INTRODUCTION TO COMPLEX NUMBERS – EXAMPLES AND

PRACTICE PROBLEMS

KYLE BRODER

Abstract. A complex number is an expression of the form

z = x + iy,
√
where x, y ∈ R. Here, we denote by i := −1 the imaginary unit. We call x the real part
of z, and y the imaginary part of z.

§1. Examples – Basics with i

√
Using the definition that −1 = i, we can build some useful relations. Such as
√
i = −1
√
i2 = ( −1)2 = −1
√ √
i3 = ( −1) × ( −1)2 = −i
√ √
i4 = ( −1)2 × ( −1)2 = 1

Example 1.1. Write the following expressions in terms of i

√
a. −4.
Solution. We have
√ √ √ √
−4 = 4 × −1 = 4 × −1 = 2i.

√
b. − −16.
Solution. We have
√ √ √ √
− −16 = − 16 × −1 = − 16 × −1 = −4i.

√
c. −5.
Solution. We have
√ √ √ √ √
−5 = 5 × −1 = 5 × −1 = 5i.

1
2 KYLE BRODER

Example 1.2. Write down the real and imaginary component for each of the following
complex numbers.
a. z = 1 − 2i.
Solution. Re(z) = 1, Im(z) = −2. 
3
b. z = 2 − i.
5
3
Solution. Re(z) = 2, Im(z) = − . 
5
(c) z = i.
Solution. Re(z) = 0, Im(z) = 1. 

Example 1.3. Simplify the expression

i
i5 + 3i2 − 4 + .
2
Solution.
i i
i5 + 3i2 − 4 + = i4 · i + 3i2 − 4 +
2 2
i
= (1) · i + 3 · (−1) − 4 +
2
i
= i−3−4+
2
3i
= − 7.
2


§1. Exercises – Basics with i

Q1. Simplify the following expressions in terms of i

√ √ √
a. −9 b. −4 c. −16
√ √ √
d. −8 e. −18 f. −17

Q2. Simplify the following expressions in terms of i

a. i3 − 4i2 b. i4 + i3 − 2i c. 2i2 − 3i + 1

i
d. i7 − 3 + i6 e. i2 (i − 3) f. i2 + i3 + i9

Q3. Determine the real and imaginary components of the complex numbers simplified in
question 2.
 INTRODUCTION TO COMPLEX NUMBERS – EXAMPLES AND PRACTICE PROBLEMS 3

Q4. Determine

Re(i3 − 7i2 + 2 + i8 )

Q5. Determine

Im(i4 + i2 − 5 + i8 + i2 (i3 ))

Q6. Suppose that z1 , z2 ∈ C. Determine whether z1 · z2 ∈ C. What about z1 + z2 ? Prove

or provide a counterexample.

§2. Examples – Operations with complex numbers

Example 2.1. Let z1 = 1 + 2i and z2 = 3 − i. Compute

a. z1 + z2 .
Solution. Write

1 + 2i + 3 − i = (1 + 3) + (2 − 1)i
= 4 + i.


b. z1 − z2 .
Solution. We simply write

(1 + 2i) − (3 − i) = 1 + 2i − 3 + i
= (1 − 3) + (2 + 1)i
= −2 + 3i.


c. 2z1 − 3z2 .
Solution. We simply write

2(1 + 2i) − 3(3 − i) = 2 + 4i − 9 + 3i

= (2 − 9) + (3 + 4)i
= −7 + 7i.


4 KYLE BRODER

Example 2.2. Let z1 = 2 − i and z2 = 5 + i. Compute

a. z1 · z2 .
Solution. We have

(2 − i) · (5 + i) = 10 + 2i − 5i − i2
= 10 + 2i − 5i + 1
= 11 − 3i.


b. (z1 )2 .
Solution. We have

(2 − i)2 = (2 − i) × (2 − i)
= 4 − 2i − 2i + i2
= 4 − 2i − 2i − 1
= 3 − 4i.

