Q.Find the conjugate of (1+2i)(2−i)(3−2i)(2+3i).
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.
Concept: Complex Number Arithmetic — simplify the expression first, then take the conjugate.
First, multiply numerator and denominator separately:
Numerator:
(3−2i)(2+3i)=6+9i−4i−6i2=6+5i+6=12+5i
Denominator:
(1+2i)(2−i)=2−i+4i−2i2=2+3i+2=4+3i
So the expression becomes 4+3i12+5i.
Now rationalise by multiplying numerator and denominator by the conjugate of the denominator, 4−3i:
(4+3i)(4−3i)(12+5i)(4−3i)=16−9i248−36i+20i−15i2=16+948−16i+15=2563−16i
Thus the simplified number is 2563−2516i. The conjugate is obtained by changing the sign of the imaginary part.
The conjugate is 2563+2516i.
Simplify the fraction to a+ib form, then flip the sign of the imaginary part. The conjugate is 2563+2516i.
Simplify the numerator and denominator.
Numerator: (3−2i)(2+3i)=6+9i−4i−6i2=6+5i+6=12+5i.
Denominator: (1+2i)(2−i)=2−i+4i−2i2=2+3i+2=4+3i.
So
z=4+3i12+5i.
Put z in standard form. Multiply by the conjugate 4−3i:
z=(4+3i)(4−3i)(12+5i)(4−3i)=16+948−36i+20i−15i2=2548−16i+15=2563−16i.
Take the conjugate. Flip the sign of the imaginary part:
z=2563+16i=2563+2516i.
The conjugate is 2563+2516i.
- Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur (Higher Secondary 1st Year) 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Multiplicative inverse of complex number 5+3i is(a) 145−143i(b) 145+143i(c) 143−145i(d) 143+145i
›Reveal solutionSolution
The multiplicative inverse of √5+3i is (√5−3i)/14.
For a complex number z = a+bi, its multiplicative inverse is z1=∣z∣2zˉ=a2+b2a−bi.
Here a=√5, b=3, so a2+b2=5+9=14.
5+3i1=145−3i=145−143i
✓Final answerThe correct option is (a) √5/14 − 3/14 i.
- Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur (Higher Secondary 1st Year) 2026Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Express i−35 in the form of a+ib.
›Reveal solutionSolution
i−35=i, i.e., in the form a+ib this is 0+1i.
Powers of i cycle with period 4: i1=i,i2=−1,i3=−i,i4=1, and this pattern repeats.
i−35=i351. Since 35=4×8+3, i35=i3=−i.
So i−35=−i1. Multiply numerator and denominator by i: −i1×ii=−i2i=1i=i
✓Final answeri^(−35) = i, i.e., 0 + 1i.
- Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur (Higher Secondary 1st Year) 2024Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.If z is a non zero complex number then its multiplicative inverse z1 is equal to(a) ∣z∣2zˉ(b) ∣z∣zˉ(c) ∣zˉ∣z(d) ∣zˉ∣2z
›Reveal solutionSolution
The multiplicative inverse of a nonzero complex number z is ∣z∣2zˉ.
For any nonzero complex number z, z⋅zˉ=∣z∣2 (a real number). Dividing both sides by z: zˉ=z∣z∣2, so z1=∣z∣2zˉ.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (a) ∣z∣2zˉ.
- Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur (Higher Secondary 1st Year) 2024Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.1+i+i2+i3+i4 is equal to(a) i(b) 0(c) −i(d) 1
›Reveal solutionSolution
1+i+i2+i3+i4=1.
i2=−1, i3=−i, i4=1. So the sum is 1+i+(−1)+(−i)+1=(1−1+1)+(i−i)=1+0=1.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (d) 1.
- Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur (Higher Secondary 1st Year) 2024Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Express (31+3i)3 in the form a+ib.
›Reveal solutionSolution
(31+3i)3=−27242−26i.
Use (a+bi)3=(a3−3ab2)+i(3a2b−b3) with a=31, b=3.
Real part: a3−3ab2=(31)3−3⋅31⋅32=271−9=271−27243=−27242.
Imaginary part: 3a2b−b3=3⋅91⋅3−27=1−27=−26.
So (31+3i)3=−27242−26i.
✓Final answer(31+3i)3=−27242−26i.
- Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur (Higher Secondary 1st Year) 2023Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The value of i+−i is(a) 0(b) 1(c) 2(d) 2
›Reveal solutionSolution
Writing i and −i in polar form and taking their principal square roots, the imaginary parts cancel on addition, leaving 2.
Write i in polar (trigonometric) form: i=cos2π+isin2π.
Step 1: Square root of i.
By De Moivre's theorem, the principal square root is
i=cos4π+isin4π=22+i22
Step 2: Square root of −i.
Write −i=cos(−2π)+isin(−2π), so its principal square root is
−i=cos(−4π)+isin(−4π)=22−i22
Step 3: Add.
i+−i=(22+i22)+(22−i22)=2
The imaginary parts cancel exactly, leaving a real value.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (d) 2.
- Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur (Higher Secondary 1st Year) 2022Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Express (i9+i19) in the form a+ib.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Reducing exponents mod 4 gives i9=i and i19=−i, which cancel to give 0.
Since i4=1, powers of i repeat every 4 steps. Reduce each exponent modulo 4:
i9=i4×2+1=(i4)2⋅i=1⋅i=i
i19=i4×4+3=(i4)4⋅i3=1⋅(−i)=−i
Adding: i9+i19=i+(−i)=0.
In the form a+ib: 0=0+0i.
✓Final answeri9+i19=0=0+0i.
- Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur (Higher Secondary 1st Year) 2021Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The value of i+−i where i=−1(a) 0(b) 1(c) 2(d) 2
›Reveal solutionSolution
Using the principal square roots of i and −i in polar form, the sum simplifies to 2.
i has modulus 1 and argument 2π, so its principal square root is
i=cos4π+isin4π=21(1+i).
−i has modulus 1 and argument −2π, so its principal square root is
−i=cos(−4π)+isin(−4π)=21(1−i).
Adding,
i+−i=21(1+i)+21(1−i)=21(2)=2.
✓Final answeri+−i=2 — option (d) 2.
- Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur (Higher Secondary 1st Year) 2021Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Find the multiplicative inverse of 3−4i.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Rationalising 3−4i1 using the conjugate 3+4i gives 253+254i.
The multiplicative inverse of 3−4i is 3−4i1. Multiply numerator and denominator by the conjugate 3+4i:
3−4i1×3+4i3+4i=32+423+4i=9+163+4i=253+4i.
So the inverse is
253+254i.
✓Final answerThe multiplicative inverse of 3−4i is 253+254i.
- Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur (Higher Secondary 1st Year) 2021Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Find the modulus of 1−i1.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Since ∣1−i∣=2, the modulus of its reciprocal is 21=22.
For any nonzero complex numbers, z2z1=∣z2∣∣z1∣.
Here z1=1 (modulus 1) and z2=1−i, whose modulus is
∣1−i∣=12+(−1)2=2.
So
1−i1=21=22.
✓Final answer1−i1=21=22.
- Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur (Higher Secondary 1st Year) 2020Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Write the multiplicative inverse of 5+3i.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Multiply and divide by the conjugate to get the multiplicative inverse 145−3i.
For a complex number z=a+ib, its multiplicative inverse is
z−1=z1=∣z∣2zˉ=a2+b2a−ib
Here z=5+3i, so a=5, b=3.
∣z∣2=a2+b2=(5)2+32=5+9=14
So
z−1=145−3i
✓Final answerThe multiplicative inverse of 5+3i is 145−3i.
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