
z r u = Z , then
o
1 2 1 2 1 2
( ) z z rr u u = Z +
Re
Im
O
y
-y
x
r
r

-
z x jy r
z x jy r
Complex numbers Tshwane University of Technology: EL Voges 11/05/12 Page 64
o
1 1
2 2
1 2
( )
z r
z r
u u = Z
o
1 1 1
( ) ( )
n n
z r nu = Z
o
( ) ( )
1 1
360 2
1 1 1
, 0,1, 2, , ( 1)
k k
n n n
n n
z r r k n
u u t + +
= Z = Z =
Equality: Two complex numbers
1
z a jb = + and are equal if and only if a c = and b d =
Euler's formula: cos sin
j
e j
u
u u

=
Exponential form: A complex number in the form
j
z re
u
=
o u MUST be in radians!
o De Moivre:
1/ 1/ ( 2 )/ n n j k n
z r e
u t +
=
o Logs: ln( ) ln( ) ln
j
z re r j
u
u = = +
Fact: Remember, , a b ab a b = e but if , a b ab a b = e
Imaginary number: Any number aj where ae and 1 j =
Imaginary part: If z x jy = + , then Im( ) z y =
Imaginary unit: 1 i j = =
Modulus/magnitude/absolute value: If z r u = Z , then the modulus, denoted by z
, is given by z r =
Phasor: The representation of a wave by a rotating arm in an Argand plane, called a
phasor plane
Polar form: A complex number in the form
( ) ( ) cos sin cis z r r j r r u u u u = Z = + =
o Also called the modulus-argument or trigonometric form
o u MAY be in radians or degrees!
o ( 180 ;180 ] u e
Powers of j:
2 3 4 1
1; ; 1;
j
j j j j j = = = =
t
y
2

V1 sint
V2 sint

2

V
1
V
2
Complex numbers Tshwane University of Technology: EL Voges 11/05/12 Page 65
Principal argument: ( 180 ;180 ] u e
o Calculators give the principal argument when converting from rectangular to polar coordinates
Real part: If z x jy = + , then Re( ) z x =
Rectangular form: A complex number in the form x jy + where , x ye and 1 j =

CALCULATIONS

Operation Rectangular Polar Exponential
1 2
, z z e ; ne
1 1 1
z x jy = +
2 2 2
z x jy = +
1 1 1
z r u = Z
2 2 2
z r u = Z
u in either radians or degrees
1
1 1
j
z re
u
=
2
2 2
j
z r e
u
=
u in radians
Conjugate
1 1 1
z x jy z x jy = + =
1 1 1 1 1 1
( ) z r z r u u = Z = Z
1 1
1 1 1 1
j j
z re z re
u u
= =

Addition/subtraction
1 2 1 2 1 2
( ) ( ) z z x x j y y = + Covert to rectangular Covert to
rectangular
Multiplication
1 2 1 1 2 2
( )( ) z z x jy x jy = + +
( )
1 2 1 2 1 2
z z r r u u = Z +
( ) 1 2
1 2 1 2
j
z z r r e
u u +
=
Division 1 1 1 2 2
2 2 2 2 2
z x jy x jy
z x jy x jy
+
+
= ( )
1 1
2 2
1 2
z r
z r
u u = Z
( ) 1 2 1 1
2 2
j z r
z r
e
u u
=
Powers
1 1 1
( ) ( )
n n
z x jy = + or convert
to polar
( ) ( ) ( )
1 1 1
n n
z r nu = Z ( ) ( )
( ) 1
1 1
n n j n
z r e
u
=
Roots Convert to polar
( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( )
1
1
1/ 1/ 360
1 1 1
1/ 2
1
n n k
n
n
n k
n
z z r
r
u
u t
+
+
= = Z
= Z

( ) ( )
( ) 1
1/ 1/ 2 /
1 1
n n j k n
z r e
u t +
=

Logs Convert to exponential Convert to exponential
( ) ( )
1 1 1
ln ln z r ju = +



Complex numbers Tshwane University of Technology: EL Voges 11/05/12 Page 66
APPLICATIONS
Electrical
o Reactance effective resistance of a part in a circuit
o Impedance total effective resistance to the flow of a current
o For a circuit with a resistor with resistance R, a capacitor with reactance X
C
and an inductor with
reactance X
L
the impedance is ( )
L C
Z R j X X = + +
Magnitude:
2 2
( )
L C
z R X X = +
Phase angle:
( )
1
tan
L C
X X
R
u

=

PRACTICE
- Singh: pp 473 474, Exercise 10(a), #1 13; p 580, Exercise 10(b), #1 5; pp 487, Exercise 10(c), #1 10; p 496 497,
Exercise 10(d), #1 10; p 501 502, Exercise 10(e), #1 10; pp 503 506, Miscellaneous Exercise 10, #1 9, 12, 17, 23
- Supplementary Exercise 2
SUPPLEMENTARY EXERCISE 4
1. Simplify the complex numbers below. Do the operations in the rectangular form and leave your answer in the simplest rectangular form.

