Q.Express the following in the form of a+bi:
Concept understanding — Complex Number Arithmetic
Complex Number Arithmetic: A First Look
Imagine you're trying to solve x2+1=0. You know that no real number squared gives −1. The square of any real number is either zero or positive. So this equation has no real solution. But what if we invent a number whose square is −1? That's exactly what mathematicians did — and that invention is the imaginary unit i, defined by:
i2=−1
A complex number is any number of the form a+bi, where a and b are real numbers. Here a is called the real part, and b is called the imaginary part. For example, 3+4i has real part 3 and imaginary part 4.
The name "imaginary" is unfortunate — these numbers are just as real (in the mathematical sense) as the numbers you already know. They're simply a different kind of number.
Why Bother?
Complex numbers let you solve equations that real numbers can't. Every polynomial equation — no matter how complicated — has a solution in the complex numbers. This is the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra, and it's one of the most important results in mathematics.
Arithmetic Operations
The rules are straightforward: treat i like a variable, but remember that i2=−1.
Addition and Subtraction
Add (or subtract) real parts with real parts, imaginary parts with imaginary parts.
(a+bi)+(c+di)=(a+c)+(b+d)i
(a+bi)−(c+di)=(a−c)+(b−d)i
Example: (2+3i)+(4−5i)=(2+4)+(3−5)i=6−2i
Multiplication
Multiply like binomials, then replace i2 with −1.
(a+bi)(c+di)=ac+adi+bci+bdi2=(ac−bd)+(ad+bc)i
Example: (2+3i)(4−5i)=2(4)+2(−5i)+3i(4)+3i(−5i)
=8−10i+12i−15i2
=8+2i−15(−1)
=8+2i+15=23+2i
The most common mistake: forgetting that i2=−1, not 1. Always check your final step.
Division
Division is trickier. The key idea: multiply numerator and denominator by the complex conjugate of the denominator.
The complex conjugate of a+bi is a−bi. When you multiply a complex number by its conjugate, you get a real number:
(a+bi)(a−bi)=a2−(bi)2=a2−b2i2=a2+b2
So to divide:
c+dia+bi=(c+di)(c−di)(a+bi)(c−di)=c2+d2(a+bi)(c−di)
Example: 4−5i2+3i=(4−5i)(4+5i)(2+3i)(4+5i)=16+258+10i+12i+15i2=418+22i−15=41−7+22i=−417+4122i
To divide quickly: multiply top and bottom by the conjugate of the denominator, then simplify. The denominator always becomes c2+d2, a positive real number.
The Big Picture
Complex numbers form a field — they obey the same arithmetic rules as real numbers (commutative, associative, distributive) with one extra rule: i2=−1. Every operation reduces to real-number arithmetic plus that single rule.
Complex Number Arithmetic — the set of all numbers a+bi with a,b∈R and i2=−1, with addition and multiplication defined as above. This system is closed under all four basic operations (except division by zero), and every non-zero complex number has a multiplicative inverse.
You'll use these operations constantly in everything from solving quadratic equations to analyzing AC circuits to understanding quantum mechanics. Master them now, and the rest becomes much easier.
Complex number arithmetic, including addition, multiplication, and division using the conjugate, is a central skill in the NCERT Class 11 Mathematics chapter on Complex Numbers and Quadratic Equations, and "complex number arithmetic operations with examples" is a heavily searched revision topic for CBSE boards and JEE Main. This arithmetic is foundational for solving polynomial equations with no real roots, a question type that appears often in "complex numbers important questions" for competitive exams.
- Multiply the coefficients and the i terms separately:
Since i2=−1, this becomes −85(−1)=85. In a+bi form: 85+0i.
5i⋅(−81i)=5⋅(−81)⋅i⋅i=−85i2
- First, (−81i)3=(−81)3⋅i3=−5121⋅i3.
Since i3=i2⋅i=−i, this equals −5121⋅(−i)=5121i.
