Question

In 3–5 sentences, describe why real numbers and purely imaginary numbers are also complex numbers composed of real and imaginary parts. Also, describe how to identify the real part versus the imaginary part of a complex number.

Answer 1

answer like an 11th grader

Answer 2

Real numbers and purely imaginary numbers are considered complex numbers because they can be expressed in the form \( a + bi \), where \( a \) and \( b \) are real numbers, and \( i \) is the imaginary unit. In this expression, a real number can be written as \( a + 0i \) (with a real part \( a \) and an imaginary part \( 0 \)), while a purely imaginary number can be represented as \( 0 + bi \) (with a real part of \( 0 \) and an imaginary part \( b \)). To identify the real part and the imaginary part of a complex number written in standard form \( a + bi \), the real part is the coefficient \( a \) and the imaginary part is the coefficient \( b \), typically interpreted as the number multiplied by \( i \).