Chapter 4 calculations with complex numbers, Definitions, Setting the calculator to complex mode – HP 50g Graphing Calculator User Manual

Page 168: Chapter 4 - calculations with complex numbers ,4-1

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Page 4-1

Chapter 4
Calculations with complex numbers

This chapter shows examples of calculations and application of functions to
complex numbers.

Definitions

A complex number z is a number written as z = x + iy, where x and y are real
numbers, and i is the imaginary unit defined by i

2

= -1. The complex number

x+iy has a real part, x = Re(z), and an imaginary part, y = Im(z). We can
think of a complex number as a point P(x,y) in the x-y plane, with the x-axis
referred to as the real axis, and the y-axis referred to as the imaginary axis.
Thus, a complex number represented in the form x+iy is said to be in its
Cartesian representation. An alternative Cartesian representation is the ordered
pair z = (x,y). A complex number can also be represented in polar coordinates
(polar representation) as z = re

i

θ

= r

cos

θ

+ i r

sin

θ

, where r = |z|

=

is the magnitude of the complex number z, and

θ

= Arg(z) =

arctan(y/x) is the argument of the complex number z. The relationship between
the Cartesian and polar representation of complex numbers is given by the
Euler formula: e

i

θ

= cos

θ

+ i sin

θ.

The complex conjugate of a complex

number z = x + iy = re

i

θ

, is

z = x – iy = re

-i

θ

. The complex conjugate of i can

be thought of as the reflection of z about the real (x) axis. Similarly, the
negative of z, –z = -x-iy = - re

i

θ

, can be thought of as the reflection of z about

the origin.

Setting the calculator to COMPLEX mode

When working with complex numbers it is a good idea to set the calculator to
complex mode, using the following keystrokes:

H

)@@CAS@ ˜˜™@ @CHK@

The COMPLEX mode will be selected if the CAS MODES screen shows the
option _Complex checked, i.e.,

2

2

y

x

+

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