simplify the expression

-6+i/-5+i
Could someone explain the steps?

2 answers

recall that (a+bi)(a-bi) = a^2+b^2

to get that pesky complex number out of the denominator, multiply by (-5-i) top and bottom:

(-6+i)(-5-i)/(-5-i)(-5+i)
= (30 - 5i + 6i - i^2)/26
= (31 + i)/26
= 31/26 + 1/26 i
thank you