Elementary Properties of Complex Numbers

Elementary properties of Complex numbers
Lecture 1 Complex Analysis

Application of Complex Analysis
Why do we need Complex Analysis?

Evaluation of certain integrals which are difficult to workout. Viz.
Z ∞
sin x π
dx = .
0 x 2
Fourier Analysis.
Differential Equations.
Number Theory.
All major branches of Mathematics which is applicable in science and
engineering.

Introduction
Let us consider the quadratic equation x 2 + 1 = 0.

It has no real root.
Let i(iota) be the solution of the above equation, then
√
i 2 = −1 i.e. i = −1.
i is not a real number. So we define it as imaginary number.
A complex number is defined by z = x + iy , for any x, y ∈ R.
Complex analysis is theory of functions of complex numbers.

Complex Numbers
A complex number denoted by z is an ordered pair (x, y ) with x ∈ R,

y ∈ R.
x is called real part of z and y is called the imaginary part of z. In
symbol x = Re z, and y = Im z.
We denote i = (0, 1) and hence z = x + iy where the element x is
identified with (x, 0).
Re z = Im iz and Im z = −Re iz.
By C we denote the set of all complex numbers, that is,
C = {z : z = x + iy , x ∈ R, y ∈ R}.

Algebra of Complex Numbers
Let z1 = x1 + iy1 and z2 = x2 + iy2 be two complex numbers.
Addition and subtraction: We define
z1 ± z2 = (x1 ± x2 ) + i(y1 ± y2 ).
Multiplication: We define
z1 z2 = (x1 + iy1 )(x2 + iy2 ) = (x1 x2 − y1 y2 ) + i(x1 y2 + x2 y1 ).
Since i = (0, 1) it follows from above that i 2 = −1.

Division: If z a nonzero complex number then we define
1 1 x − iy
= = 2 .
z x + iy x + y2
From this we get
x1 + iy1 (x1 + iy1 )(x2 − iy2 ) (x1 x2 + y1 y2 ) + i(x2 y1 − x1 y2 )
= = .
x2 + iy2 (x2 + iy2 )(x2 − iy2 ) x2 2 + y2 2

Basic algebraic properties of Complex Numbers
Let z1 , z2 , z3 ∈ C.
Commutative and associative law for addition : z1 + z2 = z2 + z1 . and
z1 + (z2 + z3 ) = (z1 + z2 ) + z3 .
Additive identity : z + 0 = 0 + z = z ∀ z ∈ C
Additive inverse : For every z ∈ C there exists −z ∈ C such that
z + (−z) = 0 = (−z) + z.
Commutative and associative law for multiplication : z1 z2 = z2 z1 . and
z1 (z2 z3 ) = (z1 z2 )z3 .
Multiplicative identity : z · 1 = z = 1 · z ∀ z ∈ C
Multiplicative inverse : For every nonzero z ∈ C there exists
w (= z1 ) ∈ C such that zw = 1 = wz.
Distributive law : z1 (z2 + z3 ) = z1 z2 + z1 z3 .
Note: C is a field.

Conjugate of a Complex Number
If z = x + iy is a complex number then its conjugate is defined by z̄ = x − iy .

Conjugation has the following properties which follows easily from the
definition. Let z1 , z2 ∈ C then,
Re z = 21 (z + z̄) and Im z = 1
2i
(z − z̄).
z1 + z2 = z¯1 + z¯2 .
z1 z2 = z¯1 z¯2
Note: If α ∈ R then αz = αz̄).
z̄¯ = z
Re z = Re z̄ and Im z = −Im z̄.

Modulus of a Complex Number
The modulus or absolute value of a complex number z = x + iy is a non

negative real number denoted by |z| and defined by
p
|z| = x 2 + y 2 .
Note that if z = x + iy then |z| is the Euclidean distance of the point (x, y )
from the origin (0, 0).
Exercise: Verify the following properties.
zz̄ = |z|2 .
|x| = |Re z| ≤ |z| and |y | = |Im z| ≤ |z|

z1 |z1 |
|z̄| = |z|, |z1 z2 | = |z1 ||z2 | and = (z2 6= 0).
z2 |z2 |
|z1 + z2 | ≤ |z1 | + |z2 |(Triangle inequality).
||z1 | − |z2 || ≤ |z1 − z2 |

Graphical representation of Complex Numbers

We can represent the complex number z = x + iy by a position vector in
the XY −plane whose tail is at the origin and head is at the point (x, y ).
When XY −plane is used for displaying complex numbers, it is called
Argand plane or Complex plane or z plane.
The X -axis is called as the real axis where as the Y -axis is called as the
imaginary axis.

Graph the complex

numbers:
1. 3 + 4i (3,4)
2. 2 - 3i (2,-3)
3. -4 + 2i (-4,2)
4. 3 (which is really 3 + 0i) (3,0)
5. 4i (which is really 0 + 4i) (0,4)
The complex number

is represented by the
point or by the vector
from the origin to the
point.

Add 3 + 4i and -4 + 2i
graphically.
Graph the two complex

numbers 3 + 4i and -4 +
2i as vectors.
Create a parallelogram
using these two vectors
as adjacent sides.
The sum of 3 + 4i and -4

+ 2i is represented by the
diagonal of the
parallelogram (read
from the origin).
This new (diagonal)

vector is called the
resultant vector.

