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Complex Number Calculator

Add, subtract, multiply, divide or raise complex numbers to a power, with the result in rectangular and polar form, modulus and argument.

For Power, the exponent is taken from the real part c of the second number.

About this tool

Do arithmetic with two complex numbers a+bi and c+di. Choose add, subtract, multiply, divide or power, and the calculator shows the result in rectangular form a+bi, its polar form r∠θ, and the modulus and argument. Everything is computed in your browser.

Addition and subtraction work component by component. Multiplication is (ac - bd) + (ad + bc)i. Division multiplies by the conjugate: ((ac + bd) + (bc - ad)i) / (c² + d²). Powers use De Moivre's theorem: with modulus r = √(a²+b²) and argument θ = atan2(b, a), the result is rⁿ(cos nθ + i sin nθ). The modulus of any result is √(re² + im²) and its argument is atan2(im, re), which is also the θ shown in the polar form.

For the power operation the exponent is taken from the real part of the second number, so set c to the power you want (for example c = 2 to square a+bi). Division by zero (0 + 0i) is rejected rather than returning infinity.

Frequently asked questions

How is division of complex numbers done?
By multiplying numerator and denominator by the conjugate of the denominator, giving ((ac + bd) + (bc - ad)i) / (c² + d²), which clears the imaginary part from the bottom.
What is the polar form r∠θ?
It expresses the number by its distance from the origin (modulus r) and its angle from the positive real axis (argument θ), an alternative to the rectangular a+bi form.
How does the power option work?
It applies De Moivre's theorem using the exponent taken from the real part (c) of the second number, so enter the power there; the imaginary part d is ignored for this operation.
In what units is the argument?
The argument is shown in degrees, measured with atan2 so it lands in the correct quadrant from -180 to 180 degrees.

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