A Pure Imaginary Bottom
Part of the Quadratics & Complex Numbers section of Coddy's Algebra 2 journey. Lesson 23 of 48.
When the bottom is only imaginary, like 2i, its real part is 0, so its conjugate is -2i. That works: , which is 4, a real number.
Multiplying by i works too, with smaller numbers: , which is -2. Any nonzero real multiple of i makes the bottom real.
Take . Times i on top and bottom: the top is , which is , and the bottom is -2. Split the fraction: 6 over -2 is -3, and 8i over -2 is -4i, so the answer is . The bottom is negative, so every sign of the top flips.
Challenge
Divide and write the answer as .
Try it yourself
Simplify
This lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.
All lessons in Quadratics & Complex Numbers
2Completing the Square
The Missing NumberCompleting the SquareWhen a Is Not 1Recap: Completing the Square5Complex Arithmetic
Adding and SubtractingMultiplyingThe ConjugateDividingA Pure Imaginary BottomRecap: Complex Arithmetic8Lines Meet Parabolas
Two CrossingsJust TouchingNo MeetingA Circle and a LineRecap: Lines and Parabolas