MHT-CET Maths · Teaching notes
Complex Numbers — MHT-CET Maths
Complex Numbers is one question a paper and one of the more forgiving chapters in MHT-CET Maths: under a third of its past-year questions are HARD, and the same handful of stems recur across sittings with the numbers unchanged. The work is algebra with one extra rule (i² = −1) and one extra picture (the Argand plane), and almost every question is a conjugate multiplication, a modulus property, a quadrant check on an argument, or a modulus condition read as a circle or a line. Work the pages below in order: the algebra page fixes the habits the other two assume, the modulus-and-argument page is where most of the marks are, and the locus page turns the chapter's one geometric idea — distance in the plane — into the greatest-and-least-modulus shape that also appears in the Circle chapter. Every PYQ is tagged.
Every subtopic, worked example, formula and trap in one printable document — answers shown, ready to share.
Subtopic notes
Algebra of Complex Numbers — Conjugates, Powers of i and Cube Roots of Unity
15 PYQsEverything algebraic about z = x + iy: reduce powers of i modulo 4, multiply by the conjugate to clear a denominator, equate real and imaginary parts, and reduce powers of ω modulo 3.
Open note
Modulus and Argument — Polar Form, De Moivre and Square Roots
18 PYQs|z| is the distance from the origin and arg z the angle from the positive real axis — the modulus multiplies and divides, the argument adds and subtracts, and z = r(cos θ + i sin θ) makes powers routine.
Open note
Locus in the Argand Plane — Circles, Lines and Greatest/Least Modulus
12 PYQs|z − a| is the distance from z to the point a — so |z − a| = r is a circle, |z − a| = |z − b| is a perpendicular bisector, and the greatest and least |z| on a disc are |a| ± r.
Open note
PYQ weightage by concept
15 concepts · 45 PYQs — where the marks actually sit, so you know what to drill first
PYQ weightage by concept
15 concepts · 45 PYQs — where the marks actually sit, so you know what to drill first
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| A Polynomial at a Complex x: Use Its Minimal Quadratic, and Cube Expansions | 4 | 9% |
| Cube Roots of Unity: ω³ = 1 and 1 + ω + ω² = 0 | 4 | 9% |
| The Conjugate: Rationalising a Denominator and Equating Conjugates | 3 | 7% |
| Solving for z: Put z = x + iy and Equate Parts | 2 | 4% |
| Powers of i and the Standard Form x + iy | 1 | 2% |
| Purely Real or Purely Imaginary: Set the Other Part to Zero | 1 | 2% |
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| The Argument: Reference Angle Plus the Quadrant | 4 | 9% |
| |z| + z = a + ib: Equate the Imaginary Part, Then Solve for |z| | 4 | 9% |
| Find z From a Given Modulus: Simplify, Then Fix the Parameter | 4 | 9% |
| Modulus and Its Properties: |z₁z₂| = |z₁||z₂| | 3 | 7% |
| Polar Form and De Moivre: Powers, Rotations and sin θ + i cos θ | 3 | 7% |
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| |z − a| = |z − b| Is the Perpendicular Bisector of ab | 4 | 9% |
| |z − a| = r Is a Circle: Centre a, Radius r | 3 | 7% |
| Re of a Quotient Equals Zero: Rationalise, Then Read the Circle | 3 | 7% |
| Greatest and Least |z| on a Disc: |a| + r and |a| − r | 2 | 4% |
Formula & revision sheet
15 formulas · 15 gotchas across all subtopics — the exam-eve cheat-sheet
Formula & revision sheet
15 formulas · 15 gotchas across all subtopics — the exam-eve cheat-sheet
Formulas (6)
- Powers of i and the Standard Form x + iy · Cycle of powers of i
- The Conjugate: Rationalising a Denominator and Equating Conjugates · Conjugate identities
- Purely Real or Purely Imaginary: Set the Other Part to Zero · Real and imaginary conditions
- Solving for z: Put z = x + iy and Equate Parts · Equating parts
- A Polynomial at a Complex x: Use Its Minimal Quadratic, and Cube Expansions · Minimal quadratic and the cube
- Cube Roots of Unity: ω³ = 1 and 1 + ω + ω² = 0 · The two facts
Watch out for (6)
- i³ = i, and other lapses in the cycle→ Powers of i and the Standard Form x + iy
- Conjugating only the numerator→ The Conjugate: Rationalising a Denominator and Equating Conjugates
- Setting the imaginary part to zero for 'purely imaginary'→ Purely Real or Purely Imaginary: Set the Other Part to Zero
- Dividing by 1 − i without rationalising→ Solving for z: Put z = x + iy and Equate Parts
- Substituting the complex number directly→ A Polynomial at a Complex x: Use Its Minimal Quadratic, and Cube Expansions
- Stopping at ω⁴→ Cube Roots of Unity: ω³ = 1 and 1 + ω + ω² = 0
Formulas (5)
- Modulus and Its Properties: |z₁z₂| = |z₁||z₂| · Modulus rules
- The Argument: Reference Angle Plus the Quadrant · Argument rules
- Polar Form and De Moivre: Powers, Rotations and sin θ + i cos θ · De Moivre and the rotation by i
- |z| + z = a + ib: Equate the Imaginary Part, Then Solve for |z| · Closed form
- Find z From a Given Modulus: Simplify, Then Fix the Parameter · Modulus first, algebra second
Watch out for (5)
- Expanding the product to find its modulus→ Modulus and Its Properties: |z₁z₂| = |z₁||z₂|
- The argument from the ratio alone→ The Argument: Reference Angle Plus the Quadrant
- Applying De Moivre to sin θ + i cos θ→ Polar Form and De Moivre: Powers, Rotations and sin θ + i cos θ
- Answering the twin sitting's value→ |z| + z = a + ib: Equate the Imaginary Part, Then Solve for |z|
- z or z̄?→ Find z From a Given Modulus: Simplify, Then Fix the Parameter
Formulas (4)
- |z − a| = r Is a Circle: Centre a, Radius r · Circle in the Argand plane
- |z − a| = |z − b| Is the Perpendicular Bisector of ab · Line from equal distances
- Re of a Quotient Equals Zero: Rationalise, Then Read the Circle · Purely imaginary quotient
- Greatest and Least |z| on a Disc: |a| + r and |a| − r · Extreme modulus on a disc
Watch out for (4)
- Reading |z + 1| as centred at +1→ |z − a| = r Is a Circle: Centre a, Radius r
- Calling every modulus locus a circle→ |z − a| = |z − b| Is the Perpendicular Bisector of ab
- Reporting the radius squared→ Re of a Quotient Equals Zero: Rationalise, Then Read the Circle
- Answering 2√5 for the difference→ Greatest and Least |z| on a Disc: |a| + r and |a| − r