Now multiply: (−i)(2i)(5121i)=(−1⋅2⋅5121)⋅(i⋅i⋅i)=−2561⋅i3=−2561⋅(−i)=2561i.
In a+bi form: 0+2561i.
✓Final answer
- 85+0i
- 0+2561i
Using i2=−1 and the cycle of powers of i, part (i) simplifies to 85 and part (ii) simplifies to 2561i.
We use the fundamental rule i2=−1; every power of i cycles through i,−1,−i,1. Both expressions here are purely imaginary factors multiplied together, so the work is just multiplying real coefficients and simplifying powers of i.
Part (i): 5i(−81i)
- Multiply the coefficients and the i terms separately.
5×(−81)×i×i=−85×i2
- Replace i2 with −1.
−85×(−1)=85
- Write in a+bi form. The result is purely real: a=85, b=0, so the expression equals 85+0i.
An even number of i factors (here, two) can give a real result — that's the pattern behind i×i=i2=−1.
Part (ii): (−i)(2i)(−81i)3
- Handle the cube first.
(−81i)3=(−81)3×i3=−5121×i3
Since i3=i2⋅i=(−1)⋅i=−i:
−5121×(−i)=5121i
- Multiply all three factors.
(−i)×(2i)×(5121i)
Coefficients: (−1)×2×5121=−2561
i-terms: i×i×i=i3=−i
- Combine.
−2561×(−i)=2561i
A common mistake is treating (−81i)3 as if only the i were cubed. The negative sign and the coefficient must be cubed too: cube the whole term, coefficient and i together.
- Write in a+bi form. The result is purely imaginary: a=0, b=2561, so the expression equals 0+2561i.
- 85
- 2561i
Showing the 12 most recent of 94 on this concept.
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The multiplicative inverse of 5+3i is(a) 5−3i(b) 145+i⋅143(c) 145−i⋅143(d) 3−5i
›Reveal solutionSolution
The multiplicative inverse of a+ib is a2+b2a−ib; here a=5,b=3.
The multiplicative inverse of z=5+3i is z1. Rationalise by multiplying by the conjugate 5−3i:
5+3i1=(5+3i)(5−3i)5−3i=(5)2−(3i)25−3i=5−(−9)5−3i=145−3i
=145−i⋅143
✓Final answer(c) 145−i⋅143.
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The modulus of 1−i1+i−1+i1−i is(a) 2(b) -2(c) 1(d) -1
›Reveal solutionSolution
Simplify each fraction using the conjugate, subtract, then take the modulus of the resulting purely imaginary number.
1−i1+i=(1−i)(1+i)(1+i)2=1−i21+2i+i2=1+11+2i−1=22i=i
Similarly, 1+i1−i is the conjugate expression, giving −i.
So the expression becomes:
i−(−i)=2i
Modulus of 2i is ∣2i∣=02+22=2.
✓Final answer(a) 2.
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.If (1−i1+i)m=1 then the least integral value of m is(a) 1(b) 2(c) 3(d) 4
›Reveal solutionSolution
Simplify the base to i, then find the smallest positive integer power of i equal to 1 (the order of i is 4).
As shown above, 1−i1+i=i. So the equation becomes im=1.
The powers of i cycle with period 4: i1=i, i2=−1, i3=−i, i4=1, and then repeat. The smallest positive integer m for which im=1 is m=4.
✓Final answer(d) 4.
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The value of i28 is —(a) i(b) −i(c) 1(d) −1
›Reveal solutionSolution
i28=1, option (c).
Recall i2=−1, so i4=(i2)2=(−1)2=1. Powers of i cycle with period 4: i,−1,−i,1,i,−1,…
Since 28=4×7 is exactly divisible by 4, i28=(i4)7=17=1.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (c) 1.
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markQ.The conjugate of the complex number 2−3i is ______.
›Reveal solutionSolution
The conjugate of 2−3i is 2+3i.
For a complex number z=a+ib, the conjugate zˉ=a−ib — the sign of the imaginary part is reversed while the real part stays unchanged.
