Imaginary and complex numbers
Contents
Use your imagination and complexity (?) and dive into the world of complex numbers. Add, subtract, multiply, & divide complex numbers. Plot them on the complex plane and convert between rectangular and polar forms.
19 exercises available
Learn about the imaginary unit i (which is the square root of -1) and about imaginary numbers like 3i (which is the square root of -9).
Learn about complex numbers (spoiler: they are numbers that consist of both real and imaginary parts).
Learn how we can visualize complex numbers in a plane. This can be seen as an expansion of the 1-dimensional real number line into a 2-dimensional plane!
Learn how to add or subtract complex numbers. For example, write (2+3i)-(1+2i) as (1+i).
Learn how to multiply complex numbers using the fact that i^2=-1 and the distributive property. For example, multiply (1+i) by (2+3i).
Learn how to divide complex numbers using the conjugate of the divisor. For example, divide (2+3i) by (-1+4i) by multiplying both the dividend and the divisor by (-1-4i).
Learn about very important graphical features of complex numbers: their absolute value and their angle.
Learn how we define the distance of two complex numbers, and how we define their midpoint.
Learn how to represent complex numbers in a different way. Unlike rectangular form, which emphasizes the real and imaginary parts, polar form emphasizes the absolute value ("modulus") and the angle ("argument").
Learn how complex multiplication and division work when the numbers are given in polar form. Amazingly enough, this is much easier than multiplication and division in rectangular form.
This tutorial goes through a fancy problem from the IIT JEE exam in India (competitive exam for getting into their top engineering schools). Whether or not you live in India, this is a good example to test whether you are a complex number rock star.