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Ch. 1 - Equations and Inequalities
Chapter 2, Problem 23

In Exercises 21–28, divide and express the result in standard form. 2i/(1 + i)

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1
Step 1: To divide \( \frac{2i}{1+i} \), we need to eliminate the imaginary unit \( i \) from the denominator. We do this by multiplying both the numerator and the denominator by the conjugate of the denominator.
Step 2: The conjugate of \( 1+i \) is \( 1-i \). Multiply both the numerator and the denominator by \( 1-i \): \( \frac{2i}{1+i} \times \frac{1-i}{1-i} \).
Step 3: In the numerator, apply the distributive property: \( 2i \times (1-i) = 2i - 2i^2 \).
Step 4: In the denominator, use the difference of squares formula: \( (1+i)(1-i) = 1^2 - i^2 \).
Step 5: Simplify the expression. Remember that \( i^2 = -1 \), so replace \( i^2 \) with \(-1\) in both the numerator and the denominator.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

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 and b is the coefficient of the imaginary unit i, which is defined as the square root of -1. Understanding complex numbers is essential for performing operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
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Division of Complex Numbers

Dividing complex numbers involves multiplying the numerator and the denominator by the conjugate of the denominator. The conjugate of a complex number a + bi is a - bi. This process eliminates the imaginary part from the denominator, allowing the result to be expressed in standard form, which is a + bi.
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Standard Form of Complex Numbers

The standard form of a complex number is expressed as a + bi, where a and b are real numbers. In this form, a represents the real part and b represents the imaginary part. Converting complex numbers into standard form is crucial for clarity and consistency in mathematical communication, especially when performing further calculations or comparisons.
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