<< Chapter < Page Chapter >> Page >

Find the complex conjugate of −3 + 4 i .

−3 −4 i

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Given two complex numbers, divide one by the other.

  1. Write the division problem as a fraction.
  2. Determine the complex conjugate of the denominator.
  3. Multiply the numerator and denominator of the fraction by the complex conjugate of the denominator.
  4. Simplify.

Dividing complex numbers

Divide: ( 2 + 5 i ) by ( 4 i ) .

We begin by writing the problem as a fraction.

( 2 + 5 i ) ( 4 i )

Then we multiply the numerator and denominator by the complex conjugate of the denominator.

( 2 + 5 i ) ( 4 i ) ( 4 + i ) ( 4 + i )

To multiply two complex numbers, we expand the product as we would with polynomials (using FOIL).

( 2 + 5 i ) ( 4 i ) ( 4 + i ) ( 4 + i ) = 8 + 2 i + 20 i + 5 i 2 16 + 4 i 4 i i 2 = 8 + 2 i + 20 i + 5 ( −1 ) 16 + 4 i 4 i ( −1 ) Because   i 2 = −1. = 3 + 22 i 17 = 3 17 + 22 17 i Separate real and imaginary parts .

Note that this expresses the quotient in standard form.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!
Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Simplifying powers of i

The powers of i are cyclic. Let’s look at what happens when we raise i to increasing powers.

i 1 = i i 2 = −1 i 3 = i 2 i = −1 i = i i 4 = i 3 i = i i = i 2 = ( −1 ) = 1 i 5 = i 4 i = 1 i = i

We can see that when we get to the fifth power of i , it is equal to the first power. As we continue to multiply i by increasing powers, we will see a cycle of four. Let’s examine the next four powers of i .

i 6 = i 5 i = i i = i 2 = −1 i 7 = i 6 i = i 2 i = i 3 = i i 8 = i 7 i = i 3 i = i 4 = 1 i 9 = i 8 i = i 4 i = i 5 = i

The cycle is repeated continuously: i , −1 , i , 1 , every four powers.

Simplifying powers of i

Evaluate: i 35 .

Since i 4 = 1 , we can simplify the problem by factoring out as many factors of i 4 as possible. To do so, first determine how many times 4 goes into 35: 35 = 4 8 + 3.

i 35 = i 4 8 + 3 = i 4 8 i 3 = ( i 4 ) 8 i 3 = 1 8 i 3 = i 3 = i
Got questions? Get instant answers now!
Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Can we write i 35 in other helpful ways?

As we saw in [link] , we reduced i 35 to i 3 by dividing the exponent by 4 and using the remainder to find the simplified form. But perhaps another factorization of i 35 may be more useful. [link] shows some other possible factorizations.

Factorization of i 35 i 34 i i 33 i 2 i 31 i 4 i 19 i 16
Reduced form ( i 2 ) 17 i i 33 ( −1 ) i 31 1 i 19 ( i 4 ) 4
Simplified form ( −1 ) 17 i i 33 i 31 i 19

Each of these will eventually result in the answer we obtained above but may require several more steps than our earlier method.

Access these online resources for additional instruction and practice with complex numbers.

Key concepts

  • The square root of any negative number can be written as a multiple of i . See [link] .
  • To plot a complex number, we use two number lines, crossed to form the complex plane. The horizontal axis is the real axis, and the vertical axis is the imaginary axis. See [link] .
  • Complex numbers can be added and subtracted by combining the real parts and combining the imaginary parts. See [link] .
  • Complex numbers can be multiplied and divided.
    • To multiply complex numbers, distribute just as with polynomials. See [link] and [link] .
    • To divide complex numbers, multiply both numerator and denominator by the complex conjugate of the denominator to eliminate the complex number from the denominator. See [link] and [link] .
  • The powers of i are cyclic, repeating every fourth one. See [link] .

Section exercises

Verbal

Explain how to add complex numbers.

Add the real parts together and the imaginary parts together.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

What is the basic principle in multiplication of complex numbers?

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Give an example to show that the product of two imaginary numbers is not always imaginary.

Possible answer: i times i equals 1, which is not imaginary.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

What is a characteristic of the plot of a real number in the complex plane?

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Algebraic

For the following exercises, evaluate the algebraic expressions.

If y = x 2 + x 4 , evaluate y given x = 2 i .

−8 + 2 i

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

If y = x 3 2 , evaluate y given x = i .

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

If y = x 2 + 3 x + 5 , evaluate y given x = 2 + i .

14 + 7 i

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

If y = 2 x 2 + x 3 , evaluate y given x = 2 3 i .

