Maths

Jean Kelly
Ordinary Level
2020-21

Complex Numbers
MATHS (O)
ENGLISH NOTES
NOTES
© The Institute of Education 2015
2018

SUBJECT: Maths Cert English

Leaving
LEVEL:
LEVEL: Higher and Ordinary Level
Ordinary
TEACHER: Denis Creaven
TEACHER: Jean Kelly

Topics Covered:
Topics Covered:
Yeats’s Poetry
• Complex - Themes and Styles
Numbers

About Denis:
Denis
Abouthas
Jean:been an English teacher at The Institute of Education for over 30 years and
has instilled a love of the English language in generations of students.
Jean has a wide breadth of experience in teaching Leaving Cert Ordinary Level Maths
to students of all abilities and has been teaching in The Institute of Education for over
10 years. Over that time, Jean has developed an unmatched track record in helping
students through the Maths syllabus and brings a refreshing approach to the
explanation, clarification and tuition of the Maths syllabus.
Jean Kelly
Complex Numbers

COMPLEX NUMBERS
Strand 3(Unit 1)

Syllabus
- Understanding the origin and need for complex numbers and how they are used to model
2D systems: as in computer games, alternating current and voltage.
- How to interpret multiplication by i as a rotation of 90 anticlockwise.
- How to express complex numbers in the rectangular form ( a  bi ) and to illustrate complex
numbers on an Argand diagram.
- How to investigate the operations of addition and subtraction of complex numbers using the
Argand diagram.
- How to investigate the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division with
complex numbers C in the form a  bi (rectangular form) and calculate the complex
conjugate as a reflection in the real axis.
- How to interpret the Modulus as distance from the origin on an Argand diagram.
- How to interpret multiplication by a complex number as a “multiplication of” the modulus by
a real number combined with a rotation.
- How to solve Quadratic Equations having complex roots and how to interpret the solutions.

Imaginary numbers
There exists no real numbers that, when squared, result in a negative number:

x2  1  0
x 2  1 1  R
x  1
To overcome this difficulty an “imaginary number” “ i ” was introduced, where i 2  1

This allows for the square root of negative numbers to be found:

 x  x 1  x  i 

Imaginary numbers take the form bi , where b  R, i  1.

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Jean Kelly
Complex Numbers

Complex numbers
Typically the variable used for real numbers is x. For complex numbers we
often use the variable z, where z  a  bi ,
where a, b  R, i  1 and i  1 .
2

A complex number is written in this way:

1. a is called the real part, and is written as Re

2. bi is called the imaginary part, and is written as Im

The set of all complex numbers is C ,

CCa abibi| a| ,ab,

 b 11
R,Ri,2 i2  

Addition & Subtraction of Complex numbers

When adding or subtracting complex numbers, add or subtract the real parts,
then add or subtract the imaginary parts.

 a abibiccdidi   a  ccbbddi i
And

 a abibi  c cdidiaaccbbddi

z  2  3i and w  1  5i

Q1) Calculate z + w Q2) Calculate z – w

 (2  3i )  (1  5i)
 (2  3i)  (1  5i)
 2  3i  1  5i
 2  1  3i  5i
 2  1  3i  5i
 3  2i
 1  8i

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Jean Kelly
Complex Numbers

Multiplication of Complex numbers

Use the same approach as you’d use when multiplying polynomials together in
algebra; multiply every term in one bracket by every term in the other.

 a  bi  c  di   ac  adi  bci  bdi 2

 ac   ad  bc  i  bd  1
  ac  bd    ad  bc  i

z  2  3i and w  1  5i

Q2) Calculate zw
  2  3i 1  5i  i 2  1
 2  10i  3i  15i 2
 2  7i  15(1)
 2  7i  15
 17  7i

Complex Conjugate

In order to divide complex numbers we must first define the conjugate of a complex
number.
If z  a  bi , then the complex conjugate of z, written as z , is defined by:

z  a  bi To find the complex conjugate

just change the sign of the
z.z   a  bi  a  bi  imaginary part.

 aa   ab  ba  i  bb  1 The conjugate of a complex

number is a reflection/ image
 a b
2 2
through the x-axis (y-value of
point changes sign)
Q. Calculate z.z , where z  2  3i .
  2  3i  2  3i 
If a complex number is added to
 4  6i  6i  9i 2
or multiplied by its conjugate,
the answer will always be a real
 4  9(1) number.

