In Exercises 1–8, add or subtract as indicated and write the result in standard form. (7 + 2i) + (1 - 4i)

Key Concepts

Complex Numbers

Complex numbers are numbers that have a real part and an imaginary part, expressed in the form a + bi, where a is the real part, b is the imaginary part, and i is the imaginary unit defined as the square root of -1. Understanding complex numbers is essential for performing operations such as addition and subtraction.

Addition of Complex Numbers

To add complex numbers, you combine their real parts and their imaginary parts separately. For example, when adding (7 + 2i) and (1 - 4i), you add 7 and 1 to get 8, and 2i and -4i to get -2i, resulting in the sum 8 - 2i.

Standard Form of Complex Numbers

The standard form of a complex number is a + bi, where a and b are real numbers. It is important to express the result of operations on complex numbers in this form to clearly identify the real and imaginary components, facilitating further calculations and interpretations.