Complex conjugate

Revision as of 09:57, 4 December 2007 by 1=2 (talk | contribs) (Properties)

The complex conjugate of a complex number $z = a + bi$ is the complex number $\overline{z} = a - bi$.

Geometrically, if $z$ is a point in the complex plane, $\overline z$ is the reflection of $z$ across the real axis.

Properties

Conjugation is its own functional inverse and commutes with the usual operations on complex numbers:

  • $\overline{(\overline z)} = z$
  • $\overline{(w \cdot z)} = \overline{w} \cdot \overline{z}$ ($\overline{(w \cdot z)}$ is the same as $\overline{(w \cdot \frac{1}{z})})$
  • $\overline{(w + z)} = \overline{w} + \overline{z}$ ($\overline{(w + z)}$ is the same as $\overline{(w + (-z))}) It also interacts in simple ways with other operations on$\mathbb{C}$: *$|\overline{z}| = |z|$*$\overline{z}\cdot z = |z|^2$* If$z = r\cdot e^{it}$for$r, t \in \mathbb{R}$,$\overline z = r\cdot e^{-it}$.  That is,$\overline z$is the complex number of same [[absolute value]] but opposite [[argument]] of$z$. *$z + \overline z = 2 \mathrm{Re}(z)$where$\mathrm{Re}(z)$is the [[real part]] of$z$. *$z - \overline{z} = 2i \mathrm{Im}(z)$where$\mathrm{Im}(z)$is the [[imaginary part]] of$z$.


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