SUMMARY SHEET: COMPLEX NUMBERS

Electrical Engineering Maths I (ECS408U/MAE111), 2013

Definition: The Number j

The modulus is a positive definite number.

j=

Powers of j

j 2 = 1,

Division:

(a + jb)(c jd)
(ac + bd)
j(bc ad)
z1
=
= 2
+ 2
z2
(c + jd)(c jd)
(c + d2 )
(c + d2 )

j 3 = j 2 j = j

j 4 = (j 2 )2 = (1)2 = +1, j 5 = j 4 j = j
1
j
1
j 1 = = 2 = j, j 2 = 2 = 1
j
j
j
1 1
j 3 = 2 = j, j 4 = j 2 j 2 = +1
j j
. . . and so on.

Argand Diagram: A complex number (a + jb) can be represented as

a point (a, b) on a x-y plane. The x axis is called the real axis and
the y axis is called the imaginary axis.
Polar Form The point (a, b) can be given in polar coordinates (r, ),
with r distance from the origin, and angle made with the x axis.
Sometimes polar form is written using the following notation: z =
r6 .

Complex Numbers: A complex number is written

z = a + jb

z = a + jb = r(cos + j sin )

where a is the real part of the complex number, and b is the imaginary
part of the complex number.

where r is just the modulus of the complex number:

Complex Roots of a Quadratic: Using the formula for the roots of a

quadratic equation:

r=

ax2 + bx + c = 0,

x=

p
1
b b2 4ac
2a

sin =

Addition & Subtraction:

added/subtracted separately

a
.
+ b2

a2

z = r ej
But note also, that for integer k, z = r ej(+2k) . Useful cases:

Real and imaginary parts are

2
=
3
=
2
= 2
=

z1 z2 = a + jb (c + jd) = (a c) + j(b d)
Multplication:
2

z1 z2 = ac + jcd + jbc + j bd = (ac bd) + j(ad + bc)

Complex conjugate and modulus:
If z = a + jb, then the complex conjugate is defined as

:
:
:
:

+ j sin = j
2
2
ej = cos + j sin = 1
3
3
3
ej 2 = cos
+ j sin
= j
2
2
ej2 = cos 2 + j sin 2 = +1

ej 2 = cos

Logarithm of complex number: From exponential form,

z1 = a jb

ln(z) = ln r + j

(ie: change sign of imaginary part). Notice the bar symbol over the
variable name.
The modulus of a complex number is defined as
p

|z| = a2 + b2 = z z

de Moivres Theorem For z = ej = cos + j sin :

(cos + j sin )n = cos(n) + j sin(n)

Text Book References

Mathematics for Engineers
Croft & Davison
Ch 10

cos =

Exponential form:

and b = d

z1 + z2 = a + jb + (c + jd) = (a + c) + j(b + d)

Complex Numbers

b
,
+ b2

a2

is the argument of the complex number, written as arg z. is not

unique, since the angles + 2k (k integer, k 6= 0) are also arguments for the same complex number. The principal value for the
argument is defined so that < .

Algebra of Complex Numbers:

Equality: two complex numbers are equal if both real and imaginary
parts are separately equal. For z1 = a + jb, and z2 = c + jd,
a = c,

a2 + b2 = |z|

and

When (b2 4ac) < 0, there are no real roots to the equation, instead
the roots are complex. This formula can also be used when a, b and c
are complex.

z1 = z2

Engineering Mathematics
Stroud (4th & 5th Editions)
Programmes 1,2
1