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A complex number z is of the form x + yi where x, y . x is called the real part of z,

denoted by Re(z). y is called the imaginary part of z, denoted by Im(z).

Rules of arithmetic in the complex number system

Given that z1 = x1 + y1i and z2 = x2 + y2i are two complex numbers and k ,
(a) z1 = z2 x1 = x2 and y1 = y2
(b) z1 + z2 = (x1 + x2) + (y1 + y2)i
(c) z1 z2 = (x1 x2) + (y1 y2)i
(d) kz1 = kx1 + ky1i
(e) z1z2 = (x1x2 y1y2) + (x1y2 + y1x2 )i

Given z = x + yi, we dene the conjugate of z, denoted by z* or z to be z* = x yi. The

conjugate pair of z and z* has the following properties.
(a) z + z* = 2Re(z)
(b) z z* = 2Im(z)i
(c) zz* = x2 + y2
(d) (z*)* = z

Within the complex number system, the roots of the equation z2 = a + bi, where a, b , exist
and are called the square roots of a + bi.

We can represent complex numbers in a plane called the z-plane or the complex plane with a
horizontal real axis and a vertical imaginary axis. The resulting diagram is called an Argand
diagram. If z = x + yi is a complex number, we associate it with a point P(x, y) in the plane.

For any z , k , the point Q representing kz lies on the straight line passing through the
origin O and the point P representing z.

We use the Parallelogram Rule to locate the position of the point representing the sum (or
difference) of two complex numbers, as shown in the diagrams below.
y
y

P = z1 + z2

P1 = z1

Q = z1 z2

P1 = z1
P2 = z2

P2 = z2
O

Let the point P(x, y) represent the complex number z = x + yi. Then z = r (cos + i sin )
is called the trigonometric form, modulus argument form or polar form of the complex
number z. Note that r =

x 2 + y 2 is called the modulus of z, denoted by z and is called

the argument of z, denoted by arg z.

y
P(x,y)
r

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The exponential form of a complex number z = x + yi is z = r ei, where z = r and arg z = .

A unit complex number is a complex number whose modulus is 1.

Let z1 = r1(cos 1 + i sin 1 ) and z2 = r2(cos 2 + i sin 2 ). Then

and

z1z2 = r1r2[cos (1 + 2) + i sin (1 + 2 )]

r
z1
= 1 [cos (1 2) + i sin (1 2 )].
r2
z2

Properties of moduli and arguments

z1
z2

z1

(a) z1z2 = z1 z2

(b)

(c) arg (z1z2) = arg z1 + arg z2

z
(d) arg 1 = arg z1 arg z2
z

z2

De Moivres theorem
If z = r (cos + i sin ) and n +, then zn = rn(cos n + i sin n ).

If z is a complex variable, z0 a xed complex number and k a real constant, then z z0 = k is

the equation of a circle with centre z0 and radius k.

If z is a complex variable, z0 and z1 are two xed complex numbers, then z z0 = z z1 is

the equation of the perpendicular bisector of the line joining z0 and z1.

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