manual:chapter3:complex

A complex number can be represented mathematically in rectangular form as $z = x + iy$ or in polar form as $z = re^{i\theta}$. A complex number is entered as a pair of numbers comma or space separated and enclosed in parenthesis. For example, the complex number $5+3i$ would be entered (in rectangular form) as (5, 3) or (5 3) or in polar form ($r,\theta$) as (5.83, ∡30.96)1). Alternatively, a complex number can be created from two numbers using the command R→C:

5 3 R→C

The inverse command to break down a complex number is C→R. The real or imaginary parts of a complex number can be returned using the commands RE or IM, respectively. Converting from rectangular to polar representation can be done using the command →POLAR. The inverse conversion, polar to rectangular, is done using the command →RECT. It is also possible to enter complex numbers in different bases, although commands and operations between complex numbers will always return the result in base 10. For example, to enter the above example in base 2:

#101b #11b R→C

leads to (#101b,#11b) on the stack, but taking the complex conjugate (CONJ) results in (5,-3).

System flag -103 formally sets the calculator mode to complex: -103 SF. This is important to ensure all input to functions return complex results. For example, without setting flag -103, taking the square root of -1 results an an error (Argument outside domain). Whereas in complex mode, the square root of -1 returns the correct result (0,1).

Many of the functions that operate on regular (non-complex) numbers also operate on complex numbers. These functions include the basic arithmetic functions ($+,-,\times,\div$) along with many of the trigonometry ($\sin, \operatorname{asin}, \cos, \operatorname{acos}, \tan, \operatorname{atan}$) and power functions ($x^2, \sqrt x , e^x, \ln x, 10^x, \log x$).

The following table summarizes commands applicable to complex numbers, $z=x+iy=re^{i\theta}$.

 Command Purpose Example ($\theta$ in degrees) C→R Break down complex number to two reals (5,3) C→R yields 5 3 R→C Combine two numbers to a complex 5 3 R→C yields (5,3) IM Imaginary part of a complex number (5,3) IM yields 3 RE Real part of a complex number (5,3) RE yields 5 →POLAR Convert from rectangular to polar (5,3) →POLAR yields (5.831.,∡30.964.°) →RECT Convert from polar to rectangular (5.831.,∡30.964.°) →RECT yields (5.,3.) ABS $|z|=r=\sqrt{x^2+y^2}$ (5,3) ABS yields 5.831. ARG $\theta = \operatorname{atan}(y/x)$ (5,3) ARG yields ∡30.964.° SIGN $z/|z|$ (5,3) SIGN yields (0.857.,0.514.) NEG $-z=-x-iy$ (5,3) NEG yields (-5, -3) CONJ $x-iy$ (5,3) CONJ yields (5,-3)

1)
The keyboard shortcut for the angle symbol (∡) is AL-RS-6. In this case the calculator is set to DEG mode, angles can be expressed in radians by setting RAD.
• manual/chapter3/complex.txt