Complex Numbers · Guided Practice

Complex Numbers

19 questions with answers and video solutions. Try each one before revealing the answer.

1
A complex number z=2−3 i\displaystyle z=2-\sqrt{3}\,i.
(a) Write down the complex conjugate z‾\displaystyle \overline{z}.
(b) Find zz‾\displaystyle z\overline{z}.
Video solution coming soon

No hints on this one — its full written solution is with the answer.

2
z1=3+4i\displaystyle z_1=3+4i and z2=k−12i\displaystyle z_2=k-12i, k∈R\displaystyle k\in\mathbb{R}.
(a) Find and simplify z1z2‾\displaystyle z_{1}\overline{z_2}.
(b) Find the value of k\displaystyle k such that z1z2‾∈R\displaystyle z_{1}\overline{z_2}\in\mathbb{R}.
Video solution coming soon

No hints on this one — its full written solution is with the answer.

3
z=3−i2+ni∈R\displaystyle z=\frac{3-i}{2+ni}\in\mathbb{R} for some value n∈R\displaystyle n\in\mathbb{R}.
(a) Determine the value of n\displaystyle n.
(b) Hence find the value of z\displaystyle z.
Video solution coming soon

No hints on this one — its full written solution is with the answer.

4
Solve x2−4x+5=0\displaystyle x^2-4x+5=0 for x∈C\displaystyle x\in\mathbb{C}.
Video solution coming soon

No hints on this one — its full written solution is with the answer.

5
Solve the equation z+2i z‾=8+7i\displaystyle z+2i\,\overline{z}=8+7i.
Video solution coming soon

No hints on this one — its full written solution is with the answer.

6
Find the values of 3−4i\displaystyle \sqrt{3-4i}.
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No hints on this one — its full written solution is with the answer.

7
The complex number z=1+2i\displaystyle z=1+2i is a root of the equation z3−5z2+11z−15=0\displaystyle z^3-5z^2+11z-15=0.
Find the remaining roots.
Video solution coming soon

No hints on this one — its full written solution is with the answer.

8
The complex number z=1−3 i\displaystyle z=1-\sqrt{3}\,i is a root of the polynomial equation z4+3z2+2z+12=0\displaystyle z^4+3z^2+2z+12=0.
Find the remaining roots.
Video solution coming soon

No hints on this one — its full written solution is with the answer.

9
The complex number z\displaystyle z has been plotted on an Argand diagram in the fourth quadrant with coordinates (k3,−k)\displaystyle (k\sqrt{3}, -k).
Express z\displaystyle z in:
(a) Cartesian form
(b) polar form.
Video solution coming soon

No hints on this one — its full written solution is with the answer.

10
Two complex numbers are defined as: z=2(cos⁡π4+isin⁡π4)\displaystyle z=2\left(\cos\frac{\pi}{4}+i\sin\frac{\pi}{4}\right), w=3(cos⁡5π6+isin⁡5π6)\displaystyle w=3\left(\cos\frac{5\pi}{6}+i\sin\frac{5\pi}{6}\right).
Express in polar form:
(a) zw\displaystyle zw
(b) zw\displaystyle \frac{z}{w}.
Video solution coming soon

No hints on this one — its full written solution is with the answer.

11
Given z=−1−i\displaystyle z=-1-i, write z10\displaystyle z^{10} in polar form.
Video solution coming soon

No hints on this one — its full written solution is with the answer.

12
Express each of the fourth roots of −1+i\displaystyle -1+i in polar form.
Video solution coming soon

No hints on this one — its full written solution is with the answer.

13
2022 P1 Q3
2 Marks

Given that z1=5+3i\displaystyle z_1 = 5 + 3i and z2=6+2i\displaystyle z_2 = 6 + 2i, express z1z2‾\displaystyle z_1\overline{z_2} in the form a+ib\displaystyle a + ib where a\displaystyle a and b\displaystyle b are real numbers.

14
2023 P1 Q6
(2, 2)4 Marks

(a)Express z=1+3i\displaystyle z = 1 + \sqrt{3}i in polar form.

(b)Hence, or otherwise, show that z3\displaystyle z^3 is real.

15
2024 P1 Q2
(2, 2)4 Marks

A complex number is defined by z=1+i.\displaystyle z = 1 + i.

(a)Express z\displaystyle z in polar form.

(b)Use de Moivre's theorem to evaluate z8.\displaystyle z^8.

16
2024 P2 Q12
5 Marks

Given z=x+iy\displaystyle z = x + iy, y≠0\displaystyle y \neq 0, solve the equation

z2+20zˉ−156=0\displaystyle z^2 + 20\bar{z} - 156 = 0

where zˉ\displaystyle \bar{z} is the complex conjugate of z.\displaystyle z.

17
2025 P1 Q3
2 Marks

Two complex numbers are defined as z=11+10i\displaystyle z = 11 + 10i and w=3−2i.\displaystyle w = 3 - 2i.
Find zw\displaystyle \frac{z}{w} in the form a+bi\displaystyle a + bi, where a,b∈R.\displaystyle a, b \in \mathbb{R}.

18
2026 P1 Q3
(2, 2)4 Marks

A complex number is defined by z=3+i.\displaystyle z=\sqrt{3}+i.

(a)Express z\displaystyle z in polar form.

(b)Use de Moivre's theorem to show that z3\displaystyle z^{3} is purely imaginary.

19
2026 P1 Q7
(1, 5)6 Marks

The complex number z=2+i\displaystyle z=2+i is a root of the polynomial equation

z4−2z3−z2+2z+10=0.\displaystyle z^{4}-2z^{3}-z^{2}+2z+10=0.

(a)State a second root of the equation.

(b)Find the remaining roots.

Keep practising

More complex numbers questions

New questions, modelled on past paper questions and checked against their marking instructions. Not reprints — you have not seen these before.

Practice questions courtesy of Maths.scot. Full written solutions are on his site — the links above go straight to them.