Filter by: Content type: ALL Problems Articles Games Stage: All Stage 1&2 Stage 2&3 Stage 3&4 Stage 4&5 Challenge level:
Make a conjecture about the curved track taken by the complex roots of a quadratic equation and use complex conjugates to prove your conjecture.
Solve the equation sin z = 2 for complex z. You only need the formula you are given for sin z in terms of the exponential function, and to solve a quadratic equation and use the logarithmic function.
Evaluate without a calculator: (5 sqrt2 + 7)^{1/3} - (5 sqrt2 - 7)^1/3}.
If xyz = 1 and x+y+z =1/x + 1/y + 1/z show that at least one of these numbers must be 1. Now for the complexity! When are the other numbers real and when are they complex?
Play a more cerebral countdown using complex numbers.
Show that x = 1 is a solution of the equation x^(3/2) - 8x^(-3/2) = 7 and find all other solutions.
Here the diagram says it all. Can you find the diagram?
To break down an algebraic fraction into partial fractions in which all the denominators are linear and all the numerators are constants you simetimes need complex numbers.
Take any parallelogram and draw squares on the sides of the parallelogram. What can you prove about the quadrilateral formed by joining the centres of these squares?
What is an AC voltage? How much power does an AC power source supply?
Can you work out what simple structures have been dressed up in these advanced mathematical representations?
Give your further pure mathematics skills a workout with this interactive and reusable set of activities.
Put your complex numbers and calculus to the test with this impedance calculation.
Ranging from kindergarten mathematics to the fringe of research this informal article paints the big picture of number in a non technical way suitable for primary teachers and older students.
This article introduces complex numbers, brings together into one bigger 'picture' some closely related elementary ideas like vectors and the exponential and trigonometric functions and. . . .
Investigate x to the power n plus 1 over x to the power n when x plus 1 over x equals 1.
Triangle ABC has equilateral triangles drawn on its edges. Points P, Q and R are the centres of the equilateral triangles. What can you prove about the triangle PQR?
Choose some complex numbers and mark them by points on a graph. Multiply your numbers by i once, twice, three times, four times, ..., n times? What happens?
Investigate matrix models for complex numbers and quaternions.
NRICH has always had good solutions from Madras College in St Andrew's, Scotland but the solutions to this problem were truly exceptional.
Where we follow twizzles to places that no number has been before.
Make the twizzle twist on its spot and so work out the hidden link.
This problem in geometry has been solved in no less than EIGHT ways by a pair of students. How would you solve it? How many of their solutions can you follow? How are they the same or different?. . . .
Make a footprint pattern using only reflections.
A loopy exploration of z^2+1=0 (z squared plus one) with an eye on winding numbers. Try not to get dizzy!
A short introduction to complex numbers written primarily for students aged 14 to 19.