NZ Level 8 (NZC) Level 3 (NCEA) [In development]
Addition and Subtraction of Complex Numbers
Lesson

Complex numbers can be added and subtracted very easily, following the normal laws of algebra.

We must only add and subtract like terms.

And in complex numbers, like terms are the real parts and the imaginary parts.

Let's look a an example with two complex numbers $z_1=3+2i$z1=3+2i and $z_2=6-4i$z2=64i

To add these two complex numbers together we must first identify the real and imaginary components of each.

Then we add the real components, and imaginary components respectfully

Here are a few more examples

Example 1
 $\left(3+7i\right)+\left(2+i\right)$(3+7i)+(2+i) $=$= $\left(2+3\right)+\left(7+1\right)i$(2+3)+(7+1)i $=$= $5+8i$5+8i

See how in this example I grouped the real and imaginary parts and then added.  Sometimes this helps keep track of all the components.  Sometimes you can jump straight to the answer.

Example 2
 $\left(9-2i\right)-\left(-2+6i\right)$(9−2i)−(−2+6i) $=$= $9-2i+2-6i$9−2i+2−6i $=$= $11-8i$11−8i

In this example, I expanded the brackets observing the change of sign and then collected like terms.

More Worked Examples

QUESTION 1

Evaluate $\left(3+6i\right)+\left(7+3i\right)$(3+6i)+(7+3i).

QUESTION 2

Evaluate $\left(6+9i\right)-\left(-3-4i\right)$(6+9i)(34i).

QUESTION 3

Evaluate $\left(-6\sqrt{7}-2i\right)+\left(3\sqrt{7}+7i\right)$(672i)+(37+7i).

Outcomes

M8-9

Manipulate complex numbers and present them graphically

91577

Apply the algebra of complex numbers in solving problems