Example 2.3. Solve the equation

(1 + i)(2x − yi) = 11 − 3i,

for x, y ∈ R.

Solution.

(1 + i)(2x − yi) = 11 − 3i
2x − yi + 2xi − yi2 = 11 − 3i
(2x + y) + (2x − y)i = 11 − 3i.

By then equating real and imaginary parts, we see that 2x + y = 11 and 2x − y = −3. Solving
these simultaneous equations, we have x = 2 and y = 7. 

Example 2.4. Write the complex conjugate for each of the following complex numbers
a. z = 5 + i.
Solution. z̄ = 5 − i. 
b. z = 2 − i.
Solution. z̄ = 2 + i. 
 INTRODUCTION TO COMPLEX NUMBERS – EXAMPLES AND PRACTICE PROBLEMS 5

Example 2.5. Let z1 = 2 + 3i and z2 = 1 + i. Evaluate the following

z1
a. .
z2
Solution.
2 + 3i 2 + 3i 1 − i
= ·
1+i 1+i 1−i
2 − 2i + 3i − 3i2
=
1 − i + i − i2
2 − 2i + 3i + 3
=
1+1
5+i
=
2
5 1
= + i.
2 2

z2
b. .
z1
Solution.
1+i 1 + i 2 − 3i
= ·
2 + 3i 2 + 3i 2 − 3i
2 − 3i + 2i − 3i2
=
3 − 6i + 6i − 9i2
2 − 3i + 2i + 3
=
3+9
5−i
=
12
5 1
= − i.
12 12


§2. Exercises – Operations with Complex Numbers

Q1. Evaluate the following expressions

a. (1 + 2i) + (2 − 3i) b. (2 + i) + (1 + i) c. (3 − i) + (2i + 1)

d. (1 − i) − (2 + 3i) e. (2 + i) − (2 − i) f. (7 − 2i) − (3 + 9i)

Q2. Evaluate the following expressions

a. (1 + i) · (1 − 2i) b. (4 − 3i) · (2 + i) c. (5 − 2i) · (4 + 4i)

6 KYLE BRODER

d. (3 − 3i) · (3 + 2i) e. (1 + 3i) · (1 − 3i) f. (2 + 2i) · (4 + 3i)

Q3. Determine the complex conjugates for each of the following

a. 1 + i b. 2 − 5i c. 5 + 6i

d. 2 + 3i e. 2i + 1 f. 4i − 9

Q4. Evaluate the following expressions

3+i 2−i 1 − 3i
a. b. c.
1−i 2+i 1 + 5i

2 1 + 2i 3i
d. e. f.
3−i 4i + 1 2+i

Q5. Determine
!
2 + i3 − 7i5 + 6
Re
i2 − 1 + 2i5

Q6. Determine
!
4i4 + 7i3 − 6i + 1
Im
2 − 3i3 + i

Q7. Let z1 = 4 − 9i and z2 = 3 + i. Evaluate

z1 + z2 3z2
− .
z 1 · z1 2z1 + z22

§3. Examples – The Argand Diagram and Polar Form

Example 3.1. Sketch the following on an Argand diagram.

a. z = 1 + 2i
b. z = −i
c. z = −1 + 21 i
 INTRODUCTION TO COMPLEX NUMBERS – EXAMPLES AND PRACTICE PROBLEMS 7

Imz

1 + 2i

−1 + 12 i
Rez

−i

Solution.


Example 3.2. Calculate the modulus r for each of the following complex numbers.
a. z = 1 + 2i.
Solution. We have
p
r = 12 + 22
√
= 1+4
√
r = 5.


b. z = −2 − 3i.
Solution.
p
r = (−2)2 + (−3)2
√
= 4+9
√
r = 13.