 49 If complex conjugates are

 13 real number subtracted, the answer is always
an imaginary number.

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Jean Kelly
Complex Numbers

Division of Complex numbers

As we cannot divide by a complex number, we must first multiply the fraction

‘above & below’ by the conjugate of the denominator.

a  bi a  bi c  di
 
c  di c  di c  di

 a  bi  c  di 
c2  d 2


 ac  bd    ad  bc  i
c2  d 2
ac  bd ad  bc
 2  i
c  d 2 c2  d 2

z
in the form a  bi , where a, b  R, i  1
2
Q. Express
w
2  3i  1  5i 
    by conjugate of bottom
1  5i  1  5i 
2  10i  3i  15i 2

1  5i  5i  25i 2
2  13i  15(1)

1  25(1)
2  13i  15

1  25
13  13i
   top and bottom by 13
26
1 1
  i
2 2

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Jean Kelly
Complex Numbers

Example ①. Basic Operations with Complex numbers

Q1 Simplify and write your answer in the form a  bi :

(i)  2  3i    4  5i  (ii)  4  i    3  2i 
(iii) 2  5  2i    6  3i  (iv) 1  3i   2  2  5i 
2

(v)  3  4i  5  6i  (vi) 8  3i   2i  7  4i 
(vii)  4  2i  3  i  (viii) 2  3  5i   7i  2  3i 
(ix) 3  2  4i   i  5  6i  (x) 4  2  i   i  3  5i 
Q2 Simplify and write your answer in the form a  bi :

(i) 2  3  i   i  4  5i  (ii) 7  2  i   i 11  9i 

(iii) 3 1  5i   i  3  2i  (iv) 4i  2  3i   7  2  4i 
(v) 3  4  i   i  2  5i  (vi) 4i  i  3  2i   1
(vii)  7  2i    5  6i  (viii) 11  3i    5  2i 
(ix)  3  i  2  5i  (x) 1  3i  i  2  3  i 
2

kz
Example ②. Basic Operations with Complex numbers z  a  bi
z
Q1 Express in the form a  bi :  ( a, b)

1 2i 2  3i 4  2i 6  8i
(i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v)
1 i 3i 3  4i 3i 4  3i
4  2i 17 13 3  2i 2
(vi) (vii) (viii) (ix) (x)
1  2i 3  5i 3  2i 1  4i 1  3i

Q2 Express in the form a  bi :

5  12i 6 5  4i 1 3  6i
(i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v)
2  3i 1 i 5  4i 3  i  6i 3  6i  3i
1 1 i 2  5i i  3  4i  5
(vi) 2  i  (vii) (viii) (ix) (x) 2
2i 1 i 2i 1  2i i 2  i

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 Jean Kelly
Complex Numbers

Argand Diagram

We represent all real numbers on a one-

z
dimenional number line.
z  a  bi
We use two-dimensional plane to represent  ( a, b)
complex numbers.
z
We use the horizontal axis to plot the real
part (Re) and a vertical axes to plot the
imaginary part (Im).

Plot complex numbers exactly like you plot points, where the x co-ordinate is the
real part (Re) and the y co-ordinate is the imaginary part (Im).

Q w  2  3i. Plot w and w on an Argand diagram.

Im
3 . w  2  3i

4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 Re
1

2

3 . w  2  3i

Any multiple of z is collinear with z and the origin

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Jean Kelly
Complex Numbers

Modulus

The modulus of a complex number, z  a  bi , is the distance

from the origin on an Argand diagram to the point  a, b  .

