How do I find the square root of a complex number?

Say you want to find the square root of the complex number 3+2i.
We can assume that the answer we want will be in the form a+bi.
It follows then, that you can also write 3+2i as (a+bi)2.
Expanding this gives us 3+2i = a2+2abi-b2
Then all we need to do is compare the coefficients of the imaginary and real parts: i.e. 3 = a2-b2 and 2 = 2ab.
Solve these 2 simultaneous equations to get a =1.8 and b = 0.56 (ignore any imaginary solutions for a and b - they have to be real).
Therefore the square root of 3+2i is 1.8+0.56i. You can check this by squaring our solution and you'll get back to 3+2i (or near enough due to rounding).


DC

Related Further Mathematics A Level answers

All answers ▸

Prove that 1+4+9+...+n^2 = n(n+1)(2n+1)/6.


How do you invert a 2x2 matrix?


3 points lie in a plane; P1=i+2j+3k, P2=-3i+5j+2k, P3=i+2j+k. Find the Cartesian equation of the plane


Prove by induction that for all positive integers n , f(n) = 2^(3n+1) + 3*5^(2n+1) , is divisible by 17.