Analysis of a Complex Kind

Week 1 Lecture 2: Algebra and Geometry in the Complex Plane

Petra Bonfert-Taylor

Lecture 2: Algebra and Geometry in C

Analysis of a Complex Kind

P. Bonfert-Taylor

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The Complex Plane

Complex numbers: expressions of the form z = x + iy , where
x is called the real part of z ; x = Re z , and y is called the imaginary part of z ; y = Im z .

Set of complex numbers: C (the complex plane). Real numbers: subset of the complex numbers (those whose imaginary part is zero). The complex plane can be identied with R2 .

Lecture 2: Algebra and Geometry in C

Analysis of a Complex Kind

P. Bonfert-Taylor

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Adding Complex Numbers

Denition (x + iy ) + (u + iv ) = (x + u ) +i (y + v )
z w Re(z +w ) Im(z +w )

Thus Re(z + w ) = Re z + Re w and Im(z + w ) = Im z + Im w . Graphically, this corresponds to vector addition:

Lecture 2: Algebra and Geometry in C

Analysis of a Complex Kind

P. Bonfert-Taylor

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The Modulus of a Complex Number

Denition The modulus of the complex number z = x + iy is the length of the vector z : |z | = x 2 + y 2.

Lecture 2: Algebra and Geometry in C

Analysis of a Complex Kind

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Multiplication of Complex Numbers

Motivation: (x + iy ) (u + iv ) = xu + ixv + iyu + i 2 yv So we dene: Denition (x + iy ) (u + iv ) = (xu yv ) + i (xv + yu ) C. Example: (3 + 4i )(1 + 7i ) = (3 28) + i (21 4) = 31 + 17i .

The usual properties hold:

(z1 z2 )z3 = z1 (z2 z3 ) (associative) z1 z2 = z2 z1 (commutative) z1 (z2 + z3 ) = z1 z2 + z1 z3 (distributive)
Lecture 2: Algebra and Geometry in C Analysis of a Complex Kind P. Bonfert-Taylor 5 / 11

So What is i ?

i = 0 + 1i , so i 2 = (0 + 1i )(0 + 1i ) = (0 0 1 1) + i (0 1 + 1 0) = 1. i 3 = i 2 i = 1 i = i i 4 = i 2 i 2 = (1)(1) = 1 i5 = i4 i = i i 6 = 1 . . .

Lecture 2: Algebra and Geometry in C

Analysis of a Complex Kind

P. Bonfert-Taylor

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How Do You Divide Complex Numbers?

Suppose that z = x + iy and w = u + iv . What is z w = = = = In particular: 1 1 x iy = = 2 , as long as z = 0. z x + iy x + y2
Lecture 2: Algebra and Geometry in C Analysis of a Complex Kind P. Bonfert-Taylor 7 / 11

z (for w = 0)? w

x + iy u + iv (x + iy )(u iv ) (u + iv )(u iv ) (xu + yv ) + i (xv + yu ) u 2 + v 2 + i (uv + vu ) xu + yv yu xv +i 2 . 2 2 u +v u + v2

The Complex Conjugate

Note the importance of the quantity x iy in the previous calculation! Denition If z = x + iy then z = x iy is the complex conjugate of z . Properties: z=z z +w =z +w |z | = |z | zz = (x + iy )(x iy ) = x 2 + y 2 = |z |2 1 z z = = z zz |z |2

Lecture 2: Algebra and Geometry in C

Analysis of a Complex Kind

P. Bonfert-Taylor

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More Properties of the Complex Conjugate

When is z = z ? z + z = (x + iy ) + (x iy ) = 2x , so Re z = z +z , 2 similarly Im z = z z . 2i

|z w | = |z | |w | z z = , (w = 0) w w |z | = 0 if and only if z = 0.

Lecture 2: Algebra and Geometry in C

Analysis of a Complex Kind

P. Bonfert-Taylor

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Some Inequalities

|z | Re z |z |

|z | Im z |z |

|z + w | |z | + |w | (triangle inequality)

|z w | |z | |w | (reverse triangle inequality)

Lecture 2: Algebra and Geometry in C

Analysis of a Complex Kind

P. Bonfert-Taylor

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The Fundamental Theorem of Algebra

Theorem If a0 , a1 , . . . , an are complex numbers with an = 0, then the polynomial p(z ) = an z n + an1 z n1 + + a1 z + a0 has n roots z1 , z2 , . . . zn in C. It can be factored as p(z ) = an (z z1 )(z z2 ) (z zn ). We will be able to prove this theorem later in this course! Consider the polynomial p(x ) = x 2 + 1 in R. It has no real roots! But in C it can be factored: z 2 + 1 = (z + i )(z i )!

Lecture 2: Algebra and Geometry in C

Analysis of a Complex Kind

P. Bonfert-Taylor

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