Im
3 . z  2  3i

2 c

a
1

4 3 2 1 0 1b 2 3 Re
1

2

3

The modulus of z is written as z , where z  a  b

2 2

This formula comes from Pythagoras theorem: c  a  b

2 2 2

z  2  3i, w  1  5i

Q1) Calculate z

 2  3i   2    3  4  9  13
2 2

Q2) Calculate z

 2  3i   2   3  4  9  13
2 2

Q3) Calculate w

 1  5i  1   5  1  25  26
2 2

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 Jean Kelly
Complex Numbers

z  2  3i, w  1  5i

Q.1 Calculate z

 2  3i   2    3  4  9  13
2 2

Q.2 Calculate z

 2  3i   2    3  4  9  13
2 2

Q.3 Calculate w

 1   Diagrams
 1  5i Argand 5   1  25&
 Modulus
2 2
Example ③. 26

Q1 If z1  2  3i and z2  3  i , plot the following complex numbers on an Argand diagram:

(i) z1 (ii) z2
(iii) 2 z1  3z2 (iv) z1 z2
Q2 Let u  1  2i, where i 2  1. Plot on an Argand diagram:
(i) u (ii) u  3.
Q3 Let u  3  4i, where i  1. Plot on an Argand diagram:
2

(i) u (ii) u  5i.

Q4 Let z  5  3i. Plot z and  z on an Argand diagram.
Q5 Let u  4  2i, where i 2  1. Plot on an Argand diagram:
(i) u (ii) u  4.
Q6 Let w  1  2i. Plot w and w on an Argand diagram.
Q7 Let z1  2  3i and z2  5  i. Plot z1 , z2 and z1  z2 on an Argand diagram.
Q8 Let w  3  2i, where i 2  1. Plot on an Argand diagram:
(i) w (ii) iw.
Q9 z  1  i, where i 2  1.
(i) Plot z, z 2 , z 3 and z 4 on an Argand diagram.

(ii) Make one observation about the pattern of the points on the diagram.
Q10 If z  4  2i calculate z 2  4 z .

Q11 If z  3  2i calculate z 2  4 z  4  i .

Q12 If z  2  5i and w  1  2i , investigate if z  w  z  w .

Q13 z  8  ki , where k  R . If z  10 , find the possible values of k.

Q14 z  3  5i . If z  ki  58 , find the possible values of k  R .

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Jean Kelly
Complex Numbers

2012 Ordinary Level Paper 1: Q3 (25 Marks)

The complex number z  1  4i , where i 2  1 .

(a) Plot z and –2z on the Argand diagram.
(b) Show that 2 z  2 z .

(c) What does part (b) tell you about the

points you plotted in part (a)?
(d) Let k be a real number such that zk 5.
Find the two possible values of k.

2011 SEC Ordinary Level Sample P1: Q3 (25 Marks)

Two complex numbers are
and ,
where .
(a) Given that ,
evaluate .
(b) Plot u, v, and w on the
Argand diagram given.

(c) Find .

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Jean Kelly
Complex Numbers

Solving/Finding Roots of Quadratic Equations

Use the Quadratic formula: (pg. 20) log tables

The two roots/solutions are always conjugates

Q Solve z 2  6 z  13  0 and write your answers in the form

a  bi, where a, b  R.

z 2  6 z  13  0

b  b 2  4ac
z sub in : a  1, b  6 & c  13
2a
6  4 113
2
6 

2 1
6  36  52

2
6  16

2
6  4i
 ..... 16  16  1  4  i  4i
2
 3  2i  Conjugates 

N.B. If you solve a quadratic equation  Let y  0  to find the

roots/solutions/ x  values , you are trying to find where the
“Happy/Sad face” curve cuts the x  axis . If the solutions are
complex numbers, then the curve does not touch the x-axis! Try
and draw a graph of the function x2  6 x  13  0 , where 6  x  0

N.B. When trying to find the points of intersection between a line and a
curve/circle in algebra, you may end up with a quadratic equation that
results in solutions that are complex numbers and therefore the line
does not intersect the curve or circle! Try and solve the equations
x  y  6  0 and x 2  y 2  10 for the points of intersection

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Jean Kelly
Complex Numbers

Verifying Roots of Quadratic Equations

To prove that a complex number is a root of a quadratic equation,
substitute the complex number into the equation for the variable and
the answer should be equal to zero.