Example 3.3. Calculate the argument θ for each of the following complex numbers, express
in terms of the principal argument θ ∈ (π, π].
√
a. z = 1 − 3i.
8 KYLE BRODER

Solution.
√ !
− 3
θ = tan−1
1
−π
= ,
3
where the last line follows from the fact that z lies in the fourth quadrant. 
[Solution.]
(b) z = −2 − 2i.
Solution.
!
−2
θ = tan−1
−2
= tan−1 (1)
−3π
= ,
4
where the last line follows from the fact that z lies in the third quadrant. 

Example 3.4. Express the following complex numbers in polar form, with principal argu-
ment.
a. z = 4 + 4i.
Solution.
p
r = 42 + 4 2
√
= 16 + 16
√
= 32
√
= 4 2
!
4
θ = tan−1
4
= tan−1 (1)
π
=
4
√ π
z = 4 2ei 4 .


√
b. z = 2 3 + 2i.
 INTRODUCTION TO COMPLEX NUMBERS – EXAMPLES AND PRACTICE PROBLEMS 9

Solution.
q √
r = (2 3)2 + 22
√
= 12 + 4
√
= 16
= 4 !
2
θ = tan−1 √
2 3
!
1
= tan−1 √
3
π
=
6
π
z = 4ei 6 .


Example 3.5. Convert the following complex numbers from polar form to cartesian form.
π
a. z = 2ei 3 .
Solution.
π
π  π 
2ei 3 = 2 cos + 2i sin
3 3
  √ !
1 3
= 2· + 2i ·
2 2
√
= 1 + 3i.

b. z = 3eiπ .
Solution.
eiπ = cos(π) + i sin(π)
= −1 + 0i
= −1.


§3.3. Exercises – Polar Form

Q1. Determine the modulus |z| for each of the following

10 KYLE BRODER

a. z = 1 + 2i b. z = 3 + 4i c. 1 − i

d. 2 + 2i e. 3 − i f. 1 − 7i

Q2. Determine the argument θ for each of the following

√
a. z = 1 + i b. z = 1 − 3i c. z = 2 − 2i
√ √ √ √ √
d. z = 6 + 2i e. z = 3 − i f. z = 7 + 7i

Q3. Write each of the complex numbers from Q2 in polar form.

Q4. Convert each of the following to cartesian form.
π π
a. z = 2ei 3 b. z = 3ei 6 c. z = eiπ
2π 5π
d. z = 31 ei0 e. z = 52 ei 3 f. z = 2ei 6

Q5. Determine the modulus of the complex number

z z
2 + ,
|z| |z|2
where z = 1 + 3i.
Q6. Prove that if z ∈ C is a complex number, then
|z| = |z| .
√ √
Q7. Let z = −3 − 3i and w = − 2 + i 6. Express in polar form

a. zw. z
b. .
w
Q8. Write the following complex numbers in cartesian form.
π π √
a. z = 2ei 4 . b. z = 3e−i 2 . c. z = 5ei2π .

§4. Examples – Operations in Polar Form

π π
Example 4.1. Let z1 = 2ei 3 and z2 = 3ei 4 . Compute the following in polar form.
a. z1 · z2 .
Solution.
π π
z1 · z2 = 2ei 3 × 3ei 4
π π
= 2 · 3ei 3 + 4
7π
z1 · z2 = 6ei 12 .

 INTRODUCTION TO COMPLEX NUMBERS – EXAMPLES AND PRACTICE PROBLEMS 11

z1
b. z2 .
Solution.
π
z1 2ei 3
= π
z2 3ei 4
2 iπ−π
= e 3 4
3
z1 2 iπ
= e 12 .
z2 3

π
Example 4.4.2. Let z1 = 2ei 4 . Compute the following in the polar form.
a. z 4 .
Solution.
π
z 4 = 24 ei4· 4
= 16eiπ


b. z5.
Solution.
π
z 5 = 25 ei5· 4
5π
= 32ei 4

−3π
= 32ei 4 .


1
c. z .2

Solution.
1 1 1 π
z2 = 2 2 ei 2 · 4
√ iπ
= 2e 8 .

