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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 (the process commonly called 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.

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Substituting a complex number into a polynomial function

Let f ( x ) = x 2 5 x + 2. Evaluate f ( 3 + i ) .

Substitute x = 3 + i into the function f ( x ) = x 2 5 x + 2 and simplify.

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Let f ( x ) = 2 x 2 3 x . Evaluate f ( 8 i ) .

102 29 i

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Substituting an imaginary number in a rational function

Let f ( x ) = 2 + x x + 3 . Evaluate f ( 10 i ) .

Substitute x = 10 i and simplify.

2 + 10 i 10 i + 3 Substitute  10 i  for  x . 2 + 10 i 3 + 10 i Rewrite the denominator in standard form . 2 + 10 i 3 + 10 i 3 10 i 3 10 i Prepare to multiply the numerator and denominator by the complex conjugate of the denominator . 6 20 i + 30 i 100 i 2 9 30 i + 30 i 100 i 2 Multiply using the distributive property or the FOIL method . 6 20 i + 30 i 100 ( 1 ) 9 30 i + 30 i 100 ( 1 ) Substitute –1 for   i 2 . 106 + 10 i 109 Simplify . 106 109 + 10 109 i Separate the real and imaginary parts .
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Let f ( x ) = x + 1 x 4 . Evaluate f ( i ) .

3 17 + 5 i 17

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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 itself for increasing powers, we will see a cycle of 4. Let’s examine the next 4 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

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
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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] , [link] , and [link] .
  • To divide complex numbers, multiply both the numerator and denominator by the complex conjugate of the denominator to eliminate the complex number from the denominator. See [link] , [link] , and [link] .
  • The powers of i are cyclic, repeating every fourth one. See [link] .

Verbal

Explain how to add complex numbers.

Add the real parts together and the imaginary parts together.

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What is the basic principle in multiplication of complex numbers?

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

i times i equals –1, which is not imaginary. (answers vary)

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

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Algebraic

For the following exercises, evaluate the algebraic expressions.

If  f ( x ) = x 2 + x 4 , evaluate f ( 2 i ) .

8 + 2 i

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If  f ( x ) = x 3 2 , evaluate f ( i ) .

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If  f ( x ) = x 2 + 3 x + 5 , evaluate f ( 2 + i ) .

14 + 7 i

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If  f ( x ) = 2 x 2 + x 3 , evaluate f ( 2 3 i ) .

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If  f ( x ) = x + 1 2 x , evaluate f ( 5 i ) .

23 29 + 15 29 i

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If  f ( x ) = 1 + 2 x x + 3 , evaluate f ( 4 i ) .

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Graphical

For the following exercises, determine the number of real and nonreal solutions for each quadratic function shown.

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

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( 2 4 i ) + ( 1 + 6 i )

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( 5 + 3 i ) ( 6 i )

11 + 4 i

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( 2 3 i ) ( 3 + 2 i )

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( 4 + 4 i ) ( 6 + 9 i )

2 5 i

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( 5 2 i ) ( 3 i )

6 + 15 i

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( 2 + 4 i ) ( 8 )

16 + 32 i

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

4 7 i

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( 4 2 i ) ( 4 + 2 i )

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( 3 + 4 i ) ( 3 4 i )

25

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3 + 4 i 2 i

2 5 + 11 5 i

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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.

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

128i

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

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

( 3 2 + 1 2 i ) 6 = 1

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

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Extensions

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

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

5 – 5i

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

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

2 i

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

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4 + i i + 3 4 i 1 i

9 2 9 2 i

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

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Questions & Answers

Three charges q_{1}=+3\mu C, q_{2}=+6\mu C and q_{3}=+8\mu C are located at (2,0)m (0,0)m and (0,3) coordinates respectively. Find the magnitude and direction acted upon q_{2} by the two other charges.Draw the correct graphical illustration of the problem above showing the direction of all forces.
Kate Reply
To solve this problem, we need to first find the net force acting on charge q_{2}. The magnitude of the force exerted by q_{1} on q_{2} is given by F=\frac{kq_{1}q_{2}}{r^{2}} where k is the Coulomb constant, q_{1} and q_{2} are the charges of the particles, and r is the distance between them.
Muhammed
What is the direction and net electric force on q_{1}= 5µC located at (0,4)r due to charges q_{2}=7mu located at (0,0)m and q_{3}=3\mu C located at (4,0)m?
Kate Reply
what is the change in momentum of a body?
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what is a capacitor?
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Capacitor is a separation of opposite charges using an insulator of very small dimension between them. Capacitor is used for allowing an AC (alternating current) to pass while a DC (direct current) is blocked.
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A motor travelling at 72km/m on sighting a stop sign applying the breaks such that under constant deaccelerate in the meters of 50 metres what is the magnitude of the accelerate
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please solve
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8m/s²
Aishat
What is Thermodynamics
Muordit
velocity can be 72 km/h in question. 72 km/h=20 m/s, v^2=2.a.x , 20^2=2.a.50, a=4 m/s^2.
Mehmet
A boat travels due east at a speed of 40meter per seconds across a river flowing due south at 30meter per seconds. what is the resultant speed of the boat
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50 m/s due south east
Someone
which has a higher temperature, 1cup of boiling water or 1teapot of boiling water which can transfer more heat 1cup of boiling water or 1 teapot of boiling water explain your . answer
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I believe temperature being an intensive property does not change for any amount of boiling water whereas heat being an extensive property changes with amount/size of the system.
Someone
Scratch that
Someone
temperature for any amount of water to boil at ntp is 100⁰C (it is a state function and and intensive property) and it depends both will give same amount of heat because the surface available for heat transfer is greater in case of the kettle as well as the heat stored in it but if you talk.....
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about the amount of heat stored in the system then in that case since the mass of water in the kettle is greater so more energy is required to raise the temperature b/c more molecules of water are present in the kettle
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field is a region of space under the influence of some physical properties
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determine the slope giving that 3y+ 2x-14=0
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Another formula for Acceleration
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a=v/t. a=f/m a
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pratica A on solution of hydro chloric acid,B is a solution containing 0.5000 mole ofsodium chlorid per dm³,put A in the burret and titrate 20.00 or 25.00cm³ portion of B using melting orange as the indicator. record the deside of your burret tabulate the burret reading and calculate the average volume of acid used?
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Two bodies attract each other electrically. Do they both have to be charged? Answer the same question if the bodies repel one another.
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No. According to Isac Newtons law. this two bodies maybe you and the wall beside you. Attracting depends on the mass och each body and distance between them.
Dlovan
Are you really asking if two bodies have to be charged to be influenced by Coulombs Law?
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like charges repel while unlike charges atttact
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What is specific heat capacity
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Specific heat capacity is a measure of the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of a substance by one degree Celsius (or Kelvin). It is measured in Joules per kilogram per degree Celsius (J/kg°C).
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specific heat capacity is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of a substance by one degree Celsius or kelvin
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Source:  OpenStax, Precalculus. OpenStax CNX. Jan 19, 2016 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11667/1.6
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