Q1. Verify that 2  3i is a root of the equation z 2  4 z  13  0 and write

down the other root.

Let z  2  3i , Sub in:

z 2  4 z  13  0
 2  3i   4  2  3i   13  0
2

 2  3i  2  3i   4  2  3i   13  0
4  6i  6i  9i 2  8  12i  13  0
4  1 2 i  9  1  8  1 2 i  13  0
4  9  8  13  0
5  5  0
00 Other root  conjugate
z  2  3i

Q2. z  4  i is one root of the equation z 2  8z  k  0 , find the value of

k and write down the other root.

Let z  4  i , Sub in:

z 2  8z  k  0
 4  i   8  4  i   k  0
2

 4  i  4  i   8  4  i   k  0
16  4i  4i  i 2  32  8i  k  0
16 8i   1  32 8i  k  0
16  1  32  k  0
17  k  0
k  17 Other root  conjugate
z  4  i

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Jean Kelly
Complex Numbers

If you know the roots of a quadratic equation, use the formula:

z 2  z  sum of roots   product of roots  0
to form the Quadratic Equation.

Q3. If z  4  5i is a root of the equation z 2  bz  c  0. Find the value of b

and the value of c.

z  4  5i and z  4  5i are the two roots

Sub in :
z 2  z  sum of roots   product of roots  0
z 2  z   4  5i    4  5i     4  5i  4  5i   0

 
z 2  z 4  4 5i 5i  16 20i 20i  25i 2  0
z 2  z  8   16  25  1  0
z 2  8 z  41  0 b  8, c  41

Example ④. Solving Quadratic Equations and Verifying roots

Q1 Solve each equation and write the answers in the form a  bi.
(i) z 2  4 z  20  0 (ii) z 2 10 z  26  0 (iii) z 2  4 z  29  0
(iv) z 2  6 z  34  0 (v) z 2 10 z  29  0

Q2 Verify that each complex number is a root of the equation and write down
the other root:
(i) 4  3i , z 2  8z  25  0 (ii) 1  2i , z 2  2 z  5  0
(iii) 5  4i , z 2 10 z  41  0 (iv) 7  i , z 2  14 z  50  0
(v) 6  i , z 2 12 z  37  0

Q3 Form a quadratic equation with the roots 5  3i.

Q4 If 3  3i is one of the roots of the equation z 2  az  b  0 , find the value
of a and b.

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Complex Numbers

Geometrical properties of Complex numbers (Transformations)

1. Rotations

A rotation turns a point through an angle about a fixed point

If a point (complex number) is multiplied by i , the number is rotated by 90

anti-clockwise about the origin . This is a positive rotation.

If a point (complex number) is multiplied by i , the number is rotated by 90

clockwise about the origin . This is a negative rotation

On an Argand diagram:

Multiplication by i rotates a complex number by 90 anti-clockwise

Multiplication by i 2 rotates a complex number by 180 anti-clockwise
Multiplication by i 3 rotates a complex number by 270 anti-clockwise
Multiplication by i 4 rotates a complex number by 360 anti-clockwise

Multiplication by i, i 2 , i3and  i 4 reverses the direction of the rotation to

clockwise

N.B. i 2  1, i3  i and i 4  1

Q. z  2  3i.

i) Represent z, iz, i 2 z, i 3 z and i 4 z on an Argand diagram.

ii) Using the origin as the centre point, draw a circle through the
complex numbers z, iz, i 2 z, i 3 z and i 4 z . What do you notice?
iii) Verify that z  iz  i 2 z  i 3 z  i 4 z , i.e., prove that all the points
are the same distance from the origin. (Modulus  Radius)