Here z=2−3i, so a=2, b=−3. Its conjugate is zˉ=2−(−3)i=2+3i.
✓Final answerThe conjugate of 2−3i is 2+3i.
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Multiplicative inverse of 1 + √3i is:(a) 1 - √3i(b) (1 - √3i)/2(c) (1 + √3i)/4(d) None of these
›Reveal solutionSolution
z⁻¹ = conjugate(z)/|z|²; for z = 1+√3i this gives (1−√3i)/4, which isn't among options (a)-(c) as written, so the correct choice is (d).
For a complex number z=1+3i, the multiplicative inverse is:
z−1=∣z∣2zˉ
Here zˉ=1−3i, and ∣z∣2=12+(3)2=1+3=4.
So:
z−1=41−3i
Check against the given options: (a) 1−3i — wrong scale. (b) 21−3i — wrong denominator (should be 4, not 2). (c) 41+3i — correct denominator but wrong sign (this is z itself divided by 4, not zˉ divided by 4). None of (a), (b), (c) equal the correct value 41−3i.
✓Final answerThe correct inverse is 41−3i, which is not listed exactly among (a)-(c) — option (d) None of these.
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markQ.The modulus of (1 + i)/(1 - i) is ..............
›Reveal solutionSolution
Rationalize (1+i)/(1-i) to a+bi form, or use |z1/z2| = |z1|/|z2| — both give modulus 1.
Method using the modulus quotient rule z2z1=∣z2∣∣z1∣:
∣1+i∣=12+12=2,∣1−i∣=12+(−1)2=2
1−i1+i=22=1
(Check by rationalizing: 1−i1+i×1+i1+i=2(1+i)2=22i=i, and ∣i∣=1 ✓.)
✓Final answerThe modulus of 1−i1+i is 1.
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.i9⋅i19 is equal to(a) −1(b) −i(c) 1(d) 0
›Reveal solutionSolution
Using i4=1, reduce the exponents mod 4: i9=i and i19=i3=−i, so the product is i⋅(−i)=1.
Recall i2=−1, and powers of i repeat with period 4: i1=i, i2=−1, i3=−i, i4=1.
i9=i4×2+1=(i4)2⋅i=1⋅i=i.
i19=i4×4+3=(i4)4⋅i3=1⋅(−i)=−i.
So i9⋅i19=i⋅(−i)=−i2=−(−1)=1.
✓Final answeri9⋅i19=1, which is option (c).
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Conjugate of 3+5i is:(a) −3+5i(b) −3−5i(c) 3−5i(d) 3+i
›Reveal solutionSolution
The conjugate of z=a+ib is zˉ=a−ib; only the sign of the imaginary part changes.
Here z=3+5i, so a=3, b=5.
By definition, zˉ=a−ib=3−5i.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (c) 3−5i.
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Evaluate i9+i19.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Using i4=1, reduce each exponent mod 4: i9=i and i19=−i, which sum to 0.
Since i4=1, any power ik=i(kmod4).
i9=i(4×2+1)=(i4)2⋅i1=1⋅i=i.
i19=i(4×4+3)=(i4)4⋅i3=1⋅(−i)=−i.
Adding: i9+i19=i+(−i)=0.
✓Final answeri9+i19=0.
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Write modulus of 5−3i.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Modulus of a+ib is a2+b2; here that gives 34.
For z=5−3i, a=5, b=−3.
∣z∣=a2+b2=52+(−3)2=25+9=34.
✓Final answer∣5−3i∣=34.
- CBSE 2026Set 1A1 markMCQQ.The value of −25×−9 is -(1) 15(2) −15(3) 15i(4) None of these
›Reveal solutionSolution
Write −25=5i and −9=3i; their product is 15i2=−15.
The rule ab=ab fails for negative numbers, so convert first:
−25=5i,−9=3i.
Then −25×−9=5i×3i=15i2=15(−1)=−15.
✓Final answerThe value is −15, i.e. option (2).
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