How to take derivative of complex number?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around taking the derivative of a function involving complex numbers, specifically in the context of an electromagnetism problem. The original poster presents a problem where they need to find the derivative of a power expression with respect to a complex variable.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss simplifying the expression involving complex variables and identifying real and imaginary parts. There are questions about specific components of the complex numbers and how to differentiate them.

Discussion Status

Several participants have provided hints and suggestions for simplifying the expression and identifying the real part. The original poster has made progress but expresses uncertainty about treating certain variables as constants during differentiation. There is ongoing exploration of the derivative's form and the implications of the assumptions made.

Contextual Notes

There is a lack of clarity regarding the definitions and roles of the variables R, Y, and Z, which some participants acknowledge as a point of uncertainty in the discussion.

dumpman
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Homework Statement


On the first day of Electromagnetism class, the professor gave this problem to us to solve. I never learn about taking derivative of complex number. Can someone give me some hints?
his problem was:
Given P= 0.5 Re(I*V)
I= V/(A+B)
A= R+jX , B=Y+ jZ

V is constant, find the derivative of P with respect to X (dP/dx)



Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution

 
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You could simplify VI in terms of the complex variables, then take out the real part (which might just be a function in X only).

So that P=0.5 Re(I*V)= 0.5f(X)
 
thank you for your response, could you be more specific? which part is the real part and which is the imaginery part?
 
dumpman said:
thank you for your response, could you be more specific? which part is the real part and which is the imaginery part?

j or i is used to denote the complex variable √-1, so in A= R+jX, R is the real part (the one without a 'j')
 
this is what I did after your hint. VI becomes V^2/A+B, and V^2 is constant so I take it outside, leaving just 1/A+B for differentiation.
1/A+B = 1/R+jX+Y+jZ. now I am stuck. I don't know how to find dP/dX.
 
dumpman said:
this is what I did after your hint. VI becomes V^2/A+B, and V^2 is constant so I take it outside, leaving just 1/A+B for differentiation.
1/A+B = 1/R+jX+Y+jZ. now I am stuck. I don't know how to find dP/dX.

so 1/(A+B)= 1/(R+jX+Y+jZ)=1/[(R+Y)+(X+Z)j]

now multiply both the numerator and denominator by the conjugate of (R+Y)+(X+Z)j
 
thanks for your hint again, now I got [(R+Y)-j(X+Z)]/[(R+Y)^2+(X+Z)^2]
 
Last edited:
dumpman said:
thanks for your hint again, now I got [(R+Y)-j(X+Z)]/[(R+Y)^2+(X+Y)^2]

so put that into the form a+jb and then the real part is simply your 'a'
 
so the real part is (R+Y)/[(R+Y)^2+(X+Z)^2]. can I take the derivative with respect with X? can I treat R,Y,Z as constant?
 
  • #10
dumpman said:
so the real part is (R+Y)/[(R+Y)^2+(X+Z)^2]. can I take the derivative with respect with X? can I treat R,Y,Z as constant?

I am not sure what R,Y and Z are supposed to be, but I assume you would.
 
  • #11
thank you again, after I worked it out, I got dP/dX = -0.5(V^2)[2(x+Z)]/(R+Y)[(R+Y)^2+(X+Z)^2]^2
 
  • #12
hi,

how to find the derivative of [1/(z*sin(z)*cos(z)] from first principles?
complicated. any recommendations?
 
  • #13
NJunJie said:
hi,

how to find the derivative of [1/(z*sin(z)*cos(z)] from first principles?
complicated. any recommendations?

Don't hijack this thread. Start a new one using the definition of the derivative.

[tex]f'(x)=\lim_{h \rightarrow 0} \frac{f(x+h)-f(x)}{h}[/tex]
 

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