Waffle. After introducing the notion of polar form, representing a complex number in terms
of its distance from the origin and the angle it makes with the horizontal axis, it logically
follows how we can rotate complex numbers.
† Multiplying any complex number by −1 or i2 rotates the complex number by π in the
anti-clockwise direction.
12 KYLE BRODER

3π
† Multiplying a complex number by −i or i3 rotates the complex number by 2 in the
anti-clockwise direction or π2 in the clockwise direction.

§4. Exercises – Operations in Polar Form

π π
Q1. Consider the complex numbers z1 = 2ei 2 and z2 = ei 3 . Compute the following
a. z1 × z2
b. z1 ÷ z2
c. z2 ÷ z1
2π π
Q2. Consider the complex numbers z3 = 31 ei 3 and z4 = 23 ei 2 . Compute the following
a. z3 × z4
b. zz43
c. zz43
Q3. For the complex numbers z1 and z2 in Q1, compute the following
a. (z1 )2
b. (z2 )3
c. (z1 )2 · (z2 )3
Q4. Express the following in cartesian form
!3
i π9
z= 2e

Q5. Express the following in cartesian form

√
(1 − 3i)3
(2 − 2i)2
π
Q6. Consider the complex number z = 4ei 6 . Compute the following in polar form
a. z1
√
b. z
Q7. Evaluate
√
z = (1 + i 3)5 .

Q8. Evaluate
z = (−2 + 2i)4 .

Q9. Evaluate
√ √
z = ( 2 − i 6)7 .
 INTRODUCTION TO COMPLEX NUMBERS – EXAMPLES AND PRACTICE PROBLEMS 13

1. §5. Examples – Polynomials over C.

Fundamental Theorem of Algebra. A polynomial p(z) of degree n will have n roots1 in

the complex plane C.

For example, the polynomial z 4 + 2z 3 + z 2 + 6z − 5 has 4 roots in C or (z − 3)(z 2 + 8) has 1

root in R and 3 roots in C.

Conjugate Root Theorem. Let p(z) be a polynomial in C with real coefficients. If p(z)
has a root z = a + bi then z̄ = a − bi is also a root of p(z).

Example 5.1. p(z) = z 3 − 5z 2 + 4z + 10 has a root z = 3 + i. Determine the other two roots
using the appropriate theorems.

Solution. Given that z = 3 + i is a root of the equation p(z) = 0, the conjugate root theorem
tells us that z = 3 − i is also a root of the equation p(z) = 0. We can therefore obtain the
following quadratic equation

(z − 3 − i) · (z − 3 + i) = z 2 − 3z + zi − 3z + 9 − 3i − zi + 3i + 1
= z 2 − 6z + 10

We can then use polynomial long division to express

z 3 − 5z 2 + 4z + 10
z 2 − 6z + 10
as a proper fraction with a remainder. The remainder is determined to be z + 11. Therefore
the roots of the equation p(z) = 0 are z = 3 + i, z = 3 − i and z = −11. Hence, by the
fundamental theorem of algebra, we know that there are only 3 roots to this equation. 

Example 5.2. Solve the following equation z 2 + (−1 + i)z − i = 0 over R and over C.

Solution.
p
(1 − i) ± (−1 + i)2 − 4(1)(−i)
z =
2
√
1 − i ± 1 − 2i − 1 + 4i
=
2
√
1 − i ± 2i
= .
2
So we have no solutions over R and two solutions over C. 

1Recall that a root of a polynomial p is a solution to the equation p(z) = 0.

14 KYLE BRODER

Example 5.3. Consider the polynomial p(z) = z 3 + az 2 + bz + 1, where a and b are real
constants. If z = i is a root, find the values of a, b ∈ R.

Solution. If z = i is a root, then we see that

p(i) = 0 =⇒ i3 + ai2 + bi + 1 = 0
=⇒ −i − a + bi + 1 = 0
=⇒ (1 − a) + i(b − 1) = 0.

So a = 1 and b = 1. 

Example 5.4. Find the 4 roots of z = 1 − i.

