Q.−3⋅−6 is equal to : (A) −32 (B) 32 (C) 32i (D) −32i
Concept understanding — Complex Numbers
Complex numbers extend the real number system so that every quadratic equation, even one like x2+1=0 with a negative discriminant, has a solution. Built formally as ordered pairs (a,b) of real numbers and written in the familiar a+ib form, they carry their own algebra (addition, multiplication, conjugation) and a natural geometric picture on the Argand plane, where a complex number's modulus and argument describe its distance and direction from the origin. This chapter lays the algebraic and geometric groundwork that later chapters (De Moivre's theorem, roots of unity, quadratic equations) build on.
Convert each surd to i before multiplying — do NOT combine the surds first.\n> [!ANSWER] (A) −32.
−3=i3 and −6=i6. Their product is i3×i6=i218=−18=−32 (since 18=9×2=32).
(A) −32.
Convert each negative-radicand surd to i times a positive surd BEFORE multiplying, since −a⋅−b=ab once both radicands are negative.
- Combining the two surds first as (−3)(−6)=18=32, which drops the extra factor of i2=−1 and gives the wrong sign
Showing the 12 most recent of 13 on this concept.
- CBSE 2026Set 2A2 marksQ.Find a square root of the complex number 3+4i.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Write 3+4i=x+iy, square both sides, match real/imaginary parts, and use the modulus as a third equation to pin down x,y.
Let 3+4i=x+iy where x,y are real. Squaring,
x2−y2+2ixy=3+4i.
Comparing real and imaginary parts:
x2−y2=3and2xy=4⇒xy=2.
A third relation comes from equating moduli, ∣x+iy∣2=∣3+4i∣:
x2+y2=32+42=25=5.
Now x2−y2=3 and x2+y2=5 give 2x2=8⇒x2=4⇒x=±2, and 2y2=2⇒y2=1⇒y=±1. Since xy=2>0, x and y have the same sign, so the valid pairs are (2,1) and (−2,−1).
Check: (2+i)2=4+4i+i2=3+4i. Correct.
✓Final answerA square root of 3+4i is ±(2+i).
- CBSE 2026Set 2A2 marksQ.If the Arg zˉ1 and Arg z2 are 5π and 3π respectively, then find (Arg z1 + Arg z2).
›Reveal solutionSolution
Use Arg(zˉ)=−Arg(z) to get Argz1 from Argzˉ1, then add.
For any complex number z=rcisθ, its conjugate is zˉ=rcis(−θ), so
Arg(zˉ)=−Arg(z).
Given Argzˉ1=5π, this means −Argz1=5π, i.e. Argz1=−5π.
Also given Argz2=3π. So
Argz1+Argz2=−5π+3π=15−3π+5π=152π.
✓Final answerArgz1+Argz2=152π.
- CBSE 2025Set 2A2 marksQ.Write the complex number (2+3i)(4−3i)4+3i in the form a+ib.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Simplify the denominator first, then rationalise by multiplying by its conjugate.
First simplify the denominator (2+3i)(4−3i):
(2+3i)(4−3i)=8−6i+12i−9i2=8+6i+9=17+6i,
using i2=−1 so −9i2=9.
So the expression becomes 17+6i4+3i. Multiply numerator and denominator by the conjugate 17−6i:
17+6i4+3i⋅17−6i17−6i=172+62(4+3i)(17−6i).
Numerator: (4+3i)(17−6i)=68−24i+51i−18i2=68+27i+18=86+27i.
Denominator: 172+62=289+36=325.
So the expression equals 32586+27i=32586+32527i.
✓Final answer(2+3i)(4−3i)4+3i=32586+32527i.
- CBSE 2025Set 2A2 marksQ.Write z=−7+i21 in the polar form.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Find the modulus r=∣z∣ and argument θ from cosθ=x/r, sinθ=y/r, then write z=r(cosθ+isinθ).
Given z=−7+i21, so x=−7, y=21.
Modulus:
r=x2+y2=7+21=28=27.
Argument: since x<0 and y>0, z lies in the second quadrant.
cosθ=rx=27−7=−21,sinθ=ry=2721=23.
The angle with cosθ=−21, sinθ=23 in the second quadrant is θ=32π.
So the polar form is
z=27(cos32π+isin32π).
✓Final answerz=27(cos32π+isin32π).
- CBSE 2023Set 2A2 marksQ.Find the square root of the complex number 7+24i.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Write 7+24i=x+iy, square both sides, match real and imaginary parts, and solve for x,y using the modulus as a third equation.
Let 7+24i=x+iy where x,y are real. Squaring,
x2−y2+2ixy=7+24i.
Comparing real and imaginary parts:
x2−y2=7and2xy=24⇒xy=12.
A third relation comes from equating moduli: ∣x+iy∣2=∣7+24i∣, i.e.
x2+y2=72+242=49+576=625=25.
