The Algebra of Complex Numbers

Trigonometry and Advanced Math - Section 4.3 (Trig Book)

Warm-Up Investigation
Compute the foo!ing. Hint" remem#er the a!$ of e%ponent$.
&. i
'
'. i
3
3. i
4
4. i
(
(. i
)
). i
*
+. i
&(
*. i
3((
Con,ecture$-
Important Definitions and Theory
Definition: Imaginary Number
An imaginary number i$ a num#er that can #e !ritten a$ a . bi/ !here a and b are rea num#er$ and b 0.
The imaginary num#er$ are $impy a $u#$et of the compe% num#er$/ !here !e make no re$triction$ on a and b"
Definition: Complex Number
A complex number i$ a num#er that can #e !ritten a$ a . bi/ !here a and b are rea num#er$.
1ote that compe% num#er$ have t!o part$"
the real part -- the a
the omplex part -- the b
An intere$ting $u#$et of the compe% num#er$ i$ one !here !e re$trict our$eve$ to integer rea and imaginary part$. Thi$ i$
the $et of the 2au$$ian integer$/ named for Car 3riedrich 2au$$ (yup/ that $ame 2au$$ that did everything e$e4)"
Definition: !aussian integer
A Gaussian integer i$ a num#er that can #e !ritten a$ a . bi/ !here a and b are integer$.
"ormal mathematial notation for sets:
5nteger$ 2au$$ian integer$ 6ea num#er$ 6ationa num#er$ Compe% num#er$
7i8
1ote that !e coud a$o u$e the notation 7i8 for .
#uestion" 9e$cri#e the $et 7i8. 2ive an e%ampe of $omething that i$ in 7i8 and $omething that:$ not in 7i8.
The Algebrai $roperties of Complex Numbers 7A itte #it of ;mathe$e;8
Age#ra i$ reay a #uit up from $et theory. A#ove/ !e defined $ome of the mo$t important $et$ in mathematic$/ #ut a !e
$pecified !a$ what !a$ in the$e $et$. <e never $aid !hat !e coud do !ith the$e $et$ -- !hat !e: ca operations. <e/
that:$ !here the age#ra come$ in. Age#ra/ fundamentay/ i$ a a#out $tudying ho! variou$ $et$ #ehave under variou$
operation$. At perhap$ the mo$t primitive eve i$ !hat !e ca a group. Thi$ i$ !hen !e ,oin a $et !ith an operation. <ait --
not $o fa$t= Certain thing$ need to #e true"
The a$$ociative property mu$t hod under !hatever our operation i$
The e%i$tence of an identity eement (if !e:re taking addition/ thi$ i$ 0> if !e:re taking mutipication/ thi$ i$ &)
The e%i$tence of an inver$e eement for every eement
The co$ure property mu$t #e true. That i$/ if !e perform our operation on any t!o eement$ of the $et/ !e get #ack
$omething that:$ a!ay$ in the $et. 3or e%ampe/ if !e mutipy any t!o rea num#er$/ !e:d e%pect to get a rea
num#er #ack. 5f/ $ay/ !e !ere to get a hippopotamu$ #ack/ that:d #e pretty frightening. But/ thankfuy/ the rea
num#er$ are co$ed. Math i$ ogica ike that.
?kay/ #e carefu. 1ot everything i$ a group/ #ut it:$ not a that difficut to meet the propertie$ of a group. But4 there are
more $pecia $tructure$ out there. Skipping a fe! eve$ of hierarchy/ !e get !hat !e technicay ca a commutative ring with
identity. Scary name/ huh- ?kay/ !e: ,u$t ca it a ring. Mathematician$ are a@y/ $o the good ne!$ i$ that mo$t of u$ do thi$
and kno! !hat !e:re taking a#out. The$e ring$ have t!o operation$ -- addition and mutipication. 1ot unike their friend$
the group$/ they have to $ati$fy a #unch of propertie$/ in addition to a of tho$e propertie$ a#ove/ a$$uming addition !a$ our
fir$t operation"
The commutative a! hod$ for addition
The di$tri#utive a! hod$ (thi$ i$ ho! !e ink everything together)
The a$$ociative a! hod$ for mutipication too (not ,u$t addition)
The co$ure property a$o hod$ true for mutipication (not ,u$t addition)
There e%i$t$ a mutipicative identity eement (that:$ u$uay caed ;&; ) Thi$ i$ the ;!ith identity; part.
