NPTEL web course

on
Complex Analysis

A. Swaminathan
I.I.T. Roorkee, India
and
V.K. Katiyar
I.I.T. Roorkee, India

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Complex Analysis

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Complex Analysis

Module: 1: Introduction
Lecture: 2: Algebra of Complex Numbers

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Algebra of Complex Number system

Addition of two complex numbers

The addition of two complex numbers: If z1 = x1 + iy1 and
z2 = x2 + iy2 are two elements of C, then z1 + z2 = z3 is also an
element of C and it is given by (x1 + x2 ) + i(y1 + y2 ).

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Complex Analysis

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Algebra of Complex Number system

Addition of two complex numbers

The addition of two complex numbers: If z1 = x1 + iy1 and
z2 = x2 + iy2 are two elements of C, then z1 + z2 = z3 is also an
element of C and it is given by (x1 + x2 ) + i(y1 + y2 ).
Geometrically speaking, we have the following:
Consider the complex plane C. Fix the origin O. Let A be the point
(x1 , y1 ) and B be the point (x2 , y2 ). Draw OA and OB. From A
draw a line up to a new point C, parallel to B, or complete the
parallelogram OACB with OA and OB being adjacent sides. Then
C is the resultant (x1 + x2 , y1 + y2 ) = z1 + z2 = z3 .

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Complex Analysis

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Algebra of Complex Number system

Addition of two complex numbers
y
6

z1 + z2


 
z2
z2




  z1


-x



Figure : Sum of two complex numbers

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Complex Analysis

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Algebra of Complex Number system

Also
z1 z2 = (x1 + iy1 ) (x2 + iy2 ) = (x1 x2 ) + i(y1 y2 ).

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Complex Analysis

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Algebra of Complex Number system

Also
z1 z2 = (x1 + iy1 ) (x2 + iy2 ) = (x1 x2 ) + i(y1 y2 ).

Multiplication of two complex numbers:

z1 z2 := (x1 + iy1 )(x2 + iy2 ) = (x1 x2 y1 y2 ) + i(x1 y2 + x2 y1 ).

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Complex Analysis

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Algebra of Complex Number system

Also
z1 z2 = (x1 + iy1 ) (x2 + iy2 ) = (x1 x2 ) + i(y1 y2 ).

Multiplication of two complex numbers:

z1 z2 := (x1 + iy1 )(x2 + iy2 ) = (x1 x2 y1 y2 ) + i(x1 y2 + x2 y1 ).

They satisfy the axioms of a commutative group under usual

(point wise) addition. In fact, C is a field under usual(point wise)
addition and usual multiplication.

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Complex Analysis

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Algebra of Complex Number system

These things can be summarized as for any three complex

numbers z1 , z2 , z3 C.
z1 + z2

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C,

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Algebra of Complex Number system

These things can be summarized as for any three complex

numbers z1 , z2 , z3 C.
z1 + z2

C,

z1 + (z2 + z3 ) = (z1 + z2 ) + z3 ,

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Complex Analysis

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Algebra of Complex Number system

These things can be summarized as for any three complex

numbers z1 , z2 , z3 C.
z1 + z2

C,

z1 + (z2 + z3 ) = (z1 + z2 ) + z3 ,
z1 (z2 z3 ) = (z1 z2 )z3 .
0 is the identity element under addition z1 + 0 = z1 and 1 is
the identity element under multiplication z1 1 = z1 .
For every z1 C, there exists z2 C such that z1 + z2 = 0.
Distributive law: z1 (z2 + z3 ) = z1 z2 + z1 z3 .

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Complex Analysis

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Algebra of Complex Number system

C has no zero divisors. This means there exist no non-zero z1 and

z2 such that their product z1 z2 = 0 or conversely z1 z2 = 0 implies
either z1 = 0 or z2 = 0.
The division of the complex number z1 by another non-zero z2 , is
given as follows:
z1
x1 + iy1
(x1 + iy1 )(x2 iy2 )
x1 x2 + y1 y2 + i(x2 y1 x1 y2 )
=
=
=
.
z2
x2 + iy2
(x2 + iy2 )(x2 iy2 )
x22 + y22

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Complex Analysis

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Complex Number system

Complex conjugate
Definition
We observe that 1/z, z 6= 0. z = x + iy 6= 0, implies x 6= 0 and y 6= 0.
Therefore multiplying both numerator and denominator by a complex
number of the form x iy will not affect the value as this complex
number x iy is also non-zero, whenever z 6= 0. This x iy is called
Complex conjugate of x + iy .

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Complex Analysis

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Complex Number system

Complex conjugate
Definition
We observe that 1/z, z 6= 0. z = x + iy 6= 0, implies x 6= 0 and y 6= 0.
Therefore multiplying both numerator and denominator by a complex
number of the form x iy will not affect the value as this complex
number x iy is also non-zero, whenever z 6= 0. This x iy is called
Complex conjugate of x + iy .

