Revision as of 10:08, 5 September 2008 by Mgoklani (Talk)

(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)

Let me start with the basic definition of complex numbers. In simple words it can be defined as:


DEFINITION

Complex numbers are those numbers that can be separated into both a real component and an imaginary component. Complex numbers are generally expressed in the form a + bi, where a represents any real number (rational or irrational) and b represents the real coefficient (rational or irrational) of the imaginary number bi.


PROPERTIES

ADDITION

  • Addition and with complex numbers are similar to addition and subtraction with real numbers, with the sums (or differences) of real components handled independently of imaginary components. For example:
$ (a + bi) + (c + di) = (a + c) + (b + d)i $

MULTIPLICATION

  • Multiplication of complex numbers is similar to multiplying two first-order polynomials. Expressed generally, the product of two complex numbers is
$ (a + bi)(c + di) = ac + adi + bci + bdi2 = (ac - bd) + (ac + bd)i.  $


Rules and Identities

$ i^2 = (i)(i) = -1 i^3 = (i^2)(i) = (-1)(i) = -i i^4 = (i^2)(i^2) = (-1)(-1) = +1 $

Alumni Liaison

Basic linear algebra uncovers and clarifies very important geometry and algebra.

Dr. Paul Garrett