TI-86 Tutorial
Sum, Difference, Product, and Quotient of Complex Numbers
The sum, difference, product, and quotient of complex numbers can be found
very easily on the TI86. A complex number a + bi is represented by the
calculator as a pair ( a, b ). The first coordinate a represents
the real part
of the complex number and the second coordinate b represents the
imaginary part of the complex number.
Add the complex numbers 4 - 5i and 3 + 7i.
- Enter the pair that represents the first complex number in the sum. Type
the pair ( 4, -5 )
- Press the + key
- Enter the pair that represents the second complex number in the sum. Type
the pair ( 3, 7 )
- Press ENTER The calculator displays the result of ( 7, 2 ).
The complex number that this pair represents is 7 + 2i
Subtract the complex numbers 4 - 5i and 3 + 7i.
- Enter the pair that represents the first complex number in the difference. Type
the pair ( 4, -5 )
- Press the - key
- Enter the pair that represents the second complex number in the difference. Type
the pair ( 3, 7 )
- Press ENTER The calculator displays the result of ( 1, -12 ).
The complex number that this pair represents is 1 - 12i
Multiply the complex numbers 4 - 5i and 3 + 7i.
- Enter the pair that represents the first complex number in the product. Type
the pair ( 4, -5 )
- Press the * key
- Enter the pair that represents the second complex number in the product. Type
the pair ( 3, 7 )
- Press ENTER The calculator displays the result of ( 47, 13 ).
The complex number that this pair represents is 47 + 13i
Divide the complex numbers 4 - 5i by 3 + 7i.
- Enter the pair that represents the first complex number in the quotient. Type
the pair ( 4, -5 )
- Press the / key
- Enter the pair that represents the second complex number in the quotient. Type
the pair ( 3, 7 )
- Press ENTER The calculator displays the result of ( -.396551724138, -.741379310345 ).
The complex number that this pair represents is -.396551724138 + -.741379310345i