Solution.

z4 = 1 − i
√ i −π
= 2e 4
1 −π 2kπ
z = 2 8 ei 16 + 4 , k∈Z
1
i −π
z1 = 2 e 8 16

1 −π 2π
z2 = 2 8 ei 16 + 4

1 7π
= 2 8 ei 16
1 π
z3 = 2 8 ei 16
1 −7π
z4 = 2 8 e i 16 .

Where the last two lines follow from the conjugate root theorem. 

Example 5.5. Find the 5 roots of −1.

 INTRODUCTION TO COMPLEX NUMBERS – EXAMPLES AND PRACTICE PROBLEMS 15

Solution.
z 5 = −1
−π
z 5 = ei 2

−π 2kπ
z = ei 10 + 5 , k∈Z
i −π
z1 = e 10

−π 4π
z2 = ei 10 + 10
3π
= ei 10
−π 8π
z3 = ei 10 + 10
7π
= ei 10
−π 4π
z4 = ei 10 − 10
−π
= ei 2

−π −8π
z5 = ei 10 − 10

−9π
= ei 10 .


§5. Exercises – Polynomials over C

Q1. Solve the following equations for z ∈ C.

a. z 2 − 5z + 6 = 0. d. z 2 + 2z + 3 = 0.
b. z 2 + 2z + 1 = 0. e. z 2 + 149 = 14z.
√
c. z 2 + 1 = 0. f. 4z 2 − 32z = −4.

Q2. Determine the three roots of the following complex numbers.

a. z 3 = 1. c. z 3 = i.
b. z 3 = −i. d. z 3 = 2i.

Q3. Determine the four roots of the complex number

√ √
z = 2 − i 6,
in polar form.
Q4. Determine the five roots of the complex number
√
z = 3 − i,
in polar form.
16 KYLE BRODER

Q5. Suppose that p(z) = z 3 − z 2 − z + λ, for some λ ∈ C. Determine the value of λ if

√ !
1 3
p − +i = 0.
2 2
Q6. Suppose that p(z) = z 4 − 2z 3 + λz − 9, for some λ ∈ C. Determine the value of λ is
√
p(1 + i 2) = 0.
Q7. Suppose that p(z) = z 4 + az 3 + bz − 1, for some a, b ∈ C. Determine the values of a
√
and b if z = i and z = 1 + 2 are roots of p.
Q8. Suppose that p(z) = z 4 − λz 2 + 6z + µ, for some µ, λ ∈ C. Determine the value of µ
and λ if p(2) = 0 and p(1 − i) = 0.
Q9. Let 1, ζ1 , ζ2 denote the three roots of unity. Show that
a. ζ1 = ζ2 = ζ22 .
b. ζ1 + ζ2 = −1.
c. ζ1 ζ2 = 1.

2. Answers

4.1 - An Introduction to Complex Num- Q4. 10.

bers. Q5. 1.
Q6. See Worked Solutions.
Q1. a. 3i.
b. 2i. 4.2 - Elementary Operations in C.
c. 4i. Q1. a. z = 3 − i.
√
d. 2 2i. b. z = 3 + 2i.
√
e. 3 2i. c. z = 4 + i.
√
f. 17i. d. z = −1 − 4i.
Q2. a. 4 − i. e. z = 2i.
b. 1 − 3i. f. z = 4 − 11i.
c. −1 − 3i. Q2. a. z = 3 − i.
d. −1 − 34 i. b. z = 11 − 2i.
e. 3 − i. c. z = 28 + 12i.
f. −1. d. z = 15 − 3i.
Q3. a. <(z) = 4, =(z) = −1. e. z = 10.
b. <(z) = 1, =(z) = −3. f. z = 2 + 14i.
c. <(z) = −1, =(z) − 3. Q3. a. z = 1 − i.
d. <(z) = −1, =(z) = − 43 . b. z = 2 + 5i.
e. <(z) = 3, =(z) = −1. c. z = 5 − 6i.
f. <(z) = −1, =(z) = 0. d. z = 2 − 3i.
 INTRODUCTION TO COMPLEX NUMBERS – EXAMPLES AND PRACTICE PROBLEMS 17

