Complex Conjugate and Norm

Section 1.2 Complex Conjugate and Norm

The complex conjugate \(z^*\) of a complex number \(z=x+iy\) is found by replacing every \(i\) by \(-i\text{.}\) Therefore \(z^*=x-iy\text{.}\) (A common alternate notation for \(z^*\) is \(\bar{z}\text{.}\)) Geometrically, you should be able to see that the complex conjugate of ANY complex number is found by reflecting in the real axis, as shown in Figure 1.2.1.

Figure 1.2.1. The point \(z=x+iy\) and its complex conjugate \(z^*=x-iy\text{.}\)

Now let's calculate the product

\begin{align} z z^*\amp = (x+iy)(x-iy)\notag\\ \amp = x^2+y^2\notag\\ \amp = \vert z \vert^2\tag{1.2.1} \end{align}

Notice that this product is ALWAYS a positive, real number. The (positive) square root of this number is the distance of the point \(z\) from the origin in the complex plane. We call the square root the norm or magnitude of \(z\) and we use the same notation as "absolute value," i.e. \(\vert z\vert\text{.}\) In this way, we see that the definition of absolute value, as in \(\vert -2\vert=2\text{,}\) was never "strip off the minus sign," but really "how far is \(-2\) from the origin.