Revision Notes on Complex Numbers

z1 = a+ib and z2 = c+id then z1 = z2 implies that a = c and b = d.

If we have a complex number z where z = a+ib, the conjugate of the complex number is denoted
by z* and is equal to a-ib. In fact, for any complex number z, its conjugate is given by z* = Re(z)
Im(z).

Division of complex numbers: The numerator as well as denominator should first be multiplied
by the conjugate of the denominator and then simplified.

Argument of a complex number:

1. Argument of a complex number p(z) is defined by the angle which OP
makes with the positive direction of x-axis.

2. Argument of z generally refers to the principal argument of z (i.e.

the argument lying in (, ) unless the context requires otherwise.

3. Hence, the argument of the complex number z = a + ib = r (cos + i

sin ) is the value of satisfying r cos = a and r sin = b.

4. The angle is given by = tan-1 |b/a|.

5. The value of argument in various quadrants is given below:

If OP = |z| and arg (z) = , then obviously z = r (cos + i sin ) and is called the polar form of
complex number z.

|(z-z1) / (z-z2)| =1 the locus of point representing z is the perpendicular bisector of line joining
z1 and z2.

-|z| Re(z) |z| and -|z| Im(z) |z|

If a and b are real numbers and z1 and z2 are complex numbers then

|az1 + bz2|2 + |bz1 - az2|2 = (a2 + b2) (|z1|2 + (|z2|2)

The distance between the complex numbers z1 and z2 is given by |z1 - z2|.

In parametric form, the equation of line joining z1 and z2 is given by z = tz1 + (1-t)z2.

If A(z1) and B(z2) are two points in the argand plane, then the complex slope of the straight
line AB is given by = (z1 - z2)/ (1 - 2).

Two lines having complex slopes 1 and 2 are:

1. Parallel iff 1 = 2

2. Perpendicular iff 1 = - 2 or 1 + 2 = 0
If A(z1), B(z2), C(z3) and D(z4) are four points in the argand plane,
then the angle between the lines AB and CD is given by = arg{(z1 -
z2)/ (z3 z4)}
Some basic properties of complex numbers:
I. ||z1| - |z2|| = |z1+z2| and |z1-z2| = |z1| + |z2| iff origin, z1, and
z2 are collinear and origin lies between z1 and z2.

II. |z1 + z2| = |z1| + |z2| and ||z1| - |z2|| = |z1-z2| iff origin, z1 and
z2 are collinear and z1 and z2 lie on the same side of origin.

III. The product of nth roots of any complex number z is z(-1)n-1.

IV. amp(zn) = n amp z

V. The least value of |z - a| + |z - b| is |a - b|.

Demoivre's Theorem: The theorem can be stated in two forms:

Case I: If n is any integer, then
(i) (cos + i sin )n = cos n + i sin n

(ii) (cos 1 + i sin 1) . (cos 2 + i sin 2) ......... (cos n + i sin

n)

= cos (1 + 2 + 3 .................. + n) + i sin (1 + 2 + .............. n)

Case II: For p and q such that q 0, we have

(cos + i sin )p/q = cos((2k + pq)/q) + isin((2k+pq/q) where k =
0,1,2,3,.....,q-1

Demoivres formula does not hold for non-integer powers.

Main application of Demoivres formula is in finding the nth roots of unity. So, if we write the
complex number z in the polar form then,

z = r(cos x + isin x)

Then z1/n = [r (cos x +i sinx )]1/n

= r 1/n [ cos (x+2k/n) + i sin (x+2k/n)]

 Here k is an integer. To get the n different roots of z one only
needs to consider values of k from 0 to n 1.

Continued product of the roots of a complex quantity should be determined using theory of
equations.

The modulus of a complex number is given by |z| = x2+y2.

The only complex number with modulus zero is the number (0, 0).

The following figures illustrate geometrically the meaning of addition and subtraction of
complex numbers:
Solved Examples on Complex Numbers
Illustration 1: The minimum value of |a+b+c2|, where a, b and c are all not equal integers
and1 is a cube root of unity, is (2005)
1. 3 2. 1/2
3. 1 4. 0
Solution: We are required to compute the value of | a+b+c2|
So, let us assume z =| a+b+c2|
Then, z2 = | a+b+c2|2
= (a2 + b2 + c2 ab bc ca)
Or z2 = 1/2 {(a-b)2 + (b-c)2 + (c-a)2} .. (1)
Since, a, b and c are all integers but not all simultaneously equal.
Hence, if a = b, then a cand b c.
Since, the difference of integers is an integer hence, (b-c)2 1{as minimum difference of two
consecutive integers is 1}
Also (c-a)21.
And we have taken a =b so (a-b)2 = 0.
From equation (1), z21/2 (0+1+1)
Hence, z2 1
Hence, minimum value of |z| is 1.

Illustration 2: If a and b are real numbers between 0 and 1 such that the points z1 = a + i, z2 = 1+bi,
z3 = 0 form an equilateral triangle then what are the values of a and b? (1990)
Solution: Since, z1, z2, z3 form an equilateral triangle
z12 + z22+ z32 = z1z2 + z2z3+ z3z1
Hence, (a+i)2 + (1+bi)2 + (0)2 = (a+i)(1+bi) + 0 + 0
a2 1 + 2ia + 1 b2 + 2ib = a + i(ab + 1) b
Hence, (a2 b2) + 2i(a+b) = (a-b) + i(ab + 1)
So, a2 b2 = a-b
And 2(a+b) = ab +1
Hence, a = b or a+b = 1
And 2 (a+b) = ab +1
If a=b, 2(2a) = a2 +1
Hence, a2 4a +1 = 0
So, a = 23
If a+b = 1,
2 = a(1-a) + 1
Hence, a2 a + 1 = 0
so, a = (11-4)/2
Since a and b both belong to R, so only solution exists when a = b
So a = b = 23.
Illustration 3: If iz3 + z2 z + i = 0, then show that |z| = 1. (1995)
Solution: Given that iz3 + z2 z + i = 0
Hence, iz3i2z2 z + i = 0
Hence, iz2 (z-i) 1(z-i) = 0
Hence, (iz2 1)(z-i) = 0
Hence, either (iz2 1) = 0 or (z-i) = 0
So, z = i or z2 = 1/i = -i
If z = i, then |z| = |i| = 1
If z2 = -I, then |z2| = |-i| = 1
Hence, |z| = 1.