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MathsMediumClass 11

Algebra of Complex Numbers — Addition, multiplication, conjugate

Complex Numbers

8

JEE Qs

8%

Hard

60

min

Thoroughly practice basic algebraic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) and properties of conjugates, as they are foundational for nearly all complex number problems in JEE.

🧮 Key Formulas

z1 = a + ib, z2 = c + id
z1 + z2 = (a+c) + i(b+d)
z1 - z2 = (a-c) + i(b-d)
z1 * z2 = (ac-bd) + i(ad+bc)
If z = a + ib, then its conjugate z̅ = a - ib
z1 / z2 = (z1 * z2̅) / (z2 * z2̅) = [(a+ib)(c-id)] / (c^2+d^2) = [(ac+bd) + i(bc-ad)] / (c^2+d^2)
i^2 = -1
z * z̅ = |z|^2 = a^2+b^2

✅ Key Points for JEE

  • 1Treat 'i' as a variable in algebraic operations, but *always* substitute i^2 = -1 during multiplication and simplification to combine real and imaginary parts.
  • 2The conjugate (z̅) is crucial for division and rationalizing complex denominators, converting them into real numbers, which simplifies expressions significantly.
  • 3Mastering conjugate properties like (z1+z2)̅ = z1̅ + z2̅, (z1z2)̅ = z1̅ z2̅, and (z^n)̅ = (z̅)^n allows for efficient manipulation and simplification in complex number problems.
  • 4Division by a complex number is performed by multiplying both the numerator and denominator by the conjugate of the denominator, effectively making the denominator a real number.
  • 5Understanding that the product of a complex number and its conjugate (z * z̅) always results in a positive real number equal to |z|^2 is fundamental for division and modulus calculations.

⚠️ Common Mistakes

  • Incorrectly applying i^2 = -1, leading to errors in sign or magnitude, especially during expansion of binomials like (a+ib)^2.
  • Making algebraic errors in signs or arithmetic when combining real and imaginary parts after multiplication or division.
  • Failing to multiply by the correct conjugate of the denominator during division, or making sign errors while calculating the conjugate.

📝 Practice Questions

See all

Q17.Let 2¯z+i ¯z−i = 13 , z ∈C , be the equation of a circle with center at C . If the area of the triangle, whose vertices are at the points (0, 0), C and (α, 0) is 11 square units, then α2 equals: (1) 50 (2) 100 (3) 81 (4) 121 25 25

2025·MCQMedium

Q25.Let α, β be the roots of the equation x2 −ax −b = 0 with Im(α) < Im(β). Let Pn = αn −βn . If P3 = −5√7i, P4 = −3√7i, P5 = 11√7i and P6 = 45√7i , then α4 + β4 is equal to . ∣∣ 2025 (23 Jan Shift 2) JEE Main Previous Year Paper

2025·NumericalHard

Q20.Let z1, z2 and z3 be three complex numbers on the circle |z| = 1 with arg (z1) = −π4 , arg (z2) = 0 and arg (z3) = π4 . If |z1¯z2 + z2¯z3 + z3¯z1|2 = α + β√2, α, β ∈Z, then the value of α2 + β2 is : (1) 24 (2) 29 (3) 41 (4) 31

2025·MCQHard

Q19.Let the curve z(1 + i) + ¯z(1 −i) = 4, z ∈C, divide the region |z −3| ≤1 into two parts of areas α and β . Then |α −β| equals : (1) 1 + π2 (2) 1 + π3 (3) 1 + π6 (4) 1 + π4

2025·MCQHard

Q14.The number of complex numbers z , satisfying |z| = 1 and z¯z + ¯zz = 1, is : (1) 4 (2) 8 (3) 10 (4) 6 Q15. ⎡ 0 ⎤ ⎡ 0 ⎤ ⎡4⎤ ⎡0⎤ ⎡2 ⎤ ⎡1 ⎤ Let A = [aij] be 3 × 3 matrix such that A 1 = 0 , A 1 = 1 and A 1 = 0 , then a23 equals : ⎣ 0 ⎦ ⎣ 1 ⎦ ⎣3⎦ ⎣0⎦ ⎣2 ⎦ ⎣0 ⎦ (1) -1 (2) 2 (3) 1 (4) 0 2 x sin 2 dx equals : 3 3

2025·MCQMedium

Q10.For a statistical data x1, x2, … , x10 of 10 values, a student obtained the mean as 5.5 and ∑10i=1 x2i = 371. He later found that he had noted two values in the data incorrectly as 4 and 5 , instead of the correct values 6 and 8 , respectively. The variance of the corrected data is (1) 9 (2) 5 (3) 7 (4) 4

2025·MCQHard

NCERT Chapters

  • Class 11 Maths Ch 5: Complex Numbers and Quadratic Equations