Learning Outcomes
- Express roots of negative numbers in terms of i
- Express imaginary numbers as bi and complex numbers as a+bia+bi
You really need only one new number to start working with the square roots of negative numbers. That number is the square root of −1,√−1−1,√−1. The real numbers are those that can be shown on a number line—they seem pretty real to us! When something is not real, we often say it is imaginary. So let us call this new number i and use it to represent the square root of −1−1.
i=√−1i=√−1
Because √x⋅√x=x√x⋅√x=x, we can also see that √−1⋅√−1=−1√−1⋅√−1=−1 or i⋅i=−1i⋅i=−1. We also know that i⋅i=i2i⋅i=i2, so we can conclude that i2=−1i2=−1.
i2=−1i2=−1
The number i allows us to work with roots of all negative numbers, not just √−1√−1. There are two important rules to remember: √−1=i√−1=i, and √ab=√a√b√ab=√a√b. You will use these rules to rewrite the square root of a negative number as the square root of a positive number times √−1√−1. Next you will simplify the square root and rewrite √−1√−1 as i. Let us try an example.
Example
Simplify. √−4√−4
Example
Simplify. √−18√−18
Example
Simplify. −√−72−√−72
You may have wanted to simplify −√−72−√−72 using different factors. Some may have thought of rewriting this radical as −√−9√8−√−9√8, or −√−4√18−√−4√18, or −√−6√12−√−6√12 for instance. Each of these radicals would have eventually yielded the same answer of −6i√2−6i√2.
In the following video, we show more examples of how to use imaginary numbers to simplify a square root with a negative radicand.
Rewriting the Square Root of a Negative Number
- Find perfect squares within the radical.
- Rewrite the radical using the rule √ab=√a⋅√b√ab=√a⋅√b.
- Rewrite √−1√−1 as i.
Example: √−18=√9√−2=√9√2√−1=3i√2√−18=√9√−2=√9√2√−1=3i√2
Complex Numbers
A complex number is the sum of a real number and an imaginary number. A complex number is expressed in standard form when written a + bi where a is the real part and bi is the imaginary part. For example, 5+2i5+2i is a complex number. So, too, is 3+4i√33+4i√3.
Imaginary numbers are distinguished from real numbers because a squared imaginary number produces a negative real number. Recall, when a positive real number is squared, the result is a positive real number and when a negative real number is squared, again, the result is a positive real number. Complex numbers are a combination of real and imaginary numbers. You can use the usual operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and so on) with imaginary numbers. You will see more of that later.
Complex Number | Real Part | Imaginary Part |
---|---|---|
3+7i3+7i | 33 | 7i7i |
18–32i18–32i | 1818 | −32i−32i |
−35+i√2−35+i√2 | −35−35 | i√2i√2 |
√22−12i√22−12i | √22√22 | −12i−12i |
In a number with a radical as part of b, such as −35+i√2−35+i√2 above, the imaginary i should be written in front of the radical. Though writing this number as −35+√2i−35+√2i is technically correct, it makes it much more difficult to tell whether i is inside or outside of the radical. Putting it before the radical, as in −35+i√2−35+i√2, clears up any confusion. Look at these last two examples.
Number | Complex Form: a+bia+bi |
Real Part | Imaginary Part |
---|---|---|---|
1717 | 17+0i17+0i | 1717 | 0i0i |
−3i−3i | 0–3i0–3i | 00 | −3i−3i |
By making b=0b=0, any real number can be expressed as a complex number. The real number a is written as a+0ia+0i in complex form. Similarly, any imaginary number can be expressed as a complex number. By making a=0a=0, any imaginary number bibi can be written as 0+bi0+bi in complex form.
Example
Write 83.683.6 as a complex number.
Example
Write −3i−3i as a complex number.
In the next video, we show more examples of how to write numbers as complex numbers.
Summary
Complex numbers have the form a+bia+bi, where a and b are real numbers and i is the square root of −1−1. All real numbers can be written as complex numbers by setting b=0b=0. Imaginary numbers have the form bi and can also be written as complex numbers by setting a=0a=0. Square roots of negative numbers can be simplified using √−1=i√−1=i and √ab=√a√b√ab=√a√b.
Candela Citations
- Write Number in the Form of Complex Numbers. Authored by: James Sousa (Mathispower4u.com) for Lumen Learning. Located at: https://youtu.be/mfoOYdDkuyY. License: CC BY: Attribution
- Simplify Square Roots to Imaginary Numbers. Authored by: James Sousa (Mathispower4u.com) for Lumen Learning. Located at: https://youtu.be/LSp7yNP6Xxc. License: CC BY: Attribution