Notation
In general, for a complex number z = x + iy its conjugate is given by
x iy and it is denoted as z.

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Complex Analysis

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Complex conjugate

Geometrical meaning

y
z 6 z
TT



T

O
Re z T
T
 T
z
Tz

-x

Figure : Relations between z, z, z.

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Complex Analysis

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Complex conjugate

Properties
z = z.
z1 z2 = z1 z2 .
z = z if and only if z is real (i.e. Im z = 0).
Re z = Re z.
z1 z2 = z1 z2 .
 
z1
z1
=
, if z2 6= 0.
z2
z2
z + z = 2Re z.
z z = 2iIm z.

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Complex Analysis

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Complex Number system

Geometric visualization

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Geometric visualization

Modulus and Argument of a complex number

Every complex number z = x + iy can have another type of
representation, which needs the two technical terms (i) Modulus and
(ii) Argument of a complex number.

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Geometric visualization

Modulus of a complex number

Definition
If we multiply a complex number with its conjugate, we get
zz = (x + iy )(x iy ) = x 2 + y 2 .
This value is denoted by |z|2 and |z| is called absolute value of a
complex number and geometrically it is nothing but the length of the
straight line joining this point z with origin 0. Clearly |z| =
6 0, if z 6= 0.

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Geometric visualization

Modulus of a complex number

y




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z


|z|

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Geometric visualization

Modulus of a complex number

Example

(i). For z = 2 + 3i, |z| = 13.

(ii). For z = 3 + i, |z| = 2.

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Geometric visualization

Argument of a complex number

To describe the position of the point z without loss of generality
assume x > 0 and y > 0 (z is in the first quadrant of the complex
plane).
Draw the straight line joining this point with the origin. This length
of this line is nothing but |z|.
Draw a line parallel to y -axis (perpendicular to x axis) connecting
the point x + iy to x + i0. This forms a triangle right angled at
x + i0. For this triangle |z| is the hypotenuse side. Clearly the
height of the triangle is y and the base-length of the triangle is x.

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Geometric visualization

Argument of a complex number

Now if the angle made by the triangle at origin is , then by the
basic trigonometric knowledge we can say that
x
x
Re z
cos = p
=
=
,
2
2
|z|
|z|
x +y
y
y
Im z
sin = p
=
=
,
2
2
|z|
|z|
x +y
y
Im z
tan = =
.
x
Re z

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Complex Analysis

and

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Geometric visualization
Argument of a complex number
Note that tan = y /x implies = tan1 (y /x) is invalid in the
second and third quadrant.
The main reason is when we find the value of tan1 (or
arctangent) of some number, it gives a value, which is either first
or fourth quadrant.
To adjust this when we find tan1 (y /x), we add or subtract
radians to get an appropriate value between 0 and 2.
Moreover, since sin and cos functions are periodic functions with
period 2, the value of tan1 (y /x) will be the same for every
+ 2k , k Z.
This is defined as argument of z and denoted by arg z.

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Geometric visualization

Argument of a complex number

(0, 2)

(, )

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Geometric visualization

Argument of a complex number

Some authors prefer to as the domain for .
The advantage of choosing [, ] lies in the fact that, whenever
some situation with symmetric values occur, the computation will
be easier.
In both intervals [0, 2] and [, ], the end points 0 and 2(or
and ) gives the same value.
Again, to have well defined, only one of the end points is
considered.

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Geometric visualization

Argument of a complex number

Definition
When real functions are considered, = 0 is taken into the discussion
since = 0 (or 2) cannot be omitted. Hence, we consider the interval
< and call this as Principal value, denoted by Argz.

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Geometric visualization

Argument of a complex number

Definition
When real functions are considered, = 0 is taken into the discussion
since = 0 (or 2) cannot be omitted. Hence, we consider the interval
< and call this as Principal value, denoted by Argz.

Remark
While solving particular examples including argument of z, the
principal argument must be defined.

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Geometric visualization
Argument of a complex number
Hence
arg z = Argz + 2k ,

k Z,

where

tan1 (y /x) + sgn(y )(/2)[1 sgn(x)], if

Argz =
sgn(y )(/2)
if

undefined
if

x=
6 0,
x = 0, y =
6 0,
x = 0, y = 0,

with sgn defines the signum function given by

a > 0,
+1, if
0
if
a = 0,
sgn(a) =

1 if
a < 0.

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Geometric visualization

Argument of a complex number

q
|z| = x 2 + y 2 ,

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arg z = tan1 (y /x),

Complex Analysis

z = x + iy .

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Geometric visualization

Properties of |z| and arg z

|z| = |z|.
arg z = arg z.

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Geometric visualization

Properties of |z| and arg z

|z| = |z|.
arg z = arg z.

Example
(i). For z =

3 + i, |z| = 2, arg z = /6.

(ii). For z = 3i, |z| = 3 and arg z = /2.

(iii). For z = 3 + i, arg z = 5/6.

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