Difference between revisions of "Complex number"

(Simple Example)
(Simple Example)
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== Simple Example ==
 
== Simple Example ==
  
If <math>z=a+bi</math> and <math>w=c+di</math>,
+
If <math>z=a+bi</math> and <math>w = c+di</math>,
  
 
* <math>\mathrm{Re}(z)=a</math>,<math>\mathrm{Im}(z)=b</math>
 
* <math>\mathrm{Re}(z)=a</math>,<math>\mathrm{Im}(z)=b</math>

Revision as of 17:51, 22 June 2006

The set of complex numbers is denoted by $\mathbb{C}$. The set of complex numbers contains the set $\mathbb{R}$ of the real numbers but is much wider. Every complex numbers has a real part, denoted by $\Re$ or simply $\mathrm{Re}$, and a imaginary part, denoted by $\Im$ or simply $\mathrm{Im}$. So if $z\in \mathbb C$, we can write $z=\mathrm{Re}(z)+i\mathrm{Im}(z)$ where $i$ is the imaginary unit.

As you can see, complex numbers enable us to remove the restriction of $x\ge 0$ for the domain of $f(x)=\sqrt{x}$.

The letters $z$ and $\omega$ are usually used to denote complex numbers.

Operations

  • Addition
  • Subtraction
  • Multiplication
  • Division
  • Absolute value/Modulus/Magnitude (denoted by $|z|$). This is the distance from the origin to the complex number when graphed.

Simple Example

If $z=a+bi$ and $w = c+di$,

  • $\mathrm{Re}(z)=a$,$\mathrm{Im}(z)=b$
  • $|z|=\sqrt{a^2+b^2}$
  • $\mathrm{Re}(w)=c$,$\mathrm{Im}(w)=d$
  • $|w|=\sqrt{c^2+d^2}$
  • $z+w=(a+c)+(b+d)i$
  • $z-w=(a-c)+(b-d)i$

Topics

See also