What is the quotient of the…

Mathematics Questions

What is the quotient of the complex number ( 4 – 3i ) divided by its conjugate? A. ( frac{25}{24} + frac{25}{7}i ) B. ( frac{25}{24} – frac{25}{7}i ) C. ( frac{25}{7} – frac{25}{24}i ) D. ( frac{25}{7} + frac{25}{25}i )

Short Answer

To simplify the division of the complex number (4 + 3i) by (4 – 3i), first, identify the conjugate of the denominator, which is (4 + 3i). Next, multiply both the numerator and denominator by this conjugate, leading to a simplified expression of (25/7 – 25/24i).

Step-by-Step Solution

Here’s a simplified version of the explanation broken down into three steps.

Step 1: Identify the Conjugate

Start with the expression you need to divide, which is 4 + 3i by 4 – 3i. To simplify this, you need to identify the *conjugate* of the denominator, which involves changing the sign between its terms. Therefore, the *conjugate* of 4 – 3i is 4 + 3i.

Step 2: Multiply by the Conjugate

To eliminate the imaginary unit from the denominator, multiply both the numerator and the denominator by the *conjugate* (4 + 3i). This means you perform the following calculation:

  • Numerator: (4 + 3i)(4 + 3i)
  • Denominator: (4 – 3i)(4 + 3i)

This will result in a new expression that simplifies to 16 – 9i² in the numerator and 16 + 9 in the denominator, noting that i² = -1.

Step 3: Simplify the Expression

After substituting i² with -1, you can simplify each part:

  • Numerator: 16 + 9 = 25
  • Denominator: 25 – 12i which simplifies to 7 – 24i

Thus, the final result simplifies to 25/7 – 25/24i.

Related Concepts

Conjugate

The complex number obtained by changing the sign of the imaginary part of a given complex number

Numerator

The top part of a fraction, which represents the value being divided

Denominator

The bottom part of a fraction, which indicates the value by which the numerator is divided.

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