High School What is the Difference between imaginary part and imaginary number?

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SUMMARY

The discussion clarifies the distinction between the imaginary part and the imaginary number in complex numbers. A complex number is defined as z = a + ib, where a is the real part and b is the imaginary part. The term "imaginary part" specifically refers to the real number b, while ib is considered the imaginary number itself. This convention simplifies mathematical manipulations and does not alter the fundamental properties of complex numbers.

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  • Understanding of complex numbers and their notation
  • Familiarity with real and imaginary components in mathematics
  • Basic knowledge of mathematical conventions and definitions
  • Ability to perform operations with complex numbers
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SHASHWAT PRATAP SING
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I am a high school student and I have a doubt regarding Complex Numbers.
when we define a complex number we say that a number of the form z=a+ib ,where a and b are real numbers is called a complex number.
a is called the real part and b is called the imaginary part, but I have a doubt here we know that ib is an imaginary number then why we say only b is the imaginary part of z why not ib.
for example-
In z=5+3i why we say 3 is the imaginary part of z why not 3i.
I am very confused for this please help me...
 
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This is simply the way things are defined: the imaginary part of a complex number is a real number (the real number multiplying i .)
In fact the imaginary part of a pure imaginary number is a real number. These are just done to make the manipulations easier.
 
SHASHWAT PRATAP SING said:
I am a high school student and I have a doubt regarding Complex Numbers.
when we define a complex number we say that a number of the form z=a+ib ,where a and b are real numbers is called a complex number.
a is called the real part and b is called the imaginary part, but I have a doubt here we know that ib is an imaginary number then why we say only b is the imaginary part of z why not ib.
for example-
In z=5+3i why we say 3 is the imaginary part of z why not 3i.
I am very confused for this please help me...
It's purely convention. The way things are defined we have: ##z = Re(z) +iIm(z)##, where ##Re(z), Im(z)## are real numbers. You could define ##Re(z) = a## and ##Im(z) = ib##. That wouldn't change anything except a detail about how you name things. For example, normally we have: $$|z|^2 = Re(z)^2 + Im(z)^2$$
Whereas, with your definition we would have: $$|z|^2 = Re(z)^2 + (\frac{Im(z)}{i})^2$$
 
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