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Dividing

Part of the Quadratics & Complex Numbers section of Coddy's Algebra 2 journey. Lesson 22 of 48.

A fraction with i in the bottom is not finished: the form a+bia+bi needs a real number underneath. To get one, multiply top and bottom by the conjugate of the bottom. That is allowed because you are multiplying by a fraction equal to 1.

Take 5+5i2+i\frac{5+5i}{2+i}. The conjugate of the bottom is 2−i2-i. The bottom becomes (2+i)(2−i)\left(2+i\right)\left(2-i\right), which is 4 + 1, so 5. The top becomes (5+5i)(2−i)=10−5i+10i−5i2\left(5+5i\right)\left(2-i\right) = 10-5i+10i-5{i}^{2}, which is 15+5i15+5i. Then split the fraction: 15+5i5=3+i\frac{15+5i}{5} = 3+i.

Check by multiplying back: (2+i)(3+i)\left(2+i\right)\left(3+i\right) is 6+5i+i26+5i+{i}^{2}, which is 5+5i5+5i.

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Challenge

Divide 7+i1+i\frac{7+i}{1+i} and write the answer as a+bia+bi.

Try it yourself

7+i1+i\frac{7+i}{1+i}

Simplify

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