Subtract 3 + 4i from -2 + 2i
Subtraction is the process

of adding the additive
inverse.
(-2 + 2i) - (3 + 4i)
= (-2 + 2i) + (-3 - 4i)
= (-5 - 2i)
Graph the two complex

numbers as vectors.
Graph the additive inverse

of the number being
subtracted.
Create a parallelogram
using the first number and
the additive inverse. The
answer is the vector
forming the diagonal of the
parallelogram.

Polar representation of Complex Numbers
Consider the unit circle on the complex plane. Any point on the unit
circle is represented by (cos ϕ, sin ϕ), ϕ ∈ [0, 2π].
z
Any non zero z ∈ C, the point lies on the unit circle and therefore we
|z|
z
write = cos ϕ + i sin ϕ. i.e. z = |z|(cos ϕ + i sin ϕ).
|z|
The symbol e iϕ is defined by means of Euler’s formula as
e iϕ = cos ϕ + i sin ϕ.
Note that e i2nπ = 1 for any integer n.

Polar representation of Complex Numbers
Any non z = x + iy can be uniquely specified by its magnitude(length

from origin) and direction(the angle it makes with positive X −axis).
p
Let r = |z| = x 2 + y 2 and θ be the angle made by the line from origin
to the point (x, y ) with the positive X −axis.
From the above figure x = r cos θ, y = r sin θ and θ = tan−1 ( yx ).

Polar representation of a Complex Number
If z 6= 0 then arg(z) = {θ : z = |z|e iθ }.

Note that arg(z) is a multi-valued function.
arg(z) = {θ + 2nπ : z = re iθ , n ∈ Z}.
For any given z 6= 0 there exists a unique θ ∈ (−π, π] such that

z = |z|e iθ . This θ is called principal value of arg(z), denoted by Arg(z)
π π
For example, arg i = 2kπ + 2
, k ∈ Z, where as Arg i = 2
.
Let z1 = r1 e iθ1 , z2 = r2 e iθ2 then z1 z2 = r1 r2 e i(θ1 +θ2 ) .
If z1 6= 0 and z2 6= 0, arg(z1 z2 ) = arg(z1 ) + arg(z2 ).
As |e iθ | = 1, ∀ θ ∈ R, it follows that |z1 z2 | = |z1 ||z2 |.

De Moiver’s formula
De Moiver’s formula:
z n = [r (cos θ + i sin θ)]n = r n (cos nθ + i sin nθ).
Problem: Given a nonzero complex number z0 and a natural number

n ∈ N. Find all distinct complex numbers w such that z0 = w n .
1
If w satisfies the above then |w | = |z0 | n . So, if z0 = |z0 |(cos θ + i sin θ)
we try to find α such that
1
|z0 |(cos θ + i sin θ) = [|z0 | n (cos α + i sin α)]n .
By De Moiver’s formula cos θ = cos nα and sin θ = sin nα, that is,
nα = θ + 2kπ ⇒ α = θn + 2kπn
. The distinct values of w is given by
1 θ+2kπ θ+2kπ
|z0 | n (cos n
+ i sin n
), for, k = 0, 1, 2, . . . , n − 1.

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Elementary properties of Complex numbers

Lecture 1 Complex Analysis

Why do we need Complex Analysis?

Lecture 1 Complex Analysis

Let us consider the quadratic equation x 2 + 1 = 0.

Lecture 1 Complex Analysis

A complex number denoted by z is an ordered pair (x, y ) with x ∈ R,

Lecture 1 Complex Analysis

z1 z2 = (x1 + iy1 )(x2 + iy2 ) = (x1 x2 − y1 y2 ) + i(x1 y2 + x2 y1 ).

Since i = (0, 1) it follows from above that i 2 = −1.

Lecture 1 Complex Analysis

Lecture 1 Complex Analysis

If z = x + iy is a complex number then its conjugate is defined by z̄ = x − iy .

Lecture 1 Complex Analysis

The modulus or absolute value of a complex number z = x + iy is a non

Lecture 1 Complex Analysis

Graphical representation of Complex Numbers

Lecture 1 Complex Analysis

Graph the complex

4. 3 (which is really 3 + 0i) (3,0)

5. 4i (which is really 0 + 4i) (0,4)

The complex number

Lecture 1 Complex Analysis

Graph the two complex

The sum of 3 + 4i and -4

This new (diagonal)

Lecture 1 Complex Analysis

Subtraction is the process

Graph the two complex

Graph the additive inverse

Lecture 1 Complex Analysis

Note that e i2nπ = 1 for any integer n.

Lecture 1 Complex Analysis

Any non z = x + iy can be uniquely specified by its magnitude(length

Lecture 1 Complex Analysis

If z 6= 0 then arg(z) = {θ : z = |z|e iθ }.

arg(z) = {θ + 2nπ : z = re iθ , n ∈ Z}.

For any given z 6= 0 there exists a unique θ ∈ (−π, π] such that

Lecture 1 Complex Analysis

z n = [r (cos θ + i sin θ)]n = r n (cos nθ + i sin nθ).

Problem: Given a nonzero complex number z0 and a natural number

Lecture 1 Complex Analysis

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