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5.4 Complex Numbers

GOAL 1 OPERATIONS WITH COMPLEX NUMBERS
What you should learn
GOAL 1 Solve quadratic Not all quadratic equations have real-number solutions. For instance, x 2 = º1 has
equations with complex no real-number solutions because the square of any real number x is never negative.
solutions and perform To overcome this problem, mathematicians created an expanded system of numbers
operations with complex using the imaginary unit i, defined as i = 兹º 苶1苶. Note that i 2 = º1. The
numbers. imaginary unit i can be used to write the square root of any negative number.
GOAL 2 Apply complex
numbers to fractal geometry.
T H E S Q UA R E R O O T O F A N E G AT I V E N U M B E R
Why you should learn it
PROPERTY EXAMPLE
䉲 To solve problems, such
as determining whether a 1. If r is a positive real number, 兹º
苶5
苶 = i 兹5
苶
complex number belongs to then 兹º 苶r苶 = i 兹r苶.
the Mandelbrot set 2. By Property (1), it follows that (i 兹5苶)2 = i 2 • 5 = º5
in Example 7. AL LI (i 兹r苶)2 = ºr.
FE
RE

EXAMPLE 1 Solving a Quadratic Equation

Solve 3x 2 + 10 = º26.

SOLUTION
3x 2 + 10 = º26 Write original equation.

3x 2 = º36 Subtract 10 from each side.

x 2 = º12 Divide each side by 3.

苶1苶2苶
x = ±兹º Take square roots of each side.

x = ±i兹1苶2苶 Write in terms of i.

x = ±2i兹3苶 Simplify the radical.

䉴 The solutions are 2i兹3苶 and º2i兹3苶. Complex Numbers (a ⫹ bi)

.......... Real Imaginary
Numbers Numbers
A complex number written in standard form is (a ⫹ 0i ) (a ⫹ bi, b ⫽ 0)
a number a + bi where a and b are real numbers. 2 ⴙ 3i 5 ⴚ 5i
5
The number a is the real part of the complex number, ⴚ1 2
and the number bi is the imaginary part. If b ≠ 0, 3 Pure
then a + bi is an imaginary number. If a = 0 and Imaginary
b ≠ 0, then a + bi is a pure imaginary number. π 兹2 Numbers
(0 ⫹ bi, b ⫽ 0)
The diagram shows how different types of complex
numbers are related. ⴚ4i 6i

272 Chapter 5 Quadratic Functions

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Just as every real number corresponds to a point on the real number line, every
complex number corresponds to a point in the complex plane. As shown in the next
example, the complex plane has a horizontal axis called the real axis and a vertical
axis called the imaginary axis.

EXAMPLE 2 Plotting Complex Numbers

Plot the complex numbers in the complex plane.

a. 2 º 3i b. º3 + 2i c. 4i imaginary
4i
SOLUTION ⫺3 ⫹ 2i
a. To plot 2 º 3i, start at the origin, move 2 units to the i
right, and then move 3 units down.
1 real
b. To plot º3 + 2i, start at the origin, move 3 units to the
left, and then move 2 units up.
2 ⫺ 3i
c. To plot 4i, start at the origin and move 4 units up.
..........

Two complex numbers a + bi and c + di are equal if and only if a = c and b = d.

For instance, if x + yi = 8 º i, then x = 8 and y = º1.
To add (or subtract) two complex numbers, add (or subtract) their real parts and their
imaginary parts separately.
Sum of complex numbers: (a + bi) + (c + di) = (a + c) + (b + d)i

Difference of complex numbers: (a + bi) º (c + di) = (a º c) + (b º d)i

EXAMPLE 3 Adding and Subtracting Complex Numbers

Write the expression as a complex number in standard form.

a. (4 º i) + (3 + 2i) b. (7 º 5i) º (1 º 5i) c. 6 º (º2 + 9i) + (º8 + 4i)

SOLUTION
a. (4 º i) + (3 + 2i) = (4 + 3) + (º1 + 2)i Definition of complex addition

=7+i Standard form

b. (7 º 5i) º (1 º 5i) = (7 º 1) + (º5 + 5)i Definition of complex subtraction

= 6 + 0i Simplify.

=6 Standard form

c. 6 º (º2 + 9i) + (º8 + 4i) = [(6 + 2) º 9i] + (º8 + 4i) Subtract.

= (8 º 9i) + (º8 + 4i) Simplify.

= (8 º 8) + (º9 + 4)i Add.

= 0 º 5i Simplify.

= º5i Standard form

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To multiply two complex numbers, use the distributive property or the FOIL method
just as you do when multiplying real numbers or algebraic expressions. Other
properties of real numbers that also apply to complex numbers include the associative
and commutative properties of addition and multiplication.

