Knowledge Sharing: Complex Numbers, Vectors, Matrices, and Their Interrelations

Renda Zhang
2 min readDec 15, 2023

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Complex Numbers:

- Definition: Expressed as a + bi, where a is the real part, b is the imaginary part, and i is the imaginary unit, satisfying i² = -1 .
- Property: Complies with the rules of arithmetic, can be visualized as points or vectors in a 2D space.

Vectors:

- Definition: In 2D space, a vector can be represented as (x, y), where x and y are real numbers.
- Relation: A complex number a + bi can be considered as a 2D vector, with a and b corresponding to its horizontal and vertical components, respectively.

Matrices in Relation to Complex Numbers and Vectors:

- Matrices and Complex Numbers: Operations on complex numbers can be represented using specific 2x2 real matrices. For example, the complex number a + bi corresponds to the matrix [[a,-b],[b,a]].
- Matrices and Vectors: Vectors can be transformed through matrices, facilitating operations like rotation, scaling, and translation.

Extension to Three Dimensions:
- Quaternions: In three-dimensional space, an extension of complex numbers are quaternions, comprising one real and three imaginary parts, used for representing rotations in 3D.

Summary:
Though complex numbers, vectors, and matrices each have distinct operational rules, they are closely interrelated, especially in addressing problems in 2D space. Complex numbers are akin to special 2D vectors, and matrices are instrumental in representing and manipulating transformations of complex numbers and vectors.

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Renda Zhang
Renda Zhang

Written by Renda Zhang

A Software Developer with a passion for Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence.

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