The commutative a! a$o hod$ for mutipication. Thi$ i$ the ;commutative; part.
So !hy i$ a of thi$ important- Becau$e the omplex numbers are a (commutative) ring (!ith identity)% A of tho$e
famiiar operation$ you kno! from the rea num#er$ and the integer$ hod true here too= 2ue$$ !hat- The integer$/ the
rationa$/ and the rea$ are a ring$ too. Mathematic$ i$ a a#out thi$ #eautifu/ unifying $tructure.
Actuay/ the integer$/ rationa$/ and rea$ a are technicay $omething $tronger -- integra domain$ (they have no @ero-divi$or$) and/ further/ fied$ (every
non@ero eement ha$ a mutipicative inver$e -- !hat !e ca a unit). 5f thi$ $tuff ha$ peaked your curio$ity/ ook into num#er theory and a#$tract age#ra
cour$e$ !hen you get to coege. There are a$o $ome wonderful $ummer program$ out there you might #e a#e to do !hie you:re $ti in high $choo.
3inay/ $tudying thi$ theory !oud certainy #e an accepta#e term pro,ect choice. ?n!ard4
Addition and &ubtration of Complex Numbers
So then4 !e can add (and therefore/ $u#tract) compe% num#er$. They #ehave ,u$t ike #inomia$. Think of the i a$ x in
di$gui$e. Averything:$ the $ame. Bet:$ ook at $ome e%ampe$"
'xample (: Add (* . )i) . (3 . 'i)
'xample ): Su#tract (4 . (i) - () - 3i)
*ultipliation
<e had the property b a ab = for a and b #eing rea num#er$. Cnfortunatey/ thi$ doe$ N+T a!ay$ !ork for
compe% num#er$. 1ever fear= 5t doe$ hod for $ome of them/ $pecificay !here a D -& and b E 0. 6ather than trying to !ork
!ith tho$e condition$/ !e first simplify any negative s,uare roots by pulling out i. Then !e can proceed to mutipy ,u$t
ike !e u$ed to !ith rea num#er$.
'xamples: *ultiply and &implify
a. '( &)
#. + (
c. -4i (3-(i)
d. (& . 'i) (& . 3i)
e. (3- +i)
'
The Complex Con-ugate and "rations .a/0/a/ Division1
Definition: Complex Con-ugate
The complex conjugate of a . bi i$ a - bi.
5t foo!$ that the compe% con,ugate of a - bi i$ a . bi.
'xamples: "ind the Con-ugate
a. -3 . +i
#. &4 - (i
c. 4i
$roblem: What happens 2hen you multiply a omplex number and its on-ugate3 4et5s find out6
a. (( . +i) (( - +i)
#. (*i) (-*i)
So4 !hat does happen-
3or divi$ion/ !e appy the concept$ !e kno! from $impifying radica e%pre$$ion$. (6emem#er there !a$ a con,ugate there
too=)
Division 'xamples
9ivide ' - (i #y & - )i.
Simpify $o that there i$ no i in the denominator.
Coming ne%t"
Fo! do !e graph the$e thing$ any!ay-
1orm= A !ay to mea$ure compe% num#er$ u$ing rea num#er$.
Fo! can !e u$e trig to e%pre$$ compe% num#er$-
<hat a guy named 9eMoivre did to hep u$ $impify compe% num#er$.
7ome2or0: 4.3" G&(-(* every other odd