EXAMPLE 4 Multiplying Complex Numbers

Write the expression as a complex number in standard form.

a. 5i(º2 + i) b. (7 º 4i)(º1 + 2i) c. (6 + 3i)(6 º 3i)

SOLUTION
a. 5i(º2 + i) = º10i + 5i2 Distributive property

= º10i + 5(º1) Use i 2 = º1.

= º5 º 10i Standard form

b. (7 º 4i)(º1 + 2i) = º7 + 14i + 4i º 8i2 Use FOIL.

= º7 + 18i º 8(º1) Simplify and use i 2 = º1.

= 1 + 18i Standard form

2
c. (6 + 3i)(6 º 3i) = 36 º 18i + 18i º 9i Use FOIL.

= 36 º 9(º1) Simplify and use i 2 = º1.

= 45 Standard form
..........

In part (c) of Example 4, notice that the two factors 6 + 3i and 6 º 3i have the form
a + bi and a º bi. Such numbers are called complex conjugates. The product of
complex conjugates is always a real number. You can use complex conjugates to
write the quotient of two complex numbers in standard form.

EXAMPLE 5 Dividing Complex Numbers

5 + 3i
Write the quotient ᎏᎏ in standard form.
1 º 2i

SOLUTION
The key step here is to multiply the numerator and the denominator by the complex
conjugate of the denominator.
5 + 3i 5 + 3 i 1 + 2i
ᎏᎏ = ᎏᎏ • ᎏᎏ Multiply by 1 + 2i, the conjugate of 1 º 2i.
1 º 2i 1 º 2 i 1 + 2i
5 + 10i + 3i + 6i2
= ᎏᎏ2
Use FOIL.
1 + 2i º 2i º 4i
º1 + 13i
= ᎏᎏ Simplify.
5
1 13
= ºᎏᎏ + ᎏ ᎏ i Standard form
5 5

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FOCUS ON
PEOPLE GOAL 2 USING COMPLEX NUMBERS IN FRACTAL GEOMETRY

In the hands of a person who understands fractal geometry, the complex plane can
become an easel on which stunning pictures called fractals are drawn. One very
famous fractal is the Mandelbrot set, named after mathematician Benoit Mandelbrot.
The–iMandelbrot set is the black region in the complex plane below. (The points in
the colored regions are not part of the Mandelbrot set.)
1 –i
–i
L
AL I
BENOIT –1 1 –i
FE
RE

MANDELBROT 1
was born in Poland in 1924, –2 –1 1 –i
came to the United States in
–1
1958, and is now a professor –3 –2 –1 1 –i
at Yale University. He pio-
neered the study of fractal –2
–4 –3 –2 –1 1
geometry in the 1970s.
–3
–4 –3 –2 –1
–4
–4 –3 –i –2

–4 1 –3
To understand how the Mandelbrot set is constructed, you need to know how the
absolute value of a complex number is defined.
–1 –4

A B S O L U T E VA L U E O F A C O M P L E X N U M B E R
–2

–3
The absolute value of a complex number z = a + bi, denoted |z|, is a
nonnegative real number defined as follows:
–4
|z| = 兹a
苶2苶+
苶苶b2苶
Geometrically, the absolute value of a complex number is the number’s
distance from the origin in the complex plane.

EXAMPLE 6 Finding Absolute Values of Complex Numbers

Find the absolute value of each complex number. Which number is farthest from the
origin in the complex plane?
a. 3 + 4i b. º2i c. º1 + 5i

SOLUTION
a. |3 + 4i| = 兹3
苶2苶+
苶苶42苶 = 兹2苶5苶 = 5 imaginary
z ⫽ ⫺1 ⫹ 5i
z ⫽ 3 ⫹ 4i
b. |º2i| = |0 + (º2i)| = 兹0
苶2苶+
苶苶(º
苶2苶苶
)2 = 2
|z|ⴝ 兹26 3i
c. |º1 + 5i| = 兹(º
苶1苶苶
) 2苶
+苶52苶 = 兹2苶6苶 ≈ 5.10 |z|ⴝ 5

Since º1 + 5i has the greatest absolute value, it is 4 real

|z|ⴝ 2
farthest from the origin in the complex plane. z ⫽ ⫺2i

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The following result shows how absolute value can be used to tell whether a given
complex number belongs to the Mandelbrot set.

COMPLEX NUMBERS IN THE MANDELBROT SET

To determine whether a complex number c belongs to the Mandelbrot set,

consider the function ƒ(z) = z 2 + c and this infinite list of complex numbers:

z0 = 0, z1 = ƒ(z0), z2 = ƒ(z1), z3 = ƒ(z2), . . .

