Complex number arithmetic
If the macro constant |
(since C11) |
The C programming language, as of C99, supports complex number math with the three built-in types double _Complex, float _Complex, and long double _Complex (see _Complex). When the header <complex.h>
is included, the three complex number types are also accessible as double complex, float complex, long double complex.
In addition to the complex types, the three imaginary types may be supported: double _Imaginary, float _Imaginary, and long double _Imaginary (see _Imaginary). When the header <complex.h>
is included, the three imaginary types are also accessible as double imaginary, float imaginary, and long double imaginary.
Standard arithmetic operators +, -, *, / can be used with real, complex, and imaginary types in any combination.
A compiler that defines |
(since C99) (until C11) |
Imaginary numbers are supported if |
(since C11) |
Defined in header
<complex.h> | |
Types | |
(C99) |
imaginary type macro (keyword macro) |
(C99) |
complex type macro (keyword macro) |
The imaginary constant | |
(C99) |
the imaginary unit constant i (macro constant) |
(C99) |
the complex unit constant i (macro constant) |
(C99) |
the complex or imaginary unit constant i (macro constant) |
Manipulation | |
(C11)(C11)(C11) |
constructs a complex number from real and imaginary parts (function macro) |
(C99)(C99)(C99) |
computes the real part of a complex number (function) |
(C99)(C99)(C99) |
computes the imaginary part a complex number (function) |
(C99)(C99)(C99) |
computes the magnitude of a complex number (function) |
(C99)(C99)(C99) |
computes the phase angle of a complex number (function) |
(C99)(C99)(C99) |
computes the complex conjugate (function) |
(C99)(C99)(C99) |
computes the projection on Riemann sphere (function) |
Exponential functions | |
(C99)(C99)(C99) |
computes the complex base-e exponential (function) |
(C99)(C99)(C99) |
computes the complex natural logarithm (function) |
Power functions | |
(C99)(C99)(C99) |
computes the complex power function (function) |
(C99)(C99)(C99) |
computes the complex square root (function) |
Trigonometric functions | |
(C99)(C99)(C99) |
computes the complex sine (function) |
(C99)(C99)(C99) |
computes the complex cosine (function) |
(C99)(C99)(C99) |
computes the complex tangent (function) |
(C99)(C99)(C99) |
computes the complex arc sine (function) |
(C99)(C99)(C99) |
computes the complex arc cosine (function) |
(C99)(C99)(C99) |
computes the complex arc tangent (function) |
Hyperbolic functions | |
(C99)(C99)(C99) |
computes the complex hyperbolic sine (function) |
(C99)(C99)(C99) |
computes the complex hyperbolic cosine (function) |
(C99)(C99)(C99) |
computes the complex hyperbolic tangent (function) |
(C99)(C99)(C99) |
computes the complex arc hyperbolic sine (function) |
(C99)(C99)(C99) |
computes the complex arc hyperbolic cosine (function) |
(C99)(C99)(C99) |
computes the complex arc hyperbolic tangent (function) |
Notes
The following function names are potentially (since C23) reserved for future addition to complex.h
and are not available for use in the programs that include that header: cerf
, cerfc
, cexp2
, cexpm1
, clog10
, clog1p
, clog2
, clgamma
, ctgamma
, csinpi
, ccospi
, ctanpi
, casinpi
, cacospi
, catanpi
, ccompoundn
, cpown
, cpowr
, crootn
, crsqrt
, cexp10m1
, cexp10
, cexp2m1
, clog10p1
, clog2p1
, clogp1
(since C23), along with their -f and -l suffixed variants.
Although the C standard names the inverse hyperbolics with "complex arc hyperbolic sine" etc., the inverse functions of the hyperbolic functions are the area functions. Their argument is the area of a hyperbolic sector, not an arc. The correct names are "complex inverse hyperbolic sine" etc. Some authors use "complex area hyperbolic sine" etc.
A complex or imaginary number is infinite if one of its components is infinite, even if the other component is NaN.
A complex or imaginary number is finite if both components are neither infinities nor NaNs.
A complex or imaginary number is a zero if both components are positive or negative zeroes.
Example
#include <stdio.h> #include <complex.h> #include <tgmath.h> int main(void) { double complex z1 = I * I; // imaginary unit squared printf("I * I = %.1f%+.1fi\n", creal(z1), cimag(z1)); double complex z2 = pow(I, 2); // imaginary unit squared printf("pow(I, 2) = %.1f%+.1fi\n", creal(z2), cimag(z2)); double PI = acos(-1); double complex z3 = exp(I * PI); // Euler's formula printf("exp(I*PI) = %.1f%+.1fi\n", creal(z3), cimag(z3)); double complex z4 = 1+2*I, z5 = 1-2*I; // conjugates printf("(1+2i)*(1-2i) = %.1f%+.1fi\n", creal(z4*z5), cimag(z4*z5)); }
Output:
I * I = -1.0+0.0i pow(I, 2) = -1.0+0.0i exp(I*PI) = -1.0+0.0i (1+2i)*(1-2i) = 5.0+0.0i
References
- C17 standard (ISO/IEC 9899:2018):
- 6.10.8.3/1/2
__STDC_NO_COMPLEX__
(p: 128)
- 6.10.8.3/1/2
- 6.10.8.3/1/2
__STDC_IEC_559_COMPLEX__
(p: 128)
- 6.10.8.3/1/2
- 7.3 Complex arithmetic
<complex.h>
(p: 136-144)
- 7.3 Complex arithmetic
- 7.25 Type-generic math
<tgmath.h>
(p: 272-273)
- 7.25 Type-generic math
- 7.31.1 Complex arithmetic
<complex.h>
(p: 391)
- 7.31.1 Complex arithmetic
- Annex G (normative) IEC 60559-compatible complex arithmetic (p: 469-479)
- C11 standard (ISO/IEC 9899:2011):
- 6.10.8.3/1/2
__STDC_NO_COMPLEX__
(p: 177)
- 6.10.8.3/1/2
- 6.10.8.3/1/2
__STDC_IEC_559_COMPLEX__
(p: 177)
- 6.10.8.3/1/2
- 7.3 Complex arithmetic
<complex.h>
(p: 188-199)
- 7.3 Complex arithmetic
- 7.25 Type-generic math
<tgmath.h>
(p: 373-375)
- 7.25 Type-generic math
- 7.31.1 Complex arithmetic
<complex.h>
(p: 455)
- 7.31.1 Complex arithmetic
- Annex G (normative) IEC 60559-compatible complex arithmetic (p: 532-545)
- C99 standard (ISO/IEC 9899:1999):
- 6.10.8/2
__STDC_IEC_559_COMPLEX__
(p: 161)
- 6.10.8/2
- 7.3 Complex arithmetic
<complex.h>
(p: 170-180)
- 7.3 Complex arithmetic
- 7.22 Type-generic math
<tgmath.h>
(p: 335-337)
- 7.22 Type-generic math
- 7.26.1 Complex arithmetic
<complex.h>
(p: 401)
- 7.26.1 Complex arithmetic
- Annex G (informative) IEC 60559-compatible complex arithmetic (p: 467-480)