ACT Math : How to multiply complex numbers

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT Math

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store varsity tutors amazon store varsity tutors ibooks store

Example Questions

Example Question #31 :Squaring / Square Roots / Radicals

The solution ofis the set of all real numberssuch that:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Square both sides of the equation:

Then Solve for x:

Therefore,

Example Question #32 :Squaring / Square Roots / Radicals

What is the product ofand

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

用复数就像乘法binomials, you have to use foil. The only difference is, when you multiply the two terms that havein the them you can simplify theto negative 1. Foil is first, outside, inside, last

First

Outside:

Inside

Last

Add them all up and you get

Example Question #3 :How To Multiply Complex Numbers

Simplify the following:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Begin this problem by doing a basic FOIL, treatingjust like any other variable. Thus, you know:

Recall that since,. Therefore, you can simplify further:

Example Question #21 :Complex Numbers

Complex numbers take the form, whereis the real term in the complex number andis the nonreal (imaginary) term in the complex number.

Distribute:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

This equation can be solved very similarly to a binomial like. Distribution takes place into both the real and nonreal terms inside the complex number, where applicable.

Example Question #5 :How To Multiply Complex Numbers

Complex numbers take the form, whereis the real term in the complex number andis the nonreal (imaginary) term in the complex number.

Distribute and solve:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

This problem can be solved very similarly to a binomial like.

Example Question #6 :How To Multiply Complex Numbers

Complex numbers take the form, whereis the real term in the complex number andis the nonreal (imaginary) term in the complex number.

Which of the following is equivalent to?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

When dealing with complex numbers, remember that.

If we square, we thus get.

Yet another exponent gives usOR.

But when we hit, we discover that

Thus, we have a repeating pattern with powers of, with every 4 exponents repeating the pattern. This means any power ofevenly divisible by 4 will equal 1, any power ofdivisible by 4 with a remainder of 1 will equal, and so on.

Thus,

Since the remainder is 3, we know that.

Example Question #7 :How To Multiply Complex Numbers

Simplify the following:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Begin by treating this just like any normal case of FOIL. Notice that this is really the form of a difference of squares. Therefore, the distribution is very simple. Thus:

Now, recall that. Therefore,is. Based on this, we can simplify further:

Example Question #8 :How To Multiply Complex Numbers

Which of the following is equal to?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Remember that since, you know thatis. Therefore,isor. This makes our question very easy.

is the same asor

Thus, we know thatis the same asor.

Example Question #2351 :Act Math

Complex numbers take the form, whereis the real term in the complex number andis the nonreal (imaginary) term in the complex number.

Simplify the following expression, leaving no complex numbers in the denominator.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Solving this problem requires eliminating the nonreal term of the denominator. Our best bet for this is to cancel the nonreal term out by using theconjugateof the denominator.

Remember that for all binomials, there exists a conjugatesuch that.

This can also be applied to complex conjugates, which will eliminate the nonreal portion entirely (since)!

Multiply both terms by the denominator's conjugate.

Simplify. Note.

FOIL the numerator.

Combine and simplify.

Simplify the fraction.

Thus,.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors