Complex numbers

Abstract

So far we have dealt with phasor quantities which involve ‘in-phase’ and ‘quadrature’ components using conventional mathematics and trigonometry. Mathematicians have devised a method of dealing with phasor quantities with relative ease, and it is known as complex numbers. The reader should not confuse ‘complex numbers’ with ‘complicated numbers’, because complex numbers do not involve any more mathematics than we have dealt with already in this book. Anyone hoping to extend their knowledge of electrical and electronic engineering will find that the information in this chapter particularly useful.