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Intro to complex numbers

Learn what complex numbers are, and about their real and imaginary parts.
In the real number system, there is no solution to the equation x2=1. In this lesson, we will study a new number system in which the equation does have a solution.
The backbone of this new number system is the number i, also known as the imaginary unit.
  • i2=1
  • 1=i
By taking multiples of this imaginary unit, we can create infinitely many more new numbers, like 3i, i5, and 12i. These are examples of imaginary numbers.
However, we can go even further than that and add real numbers and imaginary numbers, for example 2+7i and 32i. These combinations are called complex numbers.

Defining complex numbers

A complex number is any number that can be written as a+bi, where i is the imaginary unit and a and b are real numbers.
a+biiRealImaginarypartpart
a is called the real part of the number, and b is called the imaginary part of the number.
The table below shows examples of complex numbers, with the real and imaginary parts identified. Some people find it easier to identify the real and imaginary parts if the number is written in standard form.
Complex NumberStandard Form a+biDescription of parts
7i22+7iThe real part is 2 and the imaginary part is 7.
43i4+(3)iThe real part is 4 and the imaginary part is 3
9i0+9iThe real part is 0 and the imaginary part is 9
22+0iThe real part is 2 and the imaginary part is 0

Check your understanding

Problem 1
What is the real part of 13.2i+1?
  • Your answer should be
  • an integer, like 6
  • a simplified proper fraction, like 3/5
  • a simplified improper fraction, like 7/4
  • a mixed number, like 1 3/4
  • an exact decimal, like 0.75
  • a multiple of pi, like 12 pi or 2/3 pi

Problem 2
What is the imaginary part of 2114i?
  • Your answer should be
  • an integer, like 6
  • a simplified proper fraction, like 3/5
  • a simplified improper fraction, like 7/4
  • a mixed number, like 1 3/4
  • an exact decimal, like 0.75
  • a multiple of pi, like 12 pi or 2/3 pi

Problem 3
What is the real part of 17i?
  • Your answer should be
  • an integer, like 6
  • a simplified proper fraction, like 3/5
  • a simplified improper fraction, like 7/4
  • a mixed number, like 1 3/4
  • an exact decimal, like 0.75
  • a multiple of pi, like 12 pi or 2/3 pi

Classifying complex numbers

We already know what a real number is, and we just defined what a complex number is. Now let's go back and give a proper definition for an imaginary number.
An imaginary number is a complex number a+bi where a=0.
Similarly, we can say that a real number is a complex number a+bi where b=0.
From the first definition, we can conclude that any imaginary number is also a complex number. From the second definition, we can conclude that any real number is also a complex number.
In addition, there can be complex numbers that are neither real nor imaginary, like 4+2i.
Complex numbers4+2i35iReal numbers512.23Imaginary numbers5i12.2i3i

Reflection question

Is the following statement true or false?
Any complex number is either real or imaginary.
Choose 1 answer:

Examples

In the table below, we have classified several numbers as real, pure imaginary, and/or complex.
Real(b=0)Imaginary(a=0)Complex(a+bi)
7+8i(7+8i)X
3(3+0i)XX
1(1+0i)XX
1.3i(0+(1.3)i)XX
100i(0+100i)XX
Notice that in the table, all of the numbers listed are complex numbers! This is true in general!

Now you try it!

Problem 4
What type of number is 2+3i?
Choose all answers that apply:

Problem 5
What type of number is 10.2?
Choose all answers that apply:

Problem 6
What type of number is 17i?
Choose all answers that apply:

Why are these numbers important?

So why do we study complex numbers anyway? Believe it or not, complex numbers have many applications—electrical engineering and quantum mechanics to name a few!
From a purely mathematical standpoint, one cool thing that complex numbers allow us to do is to solve any polynomial equation.
For example, the polynomial equation x22x+5=0 does not have any real solutions nor any imaginary solutions. However, it does have two complex number solutions. These are 1+2i and 12i.
As we continue our study of mathematics, we will learn more about these numbers and where they are used.

Want to join the conversation?

  • male robot hal style avatar for user King Henclucky
    Wait, are all numbers complex?
    (113 votes)
    Default Khan Academy avatar avatar for user
    • winston default style avatar for user J Cam
      No BUT --- ALL REAL numbers ARE COMPLEX numbers.
      It just so happens that many complex numbers have 0 as their imaginary part. When 0 is the imaginary part then the number is a real number, and you might think of a real number as a 1-dimensional number.

      You need linear algebra or complex analysis to get the bigger picture, but for now, trust Stefan and me - real numbers are a special case for complex numbers just as a square is a special case for a rectangle.

