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17. COMPLEX NUMBERS

Synopsis :
1. Complex Number :
A number which is of the form x + iy, where x, y are real numbers and i = − 1 is called a complex
number. It also be written as (x, y). If z = x + iy, then x is called real part of z, y is called
imaginary part of z.
2. Argand plane :
By taking real part along x-axis, imaginary part along y-axis, complex numbers (x, y) can be
plotted as points in xy plane, which is called Argand plane.
x-axis is called real axis, y-axis is called imaginary axis.
The points on x-axis are purely real, points on y-axis are purely imaginary, point of intersection of
x and y axes is origin which represents O.
3. Modulus of a complex number :

If z = x + iy, then x 2 + y 2 is called modulus of z and it is denoted by |z|. If z is represented by

P(x, y), then |z| = OP = x 2 + y 2 .

4. Amplitude or argument of a complex number :

If OP makes an angle θ with positive direction of x-axis, then θ is called amplitude or argument of
z, where z is represented by P(x, y).
It is denoted by arg z or amp z. The value of θ, which satisfies x = r cos θ, y = r sin θ where r = |z|
and lying in the interval (–π, π) is called principal value of θ. If α is the principal value of θ, then
2nπ + α, n∈Z is called general value of θ.
5. Modulus amplitude form of a complex number :
If z = x + iy, |z| = r, argz = θ, then cosθ = x/r, sinθ = y/r and z = r(cosθ + isinθ), which is called
modulus amplitude form of z. Also cosθ + isinθ = eiθ (Euler’s theorem on power series).
Ordered relations z1 > z2 or z1 < z2 are not defined in the set of complex numbers.
6. Equality of complex numbers :
If z1 = x1 + iy1, z2 = x2 + iy2, then z1 = z2 ⇔ x1 = x2 and y1 = y2.
7. Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of complex numbers.
If z1 = x1 + iy1, z2 = x2 + iy2,
i) z1 + z2 = x1 + x2 + i(y1 + y2)
1

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Complex Numbers
ii) z1 – z2 = x1 – x2 + i(y1 + y2)
iii)z1z2 = x1x2 – y1y2 + i(x1y2 + x2y1)
z1 x1x 2 + y1y 2 i( x1y 2 − x 2 y1)
iv) = −
z2 x 22 + y 22 x 22 + y 22

If z1 = r1(cosθ1 + isinθ1); z2 = r2(cosθ2 + isinθ2), then z1z2 = r1r2[cos(θ1 + θ2) + isin(θ1 + θ2)]
z1 r
v) = 1 [cos( θ1 − θ2 ) + i sin( θ1 − θ2 )]
z2 rr2

vi) Additive inverse of x + iy is x−iy.

x iy
vii) Multiplicative inverse of x + iy is − .
x +y2 2
x + y2
2

viii) Multiplicative inverse of cisθ is cis(– θ).

8. Conjugate : If z = x + iy, then z = x−iy is called conjugate complex number of z.
i) z = z ⇔ z is purely real.
ii) z = − z ⇔ z is purely imaginary
iii) z + z = 2 Re z
iv) z1 ± z2 = z1 ± z2

v) z1z2 = z1z2
⎛z ⎞ z
vi) ⎜⎜ 1 ⎟⎟ = 1 where z2 ≠ 0
⎝ z2 ⎠ z2

9. Properties of modulus of a complex number :

i) | z1 ± z2 |≤| z1 | + | z 2 | (triangle inequality)
ii) | z1 ± z2 |≥| z1 | − | z2 |
iii) | z1z2 |=| z1 | . | z2 |

z1 |z |
iv) = 1
z2 | z2 |

v) |z| = | z | = |−z| = | – z |
vi) z z = |z|2
vii) | z1 ± z2 |2 =| z1 |2 + | z2 |2 ±2 Re( z1 z2 ) =
| z1 |2 + | z 2 |2 ±2 | z1 || z2 | cos(θ1−θ2) where θ1 =

arg z1 and θ2 = arg z2.

viii) |z1 + z2|2 + |z1−z2|2 = 2(|z1|2 + |z2|2)

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Complex Numbers
10. Properties of amplitude :
i) arg(z1 z2) = arg z1 + arg z2 + 2nπ
⎛ z1 ⎞
ii) arg ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ = arg z1−arg z2 + 2nπ
⎝ z2 ⎠

iii) arg z = – arg z

iv) arg z is not defined if z = 0.

v) arg z = Tan–1 ⎛⎜ ⎞⎟ , if x > 0, y ≠ 0

y
⎝x⎠

vi) arg z = π + Tan–1 ⎛⎜ ⎞⎟ , if x < 0, y > 0.

y
⎝x⎠

⎛y⎞
vii) arg z = – π + Tan–1 ⎜ ⎟ , if x < 0, y < 0.
⎝x⎠

viii) arg z = π/2, if x = 0, y > 0 = – π/2 if x = 0, y < 0.

11. Demoivre’s theorem :
(cosθ + isinθ)n = cosnθ + isinnθ, where n is any integer.
If n is rational, cosnθ + isinnθ is one of the values of (cosθ + isinθ)n.
12. Integral powers of ‘i’ :
If k is any integer, i4k = 1, i4k + 1 = i, i4k + 2 = –1, i4k + 3 = –i.
13. Square root of a complex number :
⎛ ⎞ ⎛ ⎞
⎜ x2 + y2 + x ⎟ ⎜ x2 + y2 − x ⎟
i) x + iy = ±⎜ ⎟ + i⎜ ⎟
⎜ 2 ⎟ ⎜ 2 ⎟
⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠

ii) x + iy = p + iq ⇒ x − iy = p − iq

iii) − a − b = − 1 a − 1 b = − ab
14. nth roots of unity :
2 πr
i ⎛ 2πr ⎞ ⎛ 2πr ⎞
i) ω =r
e n = cos⎜ ⎟ + i sin⎜ ⎟ where r = 0,
⎝ n ⎠ ⎝ n ⎠

1, 2, ...., n −1 are nth roots of unity.

ii) Sum of nth roots of unity is zero.
iii)Product of nth roots of unity is (−1)n−1.
iv) Cube roots of unity are 1, ω, ω2, where ω=
− 1+ i 3 − 1− i 3
, ω2 =
2 2

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Complex Numbers
v) Also 1 + ω + ω2 = 0, ω3 = 1.
vi) Fourth roots of unity are 1, i, –1, –i.
vii)The n, nth roots of unity are the vertices of an n – sided regular polygon inscribed in the circle
|z| = 1.
viii)The three cube roots of unity are the vertices of an equilateral triangle inscribed in the circle
|z| = 1.
15. z1, z2, z3 represent points A, B, C respectively
i) If z12 + z22 − z1z2 = 0 the origin, z1 and z2 form an equilateral triangle

ii) If z1, z2, z3 are the vertices of equilateral triangle and z0 is its centroid, then z12 + z22 + z32 = 3z02 .

iii) z, iz, −z, −iz in order form the vertices of a square with center at the origin.
iv) If z1, z2, z3, z4 are the consecutive vertices of a parallelogram, then z1 + z3 = z2 + z4.
λ1z2 + λ 2z1
v) If z divides the join of z1 and z2 in the ratio λ1 : λ2, then z = .
λ1 + λ 2

vi) |z – z1| = r represents a circle with center at z1 and radius r.

z − z1
vii) = k represents a circle if k ≠ 1 and a straight line if k = 1.
z − z2

viii) Perpendicular bisector of the join of z1, z2 is given by |z – z1| = |z – z2|.

16. Logarithm of a complex number : log z = log |z| + iarg z.

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