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2.3 Complex numbers and Euler's formula

3 min readjuly 18, 2024

Complex numbers are essential in bioengineering signals and systems. They allow us to represent and manipulate , which are fundamental in biological systems. From brain waves to heart rhythms, these mathematical tools help us analyze and interpret complex physiological data.

Understanding complex numbers in different forms (rectangular, polar, exponential) is crucial for . These representations enable us to perform arithmetic operations, apply , and use complex exponentials to describe sinusoidal signals in bioengineering applications.

Complex Numbers

Forms of complex number representation

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  • represents complex numbers as a+jba + jb
    • aa denotes the and bb denotes the
    • jj is defined as 1\sqrt{-1} (electrical engineering convention)
  • expresses complex numbers as rθr \angle \theta or rejθr e^{j\theta}
    • () rr represents the distance from the origin on the (e.g., 2\sqrt{2})
    • Angle () θ\theta is measured in radians counterclockwise from the positive real axis (e.g., π4\frac{\pi}{4})
    • Convert rectangular to polar using r=a2+b2r = \sqrt{a^2 + b^2} and θ=tan1(ba)\theta = \tan^{-1}(\frac{b}{a})
  • writes complex numbers as rejθr e^{j\theta}
    • Utilizes Euler's formula ejθ=cosθ+jsinθe^{j\theta} = \cos\theta + j\sin\theta to represent polar form
    • Convert polar to exponential by substituting cosθ+jsinθ\cos\theta + j\sin\theta for ejθe^{j\theta} (e.g., 2ejπ4=2(cosπ4+jsinπ4)2e^{j\frac{\pi}{4}} = 2(\cos\frac{\pi}{4} + j\sin\frac{\pi}{4}))

Arithmetic with complex numbers

  • Add and subtract complex numbers by operating on real and imaginary parts separately
    • (a+jb)±(c+jd)=(a±c)+j(b±d)(a + jb) \pm (c + jd) = (a \pm c) + j(b \pm d) (e.g., (2+j3)+(4j5)=6j2(2 + j3) + (4 - j5) = 6 - j2)
  • Multiply complex numbers using distributive property and j2=1j^2 = -1
    • (a+jb)(c+jd)=(acbd)+j(ad+bc)(a + jb)(c + jd) = (ac - bd) + j(ad + bc) (e.g., (2+j3)(4j5)=23j14(2 + j3)(4 - j5) = 23 - j14)
    • In polar form, multiply magnitudes and add angles: (r1θ1)(r2θ2)=r1r2(θ1+θ2)(r_1 \angle \theta_1)(r_2 \angle \theta_2) = r_1 r_2 \angle (\theta_1 + \theta_2)
  • Divide complex numbers by multiplying numerator and denominator by of denominator
    • a+jbc+jd=(a+jb)(cjd)(c+jd)(cjd)=(ac+bd)+j(bcad)c2+d2\frac{a + jb}{c + jd} = \frac{(a + jb)(c - jd)}{(c + jd)(c - jd)} = \frac{(ac + bd) + j(bc - ad)}{c^2 + d^2} (e.g., 2+j34j5=23j1441\frac{2 + j3}{4 - j5} = \frac{23 - j14}{41})
    • In polar form, divide magnitudes and subtract angles: r1θ1r2θ2=r1r2(θ1θ2)\frac{r_1 \angle \theta_1}{r_2 \angle \theta_2} = \frac{r_1}{r_2} \angle (\theta_1 - \theta_2)

Euler's formula for complex exponentials

  • Euler's formula expresses complex exponentials in terms of trigonometric functions
    • ejθ=cosθ+jsinθe^{j\theta} = \cos\theta + j\sin\theta (e.g., ejπ4=22+j22e^{j\frac{\pi}{4}} = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} + j\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2})
  • Complex exponential ejωte^{j\omega t} represents sinusoidal signals
    • Angular frequency ω\omega measured in radians per second (e.g., 2πf2\pi f, where ff is frequency in Hz)
    • Time tt measured in seconds
    • Real part cos(ωt)\cos(\omega t) represents a cosine wave
    • Imaginary part jsin(ωt)j\sin(\omega t) represents a sine wave

Complex numbers in signal processing

  • decomposes time-domain signals into complex exponentials in frequency domain
    • Complex exponentials capture both amplitude and phase information of frequency components
  • of a system is a complex-valued function
    • Magnitude of complex number represents gain at each frequency
    • Angle of complex number represents phase shift at each frequency
  • Complex numbers simplify mathematical operations in frequency domain
    • Enable compact representation of magnitude and phase relationships between signals
  • Stability analysis uses complex-valued poles and zeros
    • Poles in right half-plane (positive real part) indicate unstable system
    • Zeros in right half-plane can cancel unstable poles for overall stable system
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© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.

© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.
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