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Jean Kelly
Complex Numbers

Ƶ ( i 4 Ƶ)

iƵ

90°
360°

180° 270°

i3 Ƶ

i2 Ƶ

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Jean Kelly
Complex Numbers

z  2  3i
z  2  3i   2    3  4  9  13
2 2

iz  i (2  3i )  2i  3i 2  2i  3(1)  3  2i
iz  3  2i   3    2   9  4  13
2 2

i 2 z  1(2  3i )  2  3i
i 2 z  2  3i   2     3   4  9  13
2 2

i 3 z  i (2  3i )  2i  3i 2  2i  3(1)  3  2i

i 3 z  3  2i   3   2   9  4  13
2 2

i 4 z  1(2  3i )  2  3i  z
i 4 z  z  2  3i   2    3  4  9  13
2 2

 Modulus  Radius Length  13 2. Translations

A translation is the image of an object by moving every point of the object in

the same direction and same distance away, without rotating or resizing the
object; simply changing the location of the object.

If you add a given complex number to each complex number that makes up an
object you will translate that object and move it to a different location to
create an image.

 the addition of complex numbers means that you are translating / moving
them on an Argand diagram.

Q The four complex numbers A 1  i  , B(1  3i), C (3  3i) and D(3  i) form
the vertices of a square.

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Complex Numbers

i) Plot the complex numbers on an Argand diagram (complex

plane).
ii) If z  3  2i , evaluate and plot the points on an Argand
diagram: P  A  z, Q  B  z, R  C  z and S  D  z .
iii) Describe the transformation that is the addition of z .

Q R

P S
B C

A D

ii)

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Jean Kelly
Complex Numbers

P  A z

P  (1  i )  (3  2i )
P  3  3i

Q  Bz

Q  (1  3i )  (3  2i )
Q  4  5i

RCz

R  (3  3i )  (3  2i )
R  6  5i

S  Dz

S  (3  i )  (3  2i )
S  6  3i

iii) The transformation that maps the square ABCD onto the quadrilateral
PQRS is a translation, where all the points A, B, C and D are all moved the
same distance and in the same direction on the complex plane.

3. Dilations
A dilation is the resizing of an object, making it larger or smaller.

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Complex Numbers

If a complex number is multiplied by a real number (scalar), then its modulus

(distance from the origin) will be multiplied by this scalar.

If 1  real number  1 , then the dilation is referred to as a stretching and the

object is enlarged.

If 1  real number  1, then the dilation is referred to as a contracting and

the object is reduced.

Q. The three points A 1  i  , B(1  3i) and C (3  i) are vertices of a triangle.

i) Plot the complex numbers on an Argand diagram (complex

plane).
ii) If k  3 , evaluate and plot the points on an Argand diagram:
P  kA, Q  kB and R  kC .
iii) Describe the transformation that is the multiplication by k .

B
P R

A C
ii)

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Complex Numbers

P  kA

P  3(1  i )
P  3  3i

Q  kB

Q  3(1  3i )
Q  3  9i

R  kC

R  3(3  i )
R  9  3i

iii) From the diagram we see that all the points A, B and C are moved further
from the origin by a factor of k  3 . We call the transformation
that maps the triangle ABC onto the triangle PQR a dilation
by a factor of 3 . The points A, B and C are said to be stretching
the complex plane and the triangle PQR is an enlargement of
the triangle ABC .

N.B. If you multiply a complex number by 2i , its modulus will be doubled

and it will be rotated by 90 .

N.B. If z is a complex number, then kz  k z , where k is a real number.

Example ⑤. Transformations
Q1 z1  2  4i, z2  2  3i, z3  1  2i and w  1  i.
(i) Plot the points z1 , z2 and z3 on an Argand diagram.
(ii) Evaluate z1  w, z2  w and z3  w and plot the answers on the Argand diagram
(iii) Describe the transformation that is the addition of w .

Q2 z1  2  4i, z2  2  3i, z3  1  2i and k  2.

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(i) Plot the points z1 , z2 and z3 on an Argand diagram.
Jean Kelly
Complex Numbers

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