Overview: In Appendix A, the basic manipulations of complex numbers are presented. The algebraic rules for combining complex numbers are reviewed, and then a geometric viewpoint is taken to explain various operations by drawing vector diagrams. The following four significant ideas will be pointed out concerning complex numbers:

• Simple Algebraic Rules: operations on complex numbers \(z=x+j\, y\) follow exactly the same rules as real numbers, with \(j^2\) replaced everywhere by \(-1\).
• Eliminate Trigonometry: in polar form, \(z=\cos(\theta) + j\, \sin(\theta)\) appears in formulas, so many trig identities reduce to simple algebraic operations on a complex number.
• Represent Vectors: a vector drawn from the origin to a point \((x,y)\) in a two-dimensional plane is equivalent to \(z=x+j\,y\). The algebraic rules for \(z\) are, in effect, the basic rules for vector operations. More important, however, is the visualization gained from the vector diagrams.
• Represent Sinusoids: the magnitude and phase of the sinusoid are used to define the polar form of a complex number. Then operations such as adding sine waves are reduced to adding complex numbers.

Demos - MATLAB 3