Now x2−y2=7 and x2+y2=25 give 2x2=32⇒x2=16⇒x=±4, and 2y2=18⇒y2=9⇒y=±3. Since xy=12>0, x and y must have the same sign, so the valid pairs are (4,3) and (−4,−3).
✓Final answer7+24i=±(4+3i).
- CBSE 2023Set 2A2 marksQ.If z1=−1 and z2=i, then find Arg(z2z1).
›Reveal solutionSolution
Simplify z1/z2 to a single complex number first, then read off its argument.
Given z1=−1, z2=i.
z2z1=i−1=i−1⋅−i−i=−i2i=1i=i,
using i2=−1. So z1/z2=i=0+1⋅i, which lies on the positive imaginary axis.
For a point on the positive imaginary axis, the principal argument is 2π.
✓Final answerArg(z2z1)=2π.
- CBSE 2022Set 2A2 marksQ.Find the multiplicative inverse of 7+24i.
›Reveal solutionSolution
The inverse of 7+24i is 6257−62524i.
The multiplicative inverse of a non-zero complex number z is z−1=z1=zzˉzˉ=∣z∣2zˉ.
Here z=7+24i, so zˉ=7−24i and ∣z∣2=72+242=49+576=625.
Therefore z−1=6257−24i.
✓Final answer7+24i1=6257−24i=6257−62524i.
- CBSE 2020Set 2A2 marksQ.Find the complex conjugate of (3+4i)(2−3i).
›Reveal solutionSolution
Multiply the two complex numbers using i2=−1, then flip the sign of the imaginary part to get the conjugate.
Expand the product:
(3+4i)(2−3i)=3(2)+3(−3i)+4i(2)+4i(−3i)=6−9i+8i−12i2
Since i2=−1, we get −12i2=12:
=6+12−9i+8i=18−i
The conjugate of a complex number a+bi is a−bi (just reverse the sign of the imaginary part). So the conjugate of 18−i is:
✓Final answer(3+4i)(2−3i)=18+i
- CBSE 2020Set 2A2 marksQ.Write z=−3+i in modulus-amplitude form.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Find the modulus r=∣z∣ and the argument θ (measured from the positive real axis), then write z=r(cosθ+isinθ).
Here z=−3+i, so x=−3, y=1.
Modulus:
r=x2+y2=(−3)2+12=3+1=4=2
Argument: since x<0 and y>0, the point lies in the second quadrant. The reference (acute) angle α satisfies
tanα=xy=31⟹α=6π
In the second quadrant the argument is θ=π−α=π−6π=65π.
So in modulus-amplitude (polar) form:
✓Final answerz=2(cos65π+isin65π)
- CBSE 2019Set 2A2 marksQ.If z=2−3i, then show that z2−4z+13=0.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Direct substitution of z=2−3i into z2−4z+13 simplifies to 0.
Step 1 — Compute z2.
z2=(2−3i)2=4−12i+9i2=4−12i−9=−5−12i (using i2=−1).
Step 2 — Compute 4z.
4z=4(2−3i)=8−12i.
Step 3 — Combine.
z2−4z+13=(−5−12i)−(8−12i)+13=(−5−8+13)+(−12i+12i)=0+0i=0.
✓Final answerz2−4z+13=0, verified directly by substitution.
- CBSE 2018Set 2A2 marksQ.Find the complex conjugate of (2+5i)(−4+6i).
›Reveal solutionSolution
Multiply the two complex numbers first, then flip the sign of the imaginary part to get the conjugate.
First expand the product:
(2+5i)(−4+6i)=2(−4)+2(6i)+5i(−4)+5i(6i)
=−8+12i−20i+30i2
Since i2=−1, 30i2=−30, so:
=−8−30+(12i−20i)=−38−8i
The complex conjugate of a+ib is a−ib (just reverse the sign of the imaginary part). Here a=−38, b=−8, so the conjugate of −38−8i is −38+8i.
✓Final answer(2+5i)(−4+6i)=−38+8i.
- CBSE 2018Set 2A2 marksQ.If x+iy=cisα⋅cisβ, then find the value of x2+y2.
›Reveal solutionSolution
cisα⋅cisβ is itself of the form cosθ+isinθ, whose modulus is always 1, so x2+y2=1.
Recall cisθ=cosθ+isinθ. Using the product rule for cis (which follows from the compound-angle formulas):
cisα⋅cisβ=(cosα+isinα)(cosβ+isinβ)=cos(α+β)+isin(α+β)=cis(α+β)
So x+iy=cos(α+β)+isin(α+β), which gives x=cos(α+β) and y=sin(α+β).
Then:
x2+y2=cos2(α+β)+sin2(α+β)=1
using the fundamental identity cos2θ+sin2θ=1.
✓Final answerx2+y2=1 (since x+iy lies on the unit circle for any real α,β).
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