Use the complex conjugate to find the absolute value of 8+12i.

Question

zuha · Answer

I'm not completely sure what a complex conjugate is to begin with.

518nad · Answer

basically u just take the same complex number but u make the i part negative

518nad · Answer

(8+12i)*=8-12i

zuha · Answer

So basically you cancel it out?

518nad · Answer

zz*=|z|^2
z=(8+12i)
(8+12i)(8+12i)* =8^2+12^2=64+144=208

zuha · Answer

Where did the z come from?

518nad · Answer

|z|^2=208
|z|=sqrt208

518nad · Answer

z represents a complex number

518nad · Answer

(a+ib ) x (a-ib) =? see what happens when u multiply these numbers together

518nad · Answer

a+ib represents a a complex number z
and 
a-ib represents the complex conjugate of z

518nad · Answer

all complex numbers are of the form a+ib

zuha · Answer

Is there a purpose for the asterisk here "(8+12i)(8+12i)*"?

518nad · Answer

the asterisk means complex conjugate

518nad · Answer

(8+12i)(8+12i)* = (8+12i)(8-12i)

518nad · Answer

use your distributive law of multiplication to expand those brackets out

zuha · Answer

When we multiply them together we get a^2-ib^2 I believe?

zuha · Answer

Alright, that makes sense, just read through everything you said, thank you for your help :)