• If the absolute values |z0|, |z1|, |z2|, |z3|, . . . are all less than some fixed
number N, then c belongs to the Mandelbrot set.
• If the absolute values |z0|, |z1|, |z2|, |z3|, . . . become infinitely large,
then c does not belong to the Mandelbrot set.

EXAMPLE 7 Determining if a Complex Number Is in the Mandelbrot Set

Tell whether the complex number c belongs to the Mandelbrot set.

a. c = i b. c = 1 + i c. c = º2

SOLUTION
a. Let ƒ(z) = z2 + i.
z0 = 0 |z0| = 0

z1 = ƒ(0) = 02 + i = i |z1| = 1

z2 = ƒ(i) = i2 + i = º1 + i |z2| = 兹2苶 ≈ 1.41

z3 = ƒ(º1 + i) = (º1 + i) + i = ºi
2
|z3| = 1

z4 = ƒ(ºi) = (ºi)2 + i = º1 + i |z 4| = 兹2苶 ≈ 1.41

At this point the absolute values alternate between 1 and 兹2苶, and so all
the absolute values are less than N = 2. Therefore, c = i belongs to the
Mandelbrot set.
b. Let ƒ(z) = z2 + (1 + i).
z0 = 0 |z 0 | = 0

z1 = ƒ(0) = 02 + (1 + i) = 1 + i |z 1| ≈ 1.41

z2 = ƒ(1 + i) = (1 + i) + (1 + i) = 1 + 3i
2
|z 2| ≈ 3.16

z3 = ƒ(1 + 3i) = (1 + 3i)2 + (1 + i) = º7 + 7i |z 3 | ≈ 9.90

2
z4 = ƒ(º7 + 7i) = (º7 + 7i) + (1 + i) = 1 º 97i |z 4 | ≈ 97.0

The next few absolute values in the list are (approximately) 9409, 8.85 ª 107,
and 7.84 ª 1015. Since the absolute values are becoming infinitely large,
c = 1 + i does not belong to the Mandelbrot set.
c. Let ƒ(z) = z 2 + (º2), or ƒ(z) = z 2 º 2. You can show that z0 = 0, z1 = º2, and
zn = 2 for n > 1. Therefore, the absolute values of z0, z1, z2, z3, . . . are all less
than N = 3, and so c = º2 belongs to the Mandelbrot set.

276 Chapter 5 Quadratic Functions

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GUIDED PRACTICE
Vocabulary Check ✓ 1. Complete this statement: For the complex number 3 º 7i, the real part is 㛭㛭㛭
? and
the imaginary part is 㛭㛭㛭
? .
Concept Check ✓ 2. ERROR ANALYSIS A student thinks that the complex conjugate of º5 + 2i
is 5 º 2i. Explain the student’s mistake, and give the correct complex conjugate
of º5 + 2i.
3. Geometrically, what does the absolute value of a complex number represent?

Skill Check ✓ Solve the equation.

4. x2 = º9 5. 2x2 + 3 = º13 6. (x º 1)2 = º7

Write the expression as a complex number in standard form.

7. (1 + 5i) + (6 º 2i) 8. (4 + 3i) º (º2 + 4i)
3 º 4i
9. (1 º i)(7 + 2i) 10. ᎏᎏ
1+i

Find the absolute value of the complex number.

11. 1 + i 12. 3i 13. º2 + 3i 14. 5 º 5i
15. Plot the numbers in Exercises 11–14 in the same complex plane.
16. FRACTAL GEOMETRY Tell whether c = 1 º i belongs to the Mandelbrot set.
Use absolute value to justify your answer.

PRACTICE AND APPLICATIONS

STUDENT HELP SOLVING QUADRATIC EQUATIONS Solve the equation.
Extra Practice 17. x2 = º4 18. x2 = º11 19. 3x2 = º81
to help you master
skills is on p. 946. 20. 2x2 + 9 = º41 21. 5x2 + 18 = 3 22. ºx2 º 4 = 14
23. 8r 2 + 7 = 5r 2 + 4 24. 3s2 º 1 = 7s2 25. (t º 2)2 = º16
1
26. º6(u + 5)2 = 120 27. ºᎏᎏ(v + 3)2 = 7 28. 9(w º 4)2 + 1 = 0
8