e. z = 1 − 2i. Q5. 51 .
f. z = −9 − 4i. Q6. See Worked Solutions.
π
Q4. a. z = 1 + 2i. Q7. a. 12e−i 12 .
7π
b. z = 35 − 45 i. b. 32 ei 12 .
7 4
√ √
c. z = − 13 − 13 i. Q8. a. 2 + i 2.
d. z = 53 + 15 i. b. −3i.
9 2
√
e. z = 17 − 17 i. c. 2.
3 6
f. z = 5 + 5 i.
Q5. −4. 4.4 - Operations in Polar Form.
23
Q6. − 10 . Q1.
5π
a. 2ei 6 .
691 3853
Q7. 9700 − 9700 i.
π
b. 2ei 6 .
π
4.3 - The Argand Diagram and Polar c. 12 e−i 6 .
5π
Form. Q2. a. 12 e−i 6 .
π
√ b. 2ei 6 .
Q1. a. |z| = 5. π
c. 92 e−i 6 .
b. |z| = 5.
√ Q3. a. 4eiπ .
c. |z| = 2.
√ b. eiπ .
d. |z| = 2 2.
√ c. 4.
e. |z| = 10. √
√ Q4. z = 4 + 4 3i.
f. |z| = 5 2.
Q5. −i.
Q2. a. ϑ = π4 . π
Q6. a. 14 e−i 6 .
b. ϑ = − π3 . π
b. 2ei 12 .
c. ϑ = − π4 . √
Q7. 16 − 16 3i.
d. ϑ = π6 .
Q8. −64.
e. ϑ = − π6 . √ √
Q9. 512 2 − 512 6i.
f. ϑ = π4 .
√ iπ Q10. a. See Worked Solutions.
Q3. a. z = 2e 4 .
π b. See Worked Solutions.
b. z = 2e−i 3 .
√ π Q11. The argument doubles.
c. z = 2 2e−i 4 .
√ iπ Q12. Triples. Yes. Halves.
d. z = 2 2e 6 .
π
e. z = 2e−i 6 .
√ iπ 4.5 - Polynomials over C.
f. z = 14e 4 .
√
Q4. a. z = 1√+ 3i. Q1. a. z = 2, z = 3.
3 3 3 b. z = −1.
b. z = 2 + 2 i.
c. z = −1. c. z = −i, z = i.
√ √
1 d. z = −1 − i 2, z = −1 + i 2.
d. z = 3 .
√
e. z = − 15 + 53 i. e. z = 7 − 10i, z = 7 + 10i.
√
f. z = − 3 + i. f. z = √12 − √12 i, z = √12 − √12 i.
18 KYLE BRODER
√ p √ π
p √ 5π
Q3. zp= 2 2e−i 12 ,p
3 4 4
Q2. a. z = 1, z = − 12 + 2 i, z = − 21 − z = 2 2ei 12 , z =
√ √ 11π √ 7π
2 2ei 12 , z = 2 2e−i 12 .
3 4 4
2 i. √ √ 1 π 1 11π
b. z = 3
− i 12 , z = −1, z = − 3
− Q4. z = 2 5 e−i 30 , z = 2 5 ei 30 , z =
2 2 1 23π 1 5π 1 13π
1 2 5 ei 30 , z = 2 5 e−i 6 , z = 2 5 e−i 30 .
2 i. √ √ √
c. z = 23 + i 12 , z = − 23 + 12 i, z = Q5. λ = i 3 − 1.
−i. Q6. λ = 6.
1
√ 
d. z = 2 3 23 + i 21 , z = Q7. a = −2, b = −2.
1
 √  1 Q8. λ = 1 + i, µ = 4i.
2 3 − 23 + 21 i , z = −2 3 i.
Q9. See Worked Solutions.