Definition:Complex Number/Definition 2

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Definition

A complex number is an ordered pair $\tuple {x, y}$ where $x, y \in \R$ are real numbers, on which the operations of addition and multiplication are defined as follows:


Complex Addition

Let $\tuple {x_1, y_1}$ and $\tuple {x_2, y_2}$ be complex numbers.

Then $\tuple {x_1, y_1} + \tuple {x_2, y_2}$ is defined as:

$\tuple {x_1, y_1} + \tuple {x_2, y_2}:= \tuple {x_1 + x_2, y_1 + y_2}$


Complex Multiplication

Let $\tuple {x_1, y_1}$ and $\tuple {x_2, y_2}$ be complex numbers.


Then $\tuple {x_1, y_1} \tuple {x_2, y_2}$ is defined as:

$\tuple {x_1, y_1} \tuple {x_2, y_2} := \tuple {x_1 x_2 - y_1 y_2, x_1 y_2 + y_1 x_2}$


Scalar Product

Let $\tuple {x, y}$ be a complex number.

Let $m \in \R$ be a real number.


Then $m \tuple {x, y}$ is defined as:

$m \tuple {x, y} := \tuple {m x, m y}$


Notation

The set of complex numbers is usually denoted $\C$.

Variants on $\C$ are often seen, for example $\mathbf C$, $\CC$ and $\mathfrak C$, or even just $C$.


When $a$ and $b$ are symbols representing variables or constants, the form $a + i b$ is usually (but not universally) seen.

Similarly, when $a$ and $b$ are actual numbers, for example $3$ and $4$, it is usually (but not universally) written $3 + 4 i$.


Also see

  • Results about complex numbers can be found here.


Sources