PLOTTING COMPLEX NUMBERS Plot the numbers in the same complex plane.
29. 4 + 2i 30. º1 + i 31. º4i 32. 3
33. º2 º i 34. 1 + 5i 35. 6 º 3i 36. º5 + 4i
STUDENT HELP
ADDING AND SUBTRACTING Write the expression as a complex number in
HOMEWORK HELP standard form.
Example 1: Exs. 17–28 37. (2 + 3i) + (7 + i) 38. (6 + 2i) + (5 º i)
Example 2: Exs. 29–36
Example 3: Exs. 37–46 39. (º4 + 7i) + (º4 º 7i) 40. (º1 º i) + (9 º 3i)
Example 4: Exs. 47–55
Example 5: Exs. 56–63 41. (8 + 5i) º (1 + 2i) 42. (2 º 6i) º (º10 + 4i)
Example 6: Exs. 64–71 43. (º0.4 + 0.9i) º (º0.6 + i) 44. (25 + 15i) º (25 º 6i)
Example 7: Exs. 72–79
45. ºi + (8 º 2i) º (5 º 9i) 46. (30 º i) º (18 + 6i) + 30i

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MULTIPLYING Write the expression as a complex number in standard form.

47. i(3 + i) 48. 4i(6 º i) 49. º10i(4 + 7i)
50. (5 + i)(8 + i) 51. (º1 + 2i)(11 º i) 52. (2 º 9i)(9 º 6i)
53. (7 + 5i)(7 º 5i) 54. (3 + 10i)2 55. (15 º 8i)2

DIVIDING Write the expression as a complex number in standard form.

8 2i º5 º 3i 3+i
56. ᎏᎏ 57. ᎏᎏ 58. ᎏᎏ 59. ᎏᎏ
1+i 1ºi 4i 3ºi
2 + 5i º7 + 6 i 兹1苶0苶 6 º i兹2苶
60. ᎏᎏ 61. ᎏᎏ 62. ᎏ 63. ᎏ
5 + 2i 9 º 4i 兹1苶0苶 º i 6 + i兹2苶
ABSOLUTE VALUE Find the absolute value of the complex number.
64. 3 º 4i 65. 5 + 12i 66. º2 º i 67. º7 + i
68. 2 + 5i 69. 4 º 8i 70. º9 + 6i 71. 兹1
苶1苶 + i兹5苶
MANDELBROT SET Tell whether the complex number c belongs to the
Mandelbrot set. Use absolute value to justify your answer.
72. c = 1 73. c = º1 74. c = ºi 75. c = º1 º i
76. c = 2 77. c = º1 + i 78. c = º0.5 79. c = 0.5i

STUDENT HELP LOGICAL REASONING In Exercises 80–85, tell whether the statement is true
or false. If the statement is false, give a counterexample.
Skills Review
For help with 80. Every complex number is an imaginary number.
disproving statements
by counterexample, 81. Every irrational number is a complex number.
see p. 927.
82. All real numbers lie on a single line in the complex plane.
83. The sum of two imaginary numbers is always an imaginary number.
84. Every real number equals its complex conjugate.
85. The absolute values of a complex number and its complex conjugate are
always equal.
86. VISUAL THINKING The graph shows how imaginary
you can geometrically add two complex 4 ⫹ 6i
numbers (in this case, 3 + 2i and 1 + 4i) to
find their sum (in this case, 4 + 6i). Find each 4i
of the following sums by drawing a graph. 1
a. (2 + i) + (3 + 5i) i 2i
3 4 real
b. (º1 + 6i) + (7 º 4i)

COMPARING REAL AND COMPLEX NUMBERS Tell whether the property is

true for (a) the set of real numbers and (b) the set of complex numbers.
87. If r, s, and t are numbers in the set, then (r + s) + t = r + (s + t).
88. If r is a number in the set and |r| = k, then r = k or r = ºk.
89. If r and s are numbers in the set, then r º s = s º r.
90. If r, s, and t are numbers in the set, then r(s + t) = rs + rt.
91. If r and s are numbers in the set, then |r + s| = |r| + |s|.

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FOCUS ON
CAREERS 92. CRITICAL THINKING Evaluate 兹º
苶4苶 • 兹º
苶9苶 and 兹3苶6苶. Does the rule
兹a苶 • 兹b苶 = 兹a苶b苶 on page 264 hold when a and b are negative numbers?
93. Writing Give both an algebraic argument and a geometric argument
explaining why the definitions of absolute value on pages 50 and 275 are
consistent when applied to real numbers.
94. EXTENSION: ADDITIVE AND MULTIPLICATIVE INVERSES The additive
inverse of a complex number z is a complex number za such that z + za = 0.
The multiplicative inverse of z is a complex number zm such that z • zm = 1.
Find the additive and multiplicative inverses of each complex number.
a. z = 1 + i b. z = 3 º i c. z = º2 + 8i

ELECTRICITY In Exercises 95 and 96, use the following information.

