AoPSWiki
Our Precalculus course starts on Dec. 4. Master trig, complex numbers, and vectors and matrices in 2 and 3 dimensions. Click here to enroll today!

Real part

From AoPSWiki

Any complex number z can be written in the form z = a + bi where i = \sqrt{-1} is the imaginary unit and a and b are real numbers. Then the real part of z, usually denoted \Re (z) or \mathrm{Re} (z), is just the value a.

Geometrically, if a complex number is plotted in the complex plane, its real part is its x-coordinate (abscissa).

A complex number z is real exactly when z = \mathrm{Re}(z).

The function \mathrm{Re} can also be defined in terms of the complex conjugate \overline z of z: \mathrm{Re}(z) = \frac{z + \overline z}2. (Recall that if z = a + bi, \overline z = a - bi).

Examples

  • \mathrm{Re}(3 + 4i) = 3
  • \mathrm{Re}(4(\cos \frac \pi6 + i \sin \frac\pi 6)) = 4 \cos \frac \pi 6 = 2\sqrt 3
  • \mathrm{Re}(4e^{\frac {\pi i}6}) = \mathrm{Re}(4(\cos \frac \pi6 + i \sin \frac\pi 6)) = 2\sqrt 3

Practice Problem 1

Find the conditions on w and z so that \mathrm{Re}(w\cdot z) = \mathrm{Re}(w) \cdot \mathrm{Re}(z).

Solution


See Also

Art of Problem Solving holds many free classes called Math Jams.
Click here for transcripts to past Math Jams.
© Copyright 2008 AoPS Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. • FoundationPrivacyContact Us