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

If y = x + 1 2 x , evaluate y given x = 5 i .

23 29 + 15 29 i

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

If y = 1 + 2 x x + 3 , evaluate y given x = 4 i .

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Graphical

For the following exercises, plot the complex numbers on the complex plane.

Numeric

For the following exercises, perform the indicated operation and express the result as a simplified complex number.

( 3 + 2 i ) + ( 5 3 i )

8 i

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( −2 4 i ) + ( 1 + 6 i )

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( −5 + 3 i ) ( 6 i )

−11 + 4 i

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( 2 3 i ) ( 3 + 2 i )

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( −4 + 4 i ) ( −6 + 9 i )

2 −5 i

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( 5 2 i ) ( 3 i )

6 + 15 i

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( −2 + 4 i ) ( 8 )

−16 + 32 i

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( −1 + 2 i ) ( −2 + 3 i )

−4 −7 i

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( 4 2 i ) ( 4 + 2 i )

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( 3 + 4 i ) ( 3 4 i )

25

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

3 + 4 i 2 i

2 5 + 11 5 i

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Technology

For the following exercises, use a calculator to help answer the questions.

Evaluate ( 1 + i ) k for k = 4 , 8 , and 12. Predict the value if k = 16.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Evaluate ( 1 i ) k for k = 2 , 6 , and 10. Predict the value if k = 14.

128i

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Evaluate ( l + i ) k ( l i ) k for k = 4 , 8 , and 12. Predict the value for k = 16.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Show that a solution of x 6 + 1 = 0 is 3 2 + 1 2 i .

( 3 2 + 1 2 i ) 6 = −1

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Show that a solution of x 8 −1 = 0 is 2 2 + 2 2 i .

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Extensions

For the following exercises, evaluate the expressions, writing the result as a simplified complex number.

( 2 + i ) ( 4 2 i ) ( 1 + i )

5 −5 i

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( 1 + 3 i ) ( 2 4 i ) ( 1 + 2 i )

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( 3 + i ) 2 ( 1 + 2 i ) 2

−2 i

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

3 + 2 i 2 + i + ( 4 + 3 i )

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

4 + i i + 3 4 i 1 i

9 2 9 2 i

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

3 + 2 i 1 + 2 i 2 3 i 3 + i

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Questions & Answers

how to study physic and understand
Ewa Reply
what is conservative force with examples
Moses
what is work
Fredrick Reply
the transfer of energy by a force that causes an object to be displaced; the product of the component of the force in the direction of the displacement and the magnitude of the displacement
AI-Robot
why is it from light to gravity
Esther Reply
difference between model and theory
Esther
Is the ship moving at a constant velocity?
Kamogelo Reply
The full note of modern physics
aluet Reply
introduction to applications of nuclear physics
aluet Reply
the explanation is not in full details
Moses Reply
I need more explanation or all about kinematics
Moses
yes
zephaniah
I need more explanation or all about nuclear physics
aluet
Show that the equal masses particles emarge from collision at right angle by making explicit used of fact that momentum is a vector quantity
Muhammad Reply
yh
Isaac
A wave is described by the function D(x,t)=(1.6cm) sin[(1.2cm^-1(x+6.8cm/st] what are:a.Amplitude b. wavelength c. wave number d. frequency e. period f. velocity of speed.
Majok Reply
what is frontier of physics
Somto Reply
A body is projected upward at an angle 45° 18minutes with the horizontal with an initial speed of 40km per second. In hoe many seconds will the body reach the ground then how far from the point of projection will it strike. At what angle will the horizontal will strike
Gufraan Reply
Suppose hydrogen and oxygen are diffusing through air. A small amount of each is released simultaneously. How much time passes before the hydrogen is 1.00 s ahead of the oxygen? Such differences in arrival times are used as an analytical tool in gas chromatography.
Ezekiel Reply
please explain
Samuel
what's the definition of physics
Mobolaji Reply
what is physics
Nangun Reply
the science concerned with describing the interactions of energy, matter, space, and time; it is especially interested in what fundamental mechanisms underlie every phenomenon
AI-Robot
what is isotopes
Nangun Reply
nuclei having the same Z and different N s
AI-Robot
Got questions? Join the online conversation and get instant answers!
Jobilize.com Reply
Practice Key Terms 4

Get Jobilize Job Search Mobile App in your pocket Now!

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store Now




Source:  OpenStax, College algebra. OpenStax CNX. Feb 06, 2015 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11759/1.3
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

Notification Switch

Would you like to follow the 'College algebra' conversation and receive update notifications?

Ask