L
AL I
ELECTRICIAN Electrical circuits may contain several types
FE
RE

Component Symbol Z
An electrician of components such as resistors, inductors,
installs, maintains, and and capacitors. The resistance of each
repairs electrical systems. Resistor 3⍀ 3
component to the flow of electrical current is
This often involves working the component’s impedance, denoted by Z.
with the types of circuits The value of Z is a real number R for a resistor
described in Exs. 95 and 96.
Inductor 5⍀ 5i
NE
ER T of R ohms (⍀), a pure imaginary number Li
INT

CAREER LINK
for an inductor of L ohms, and a pure
www.mcdougallittell.com Capacitor º6i
imaginary number ºCi for a capacitor of 6⍀
C ohms. Examples are given in the table.

95. SERIES CIRCUITS A series circuit is a type of circuit found in switches,

fuses, and circuit breakers. In a series circuit, there is only one pathway through
which current can flow. To find the total impedance of a series circuit, add the
impedances of the components in the circuit. What is the impedance of each
series circuit shown below? (Note: The symbol denotes an alternating current
source and does not affect the calculation of impedance.)
a. 2⍀ b. 12 ⍀ c. 2⍀ 8⍀

5⍀ 8⍀ 6⍀

7⍀ 15 ⍀ 4⍀

STUDENT HELP 96. PARALLEL CIRCUITS Parallel circuits are used in household lighting and
NE
ER T appliances. In a parallel circuit, there is more than one pathway through which
HOMEWORK HELP
INT

Visit our Web site current can flow. To find the impedance Z of a parallel circuit with two pathways,
www.mcdougallittell.com first calculate the impedances Z1 and Z2 of the pathways separately by treating
for help with problem each pathway as a series circuit. Then apply this formula:
solving in Exs. 95 and 96.
Z 1Z 2
Z=ᎏ
Z1 + Z2

What is the impedance of each parallel circuit shown below?

a. b. c.
3⍀ 6⍀ 5⍀ 8⍀ 4⍀ 5⍀
Z1 Z2 Z1 Z2 Z1 Z2
4⍀ 2⍀ 3⍀ 9⍀ 2⍀ 7⍀

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Test QUANTITATIVE COMPARISON In Exercises 97–99, choose the statement that

is true about the given quantities.
Preparation
¡
A The quantity in column A is greater.
¡
B The quantity in column B is greater.
¡
C The two quantities are equal.
¡
D The relationship cannot be determined from the given information.

Column A Column B

97. |5 + 4i| |3 º 6i|

98. |º6 + 8i| |º10i|
99. |2 + bi| where b < º1 |兹3苶 + ci| where 0 < c < 1

★ Challenge 100. POWERS OF i In this exercise you will investigate a pattern that appears when
the imaginary unit i is raised to successively higher powers.
a. Copy and complete the table.

Power of i i1 i2 i3 i4 i5 i6 i7 i8
Simplified form i º1 ºi ? ? ? ? ?

b. Writing Describe the pattern you observe in the table. Verify that the
EXTRA CHALLENGE pattern continues by evaluating the next four powers of i.
www.mcdougallittell.com c. Use the pattern you described in part (b) to evaluate i 26 and i 83.

MIXED REVIEW
EVALUATING FUNCTIONS Evaluate ƒ(x) for the given value of x. (Review 2.1)
101. ƒ(x) = 4x º 1 when x = 3 102. ƒ(x) = x2 º 5x + 8 when x = º4
103. ƒ(x) = |ºx + 6| when x = 9 104. ƒ(x) = 2 when x = º30

SOLVING SYSTEMS Use an inverse matrix to solve the system. (Review 4.5)
105. 3x + y = 5 106. x + y = 2 107. x º 2y = 10
5x + 2y = 9 7x + 8y = 21 3x + 4y = 0
SOLVING QUADRATIC EQUATIONS Solve the equation. (Review 5.3 for 5.5)
108. (x + 4)2 = 1 109. (x + 2)2 = 36 110. (x º 11)2 = 25
111. º(x º 5)2 = º10 112. 2(x + 7)2 = 24 113. 3(x º 6)2 º 8 = 13
114. STATISTICS CONNECTION The table shows the cumulative number N
(in thousands) of DVD players sold in the United States from the end of
February, 1997, to time t (in months). Make a scatter plot of the data.
Approximate the equation of the best-fitting line. (Review 2.5)

t 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
N 34 69 96 125 144 178 213 269 307 347 383 416
NE
ER T
INT

DATA UPDATE of DVD Insider data at www.mcdougallittell.com

280 Chapter 5 Quadratic Functions