2

i = 2

 You can't take the square root of a negative number, right? When we were young and still in Algebra I, no numbers that, when multiplied by themselves, gave us a negative answer. Squaring a negative number always gives you a positive. (-1) = 1. (-2) = 4 (-3) = 9

So heres what the math people did: They used the letter i to represent the square root of (-1). i stands for imaginary.
So, does 2 really exist?

i = 2

Examples of how we use

i = 2
2 = 2 2 2 2

2 = 2 2 2 2

= 2 i

=2 i

=2 i

= i 2

Examples of how we use

i = 2

2 = 2 2 2 2
= 222 2

= 2 2 2
= 22 i

=22 i

2 22= 22 2 2
= 2 2222 2
= 2 2 2 2
=2 2i 2

= 2i 2 2

The first four powers of i establish an important pattern and should be memorized.

Powers of 1 2 i i =i i = 1
i = i
3

i =1
4

i =1
4

i = i
3

i =i
1

i = 1
2

Divide the exponent by 4 No remainder: answer is 1. Remainder of 1: answer is i.

Powers of i
Find i23 Find i2006 Find i37 Find i828

= i = 1 =i =1

Complex Number System Reals Rationals (fractions, decimals) Integers (, -1, -2, 0, 1, 2, ) Whole (0, 1, 2, ) Natural (1, 2, )
Irrationals (no fractions) pi, e Imaginary i, 2i, -3-7i, etc.

Express these numbers in terms of i.

1.) 5 =

= 1 5 = i 5 1 5

2.) 7 = 1 7 = 1 7

= i 7
3.) = 1 99 = 1 99 99

= i 3 3 11 = 3i 11

You try
4. 5. 6.

7 = i 7 36

= 6i

160 = 4i 10

Multiplying
7. 8.

47i 2 = 94i
2i 5 = 2i 1 5 = 2i i 5
= 2i
2

= 2 5
9.

3 7 = i 3 i 7 = i

21

= ( 1) 21 = 21

To mult. imaginary numbers or an imaginary number by a real number, its important to 1st express the imaginary numbers in terms of i.

Complex Numbers

a + bi
real imaginary
The complex numbers consist of all sums a + bi, where a and b are real numbers and i is the imaginary unit. The real part is a, and the imaginary part is bi.

Add or Subtract

7.) 10 .
8.) 11 .
12. 9.)

7i + 9i = 16i
(5 + 6i ) + (2 11i ) = 3 5i

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

Examples

1. (i 3 ) = i 2 ( 3)2 = 1( 3 3)

2. Solve 3 x 2 + 10 = 26

3 x = 36
2

x = 12
2

= 1(3) = 3

x = 12 x = i 12 x = 2i 3
2

Multiplying
Treat the is like variables, then change any that are not to the first power
Ex:

i (3 + i )
2

Ex: ( 2 + 3i )( 6 2i )

= 3i i

= 12 4i 18i 6i

= 3i (1)

= 12 22i 6(1)

= 1 3i

= 12 22i + 6

= 6 22i

3 + 11i Ex : 1 2i
(3 + 11i )(1 + 2i ) = (1 2i )(1 + 2i )

25 5i = 5
25 5i = 5 5

3 + 6i 11i + 22i = 2 1 2i + 2i 4i

3 5i + 22(1) = 1 4(1)

3 5i 22 = 1+ 4

= 5 i