1.1
35
j 1.2
41
j 1.3
74
j 1.4 (2 )(3 4) j j +
1.5 (1 3)(1 3) j j + 1.6 ( 2)( 2) j j + (j+2) 1.7
3
2 1

j
j
1.8
j + 1
2

1.9
j
j
1
2

2. Convert the following complex numbers to the polar form, with the argument in radians, accurately to 2 decimal places where necessary.
2.1 1 j + 2.2 3 j 2.3 2 2 j + 2.4 4 3 j

2.5 5 j

2.6 8

R
X
C
X
L
X
-
X
L
C
Z

Re
Im
Complex numbers Tshwane University of Technology: EL Voges 11/05/12 Page 67
3. Convert the following complex numbers to the rectangular form:
3.1
3
3
4
t
3.2 2 t 3.3 2120 3.4 2 240

3.5 4 0 3.6 5
2
t


4. Simplify the following complex numbers. Do not convert to another form. Leave your answers in the simplest polar form.
4.1
4
2 3
4 3
4
2
t t
t
| | | |
| |
\ . \ .
4.2
6
2
8
t

| |
|
\ .
4.3
( )( )
4 30
2150 3 60


5. Simplify the following complex numbers by using De Moivres theorem. Leave your answer in the polar form with the angles in radians.
5.1
4
) 1 (
4
j
5.2 2 2 j + 5.3
4
2
( 1 )
j
j +
5.4
8
) 1 ( j

6. Use De Moivres theorem to solve for z and leave your answer in the polar form with the angles in radians.
6.1
2
4 z j = 6.2 8
3
= z 6.3
3
2 2 z j = 6.4 3 1
2
j z + =

6.5 16
4
= z

7. Write the following complex numbers in the simplest rectangular (Cartesian) form, accurately to 3 decimal places.
7.1
2 3
t
j
e

7.2
2 ln3 j
e
t

7.3
3
2
j
e
t


8. Write the following complex numbers in the exponential form.
8.1 1 j + 8.2 3 j 8.3 2 2 j +

8.4 4 3 j

Complex numbers Tshwane University of Technology: EL Voges 11/05/12 Page 68
8.5 5 j 8.6 8

9. Solve for x and y, both real, if:
9.1 ) 3 5 ( ) 3 2 ( 2 j y j xj j + = 9.2 ) 2 3 )( 2 ( ) 1 ( j j x y j xj + = +

ANSWERS 4
If your answers are different from those given here, first do some further calculations your answers may still be the same! If they are not,
please discuss it with your lecturer.

1.1 -j 1.2 j 1.3 -1 1.4 10 5 j + 1.5 4
1.6 10 5 j 1.7
1 1
2 2
j + 1.8 1 j 1.9 1 j +

2.1 2 1.410.79
4
t
~

2.2 2 2 0.52
6
t
~ 2.3
3
8 2.83 2.36
4
t
~

2.4 5 3.79 5 2.50 = 2.5 5 5 1.57
2
t
~

2.6 8 8 3.14 t ~

3.1
3 3
2 2
j + 3.2 -2 3.3 1 3 j + 3.4 1 3 j +

3.5 4 3.6 5 j

4.1
5
12
6
t
4.2
1 3
8 4
t
4.3
2
180
3


5.1 t 5.2
4
3
8
8
t
5.3
1
2 2
t
5.4 16 0

6.1 2
4
z
t
= or
5
2
4
z
t
= 6.2 2
3
z
t
= or 2 z t = or
5
2
3
z
t
=

6.3
6
8
12
z
t
= or
6
7
8
12
z
t
= or
6
5
8
4
z
t
=

6.4 2
3
z
t
= or
4
2
3
z
t
=
Complex numbers Tshwane University of Technology: EL Voges 11/05/12 Page 69
6.5 2
4
z
t
= or
3
2
4
z
t
= or
5
2
4
z
t
= or
7
2
4
z
t
=

7.1
3
je 7.2 3 j 7.3 1 3 j +

8.1
4
2
j
e
t
8.2
6
2
j
e
t

8.3
3
4
8
j
e
t

8.4
2.50
5
j
e

8.5
2
5
j
e
t

8.6 8
j
e
t

9.1 ( ; ) (10;6) x y = 9.2 ( ; ) (1;9) x y =