Adding and Subtracting Complex Numbers
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*Add like terms*

Find the sum of the real components.

Find the sum of the imaginary components
(the components with the i after them).
 


REMEMBER:

Final answer must be in simplest  
form.

   

                 

Adding Rule:



Examples:

1.   Add:  (7 + 5i) + (8 - 3i)

 
 

2.   Add:  (2 + 3i) + (-8 - 6i)

                

 
3.   Express the sum of  and
                             in the form .


 

4.   Add     and   .




 

*Subtract like terms*

Find the difference of the real components.

Find the difference of the imaginary components
(the components with the i after them).


REMEMBER:

Final answer must be in simplest  
form.

 



 

Subtracting Rule:


Examples:

1. Subtract:  (5 + 8i) - (2 + 2i)

 
 

2.  Subtract:  (4 + 10i) - (-12 + 20i)

         
 

3.  Subtract from .


 

4.  Subtract from .

 

 

Check out how to use your TI-83+/84+ graphing calculator with complex numbers.
Click here.