(New page: Complex Numbers)
 
 
(6 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
Complex Numbers
 
Complex Numbers
 +
 +
'''Definition'''
 +
 +
[[Image:ComplexNumberArgand_1000_ECE301Fall2008mboutin.gif]]
 +
 +
The complex numbers are the field C of numbers of the form x+iy, where x and y are real numbers and i is the imaginary unit equal to the square root of -1, sqrt(-1).
 +
A complex number can be visually represented as a pair of numbers forming a vector on a diagram
 +
A complex number can be visually represented as a pair of numbers forming a vector on a diagram
 +
 +
'''Operations'''
 +
 +
Complex numbers are added, subtracted, multiplied, and divided by formally applying the associative, commutative and distributive laws of algebra, together with the equation i 2 = −1:
 +
 +
        * Addition: [[Image:1_ECE301Fall2008mboutin.png]]
 +
        * Subtraction: [[Image:2_ECE301Fall2008mboutin.png]]
 +
        * Multiplication: [[Image:3_ECE301Fall2008mboutin.png]]
 +
        * Division: [[Image:4_ECE301Fall2008mboutin.png]]
 +
 +
where c and d are not both zero.
 +
 +
It is also possible to represent complex numbers as ordered pairs of real numbers, so that the complex number a + ib corresponds to (a, b). In this representation, the algebraic operations have the following formulas:
 +
 +
    (a, b) + (c, d) = (a + c, b + d)
 +
    (a, b)(c, d) = (ac − bd, bc + ad)
 +
 +
Since the complex number a + bi is uniquely specified by the ordered pair (a, b), the complex numbers are in one-to-one correspondence with points on a plane. This complex plane is described below.
 +
 +
Sources : wikipedia

Latest revision as of 15:43, 4 September 2008

Complex Numbers

Definition

ComplexNumberArgand 1000 ECE301Fall2008mboutin.gif

The complex numbers are the field C of numbers of the form x+iy, where x and y are real numbers and i is the imaginary unit equal to the square root of -1, sqrt(-1). A complex number can be visually represented as a pair of numbers forming a vector on a diagram A complex number can be visually represented as a pair of numbers forming a vector on a diagram

Operations

Complex numbers are added, subtracted, multiplied, and divided by formally applying the associative, commutative and distributive laws of algebra, together with the equation i 2 = −1:

       * Addition: 1 ECE301Fall2008mboutin.png
       * Subtraction: 2 ECE301Fall2008mboutin.png
       * Multiplication: 3 ECE301Fall2008mboutin.png
       * Division: 4 ECE301Fall2008mboutin.png

where c and d are not both zero.

It is also possible to represent complex numbers as ordered pairs of real numbers, so that the complex number a + ib corresponds to (a, b). In this representation, the algebraic operations have the following formulas:

   (a, b) + (c, d) = (a + c, b + d) 
   (a, b)(c, d) = (ac − bd, bc + ad) 

Since the complex number a + bi is uniquely specified by the ordered pair (a, b), the complex numbers are in one-to-one correspondence with points on a plane. This complex plane is described below.

Sources : wikipedia

Alumni Liaison

To all math majors: "Mathematics is a wonderfully rich subject."

Dr. Paul Garrett