      This is an argument over semantics ever since it was decided to call these multi-dimensional entities numbers. You might think of complex numbers as two-dimensional. If that isn't rough enough there are numbers with even more that two dimensions, as Stefan alluded to. Don't bother yourself with the ins and outs of multidimensional numbers until or unless there really is a need to. For now just learn the basics of complex numbers so you can get through the traditional undergrad stuff and have a basis for further learning should you decide to go there.
      The multidimensional number stuff is the kind of math that you really have to live in for awhile to understand and if you don't have a good motivation to understand then it can drive you crazy trying to get a quick understanding of what we are talking about. You need calc, trig, and analysis - you really do - to understand the reason why we teach complex numbers. Notice there aren't any complex number word problems in undergrad courses?
      (140 votes)
  • aqualine ultimate style avatar for user steenbergh
    I have an issue with Problem 2:
    What is the imaginary part of 21 - 14i?

    The accepted answer was -14, where I'd expect it to be -14i, because the "imaginary part" is including the 'i', and the magnitude of the img part is -14...
    (21 votes)
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    • blobby green style avatar for user deepak
      Hello there, steenbergh,
      Though the question refers to the "imaginary part of this complex number" it is really refering to the magnitude of the imaginary part. Think of a complex number as a position vector in the complex plane, since the direction of this "imaginary part" is specified (it is in the imaginary axis or the vertical axis in this case) we only need to give its magnitude in that direction as we already know its direction. When we say -14, we are merely saying "negative fourteen units in the imaginary axis/number plane". Hope that makes sense!
      (52 votes)
  • female robot grace style avatar for user 101Math
    I have 0 pet cats
    I have a real number of cats
    I have an imaginary number of cats
    I have a complex number of cats
    ALL TRUE!
    (21 votes)
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  • female robot grace style avatar for user Anoushka B.
    If both real and imaginary parts of a complex number are 0, what kind of number is it? Or: is 0 real, complex or pure imaginary?
    (18 votes)
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    • leaf blue style avatar for user jwinder47
      This is an interesting question. The real numbers are a subset of the complex numbers, so zero is by definition a complex number ( and a real number, of course; just as a fraction is a rational number and a real number). If we define a pure real number as a complex number whose imaginary component is 0i, then 0 is a pure real number. If we define a pure imaginary number as a complex number whose real component is 0 (or: where a=0 in the general component form for a complex number: a + bi), then 0 is also a pure imaginary number. This makes sense geometrically in the complex plane: the origin is the intersection of coordinate axes, so (0,0) is on both the real and the imaginary axes.
      (38 votes)
  • leaf green style avatar for user JJ the Mad Scientist
    I understand that imaginary number can be helpful for solving math problems. However I am interested to know more on how it is used in quantum mechanics.
    (9 votes)
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  • piceratops sapling style avatar for user Eliza
    Some people have suggested that there are numbers that are NOT complex. Would anyone mind elaborating on what those are?
    (3 votes)
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    • leaf green style avatar for user kubleeka
      There are number systems beyond the complex numbers, but you don't see them in high-school math. This includes systems like the quaternions, which are 4-dimensional (like how the complex numbers are 2-dimensional), and the hyperreal numbers and surreal numbers, which include versions of infinite and infinitesimal numbers.
      (14 votes)
  • blobby green style avatar for user akarnam999
    I don't get the polynomial equation showed above: (x*x) - 2x + 5 = 0 and how its complex number solution is 1 + 2i and 1 - 2i.
    (6 votes)
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    • stelly blue style avatar for user Kim Seidel
      Use the quadratic formula to solve the equation and the answers become x = 1+2i and x=1-2i. If you look at the other questions & answers already posted for this page, you will see one near the top of the list (currently the 2nd one) where the answer shows all the work for solving the equation using the quadratic formula.
      Hope this helps.
      (7 votes)
  • spunky sam green style avatar for user Qing D Liang
    Can you give the usage of imaginal number in reality?
    (5 votes)
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  • leafers ultimate style avatar for user Jimmy
    Using the same logic that all real numbers are complex, for example 52 = 52 + 0i, couldn't we say that all imaginary numbers are complex as well? For example 2i = 2i + 0, which would be a complex number, right? Thank you in advance
    (5 votes)
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  • blobby green style avatar for user pathak.aojaswi
    in the complex number system, what is the value of the expression 16i^4- 8i^2 +4? (note: i = square root -1). i am very confused as to how to solve this problem.
    (2 votes)
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