Question

How do you simplify `(-1-6i)/(5+9i)`?

Answer 1

`(-1-6i)/(5+9i) = -59/106-21/106i`

Explanation:

In order to rationalise the denominator (i.e. make the denominator real) we multiply by the complex conjugate of the denominator, we then just multiply out and tidy up terms.

The denominator is `5+9i`, so the complex conjugate is `5-9i`

So we have:

`(-1-6i)/(5+9i) = ((-1-6i))/((5+9i)) * ((5-9i))/((5-9i))`
`" " = (-5+9i-30i+54i^2)/(25-45i+45i-81i^2)`
`" " = (-5-21i-54)/(25+81) \ \ \ \ (because i^2=-1)`
`" " = (-59-21i)/(106)`
`" " = -59/106-21/106i`