Chapter 5

Working with Complex Numbers

In This Chapter

arrow Setting the mode to a + bi

arrow Entering complex numbers

arrow Deciphering strange-looking results

arrow Utilizing the CMPLX menu

Early on in your math journey, you were probably told that you can’t take the square root of a negative number. Then a teacher blew your mind by saying you really can take the square root of a negative number and the result will contain the imaginary number, i. Complex numbers are of the form a + bi, where a is the real part and b is the imaginary part. Fortunately, your calculator knows how to handle complex numbers. In fact, there’s a CMPLX menu of functions on your calculator designed to accomplish just about any task you need to when working with complex numbers.

Setting the Mode

Try evaluating 9781118592885-eq05001.eps in your calculator. On the Home screen, press `q_1e. There’s a good chance you’ll get an ERROR: NONREAL ANSWERS message, as shown in the first screen in Figure 5-1.

In Real mode, your calculator usually returns an error ...

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