Conjugate In Math - Surds, Complex Number, Rationalization

Conjugate in Math

The term conjugate means a pair of things joined together. For example, the two smileys: smiley and sad are exactly the same except for one pair of features that are actually opposite of each other. If you look at these smileys, you will notice that they are the same except that they have opposite facial expressions: one has a smile and the other has a frown. Similarly, conjugate in math refers to either the conjugate of a surd or the conjugate of a complex number where there is just a sign change in the number with respect to a few conditions.

Let us see what is conjugate in math in different cases and what is the use of finding it.

1.	What is Conjugate in Math?
2.	Conjugate of a Surd
3.	Conjugate of a Complex Number
4.	Conjugate and Rational Factor
5.	Conjugates and Rationalization
6.	FAQs on Conjugate in Math

What is Conjugate in Math?

The conjugate in math is formed by changing the sign between two terms in a binomial with respect to the condition that the sum and product of the binomial and its conjugate are rational. Here, the binomial can be either a surd or a complex number. Observe the following binomials and their conjugates.

	Binomial	Conjugate	Sum and Product are Rational Numbers
Surd	1 + √3	1 - √3	Sum = (1 + √3) + (1 - √3) = 2 Product = (1 + √3) (1 - √3) = 1 - 3 = -2
Complex Number	2 + i	2 - i	Sum = (2 + i) + (2 - i) = 4 Product = (2 + i) (2 - i) = 22 - i2 = 4 - (-1) = 5

We study two types of conjugates in math.

• Conjugate of a Surd
• Conjugate of a Complex Number

Let us study each of these in detail in the upcoming sections.

Conjugate of a Surd

The conjugate of a surd x + y√z is always x - y√z and vice versa. This is because the sum is (x + y√z) + (x - y√z) = 2x, and the product = (x + y√z) (x - y√z) = x2 - (y√z)2 = x2 - y2z (by the formula of a2 - b2) are rational numbers. For example, for the surd 3 + √2, the conjugate surd is 3 - √2, this is because:

• Their sum = (3 + √2) + (3 - √2) = 6 and
• Their product = (3 + √2) (3 - √2) = 9 - 2 = 7

Here, both 6 and 7 are rational numbers. Note that to find the conjugate of a surd, just change the sign of the surd (irrational part), but it is not changing the middle sign always. For example, the conjugate of the surd √2 + 3 is -√2 + 3, but NOT √2 - 3. Because, if we assume that √2 - 3 is the conjugate of √2 + 3, then their sum is 2√2, which is NOT a rational number. Here are some more examples of conjugates of surds in math.

Surd	Conjugate
2√5 + 3 (write it as 3 + 2√5)	3 - 2√5
-√7 - 3 (write it as -3 - √7)	-3 + √7
3 - √2	3 + √2

The easiest way of writing conjugate surd is to find the conjugate is just to write the given number in the order of rational part first and irrational part next and then change the middle sign.

Conjugate of a Complex Number

The complex conjugate of a complex number z = x + iy is x - iy (and vice versa) and it is represented by \(\bar{z}\) as their sum (2x) and the product x2 + y2 both are rational numbers. To write the complex conjugate,

• Write the given complex number in the form of x + iy (real part first and then the imaginary part)
• Change the middle sign. Then the complex conjugate of x + iy is x - iy.

Here are some examples of conjugates of complex numbers.

Complex Number	Conjugate
2 - i	2 + i
3i + 5 (write it as 5 + 3i)	5 - 3i
(-1/2) + 5i	(-1/2) - 5i

Conjugate and Rational Factor

If the product of two surds is a rational number, then each one of them is called the rational factor of the other. For example, the rational factors of 2 + √3 are each of 2 - √3 and -2 + √3. This is because by multiplying 2 + √3 with each of their conjugates result in a rational number as shown below.

• (2 + √3) (2 - √3) = 4 - 3 = 1
• (2 + √3) (-2 + √3) = -4 + 3 = -1

Note that -2 + √3 is NOT a conjugate of 2 + √3, its only a rational factor.

Sometimes, rational factor and conjugate of a number are referred to as the same but there is one minor difference between them. The sum of a binomial and its rational factor does NOT need to be a rational number, but the sum of a binomial and its conjugate SHOULD be a rational number. On the other hand, the product of a binomial with each of its rational factor and conjugate should be a rational number.

Conjugates and Rationalization

Rationalization of the denominator is the process of multiplying a fraction (with an irrational or complex denominator) by its rational factor or conjugate to make the denominator a rational number. This is because it is very convenient to have rational numbers in the denominators to compare or make some calculations in math. Here are two examples to understand how to rationalize the denominators by using conjugates.

Rationalization of Surds Example: Rationalize the denominator of 1 / (3 + √2).

Solution: The conjugate of 3 + √2 is 3 - √2. Multiplying and dividing the given fraction by 3 - √2,

1 / (3 + √2) × (3 - √2) / (3 - √2)

= (3 - √2) / (32 - (√2)2)

= (3 - √2) / (9 - 4)

= (3 - √2) / 5

Rationalization of Complex Numbers Example: Rationalize the denominator of 1 / (1 + i).

Solution: The complex conjugate of 1 + i is 1 - i.

1 / (1 + i) × (1 - i) / (1 - i)

= (1 - i) / (12 - i2)

= (1 - i) / (1 + 1) (Because by powers of iota, i2 = -1)

= (1 - i) / 2

Important Notes on Conjugate in Math:

• If z = x + √y and its conjugate is \(\bar{z}\) = x - √y, then z + \(\bar{z}\) = 2x and x - \(\bar{z}\) = 2√y.
• If z = x + iy and its conjugate is \(\bar{z}\) = x - iy, then z + \(\bar{z}\) = 2x and x - \(\bar{z}\) = 2iy.
• For a complex number z, if z + \(\bar{z}\) = 0, then z is purely imaginary.
• The modulus of a complex number and its conjugate are always the same. i.e., |z| = |\(\bar{z}\)|, for any complex number z.
• The conjugates are very useful in rationalization.

☛ Related Topics:

• Modulus of Complex Number
• Complex Number Calculator
• Dividing Complex Numbers Calculator