Complex number division

protection click fraud

You complex numbers are those that have an imaginary part, and among which we can also perform operations.

There are specific ways to solve each of them. In the case of complex number division we use the concept of the conjugate of a complex number.

Conjugated of a complex number:

Consider a complex number written in algebraic form \dpi{120} \boldsymbol{z=a +bi}, then, the conjugate of \dpi{120} \boldsymbol{z} is represented by \dpi{120} \boldsymbol{\bar{z}} and is given by:

\dpi{120} \boldsymbol{\bar{z}=a -bi}

That is, to get the conjugate, we just need to change the sign of the imaginary part of the complex number.

That said, let's learn how to divide complex numbers.

complex number division

To divide a complex number \dpi{120} \boldsymbol{z_1} by a complex number \dpi{120} \boldsymbol{z_2}, we must write the division in the form of fraction:

\dpi{120} \boldsymbol{z_1:z_2=\frac{z_1}{z_2}}

Since multiplying and dividing a fraction by the same number does not change the final result, then we divide and multiply the fraction by the conjugate of the denominator.

\dpi{120} \boldsymbol{\frac{z_1}{z_2}\cdot \frac{\bar{z_2}}{\bar{z_2}}}

We then substitute the terms and multiply the fractions.

Example: if \dpi{120} \boldsymbol{z_1=2 -3i} and \dpi{120} \boldsymbol{z_2=4 +2i}, what is the value of \dpi{120} \boldsymbol{z_1:z_2} ?

\dpi{120} \boldsymbol{\frac{z_1}{z_2}\cdot \frac{\bar{z_2}}{\bar{z_2}}}
Check out some free courses
  • Free Online Inclusive Education Course
  • instagram story viewer
  • Free Online Toy Library and Learning Course
  • Free Online Math Games Course in Early Childhood Education
  • Free Online Pedagogical Cultural Workshops Course
\dpi{120} \boldsymbol{\frac{(2-3i)}{(4+2i)}\cdot \frac{(4-2i)}{(4-2i)}}
\dpi{120} \boldsymbol{\frac{8-4i-12i+6i^2}{16-8i+8i-4i^2}}
\dpi{120} \boldsymbol{\frac{8-16i+6i^2}{16-4i^2}}

Remembering that \dpi{120} \boldsymbol{i^2 = -1}, we have:

\dpi{120} \boldsymbol{\frac{8-16i+6\cdot (-1)}{16-4\cdot (-1)}}
\dpi{120} \boldsymbol{\frac{8-16i-6}{16+4}}
\dpi{120} \boldsymbol{\frac{2-16i}{20}}
\dpi{120} \boldsymbol{\frac{2-16i}{20}}

We can simplify this result:

\dpi{120} \boldsymbol{\frac{2-16i}{20}= \frac{1}{10}-\frac{4}{5}i}

Complex number division formula

Generally speaking, for and \dpi{120} \boldsymbol{z_1=a +bi} and \dpi{120} \boldsymbol{z_2=c +di}, you can check a formula for dividing complex numbers:

\dpi{120} \boldsymbol{z_1:z_2=\frac{z_1}{z_2} = \frac{ac+bd}{c^2+d^2}+\frac{bc-ad}{c^2+ d^2}i}

You may also be interested:

  • List of Complex Number Exercises
  • List of exercises on sets
  • Fraction multiplication

The password has been sent to your email.

Teachs.ru
I can't find 70% alcohol gel: now what?

I can't find 70% alcohol gel: now what?

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, a disease caused by new coronavirus, meet 70% alcohol gel it has bee...

read more
The first world war

The first world war

To think about the history of first war we have to have the notion of continuity of important pro...

read more

The Theology of St. Augustine's History

Saint Augustine, also known as Augustine of Hippo, was one of the main philosophers Christians in...

read more
instagram viewer