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A C# class for complex numbers

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3 Jul 2007CPOL1 min read 42K   477   13   15
Implementation of the most common functions of complex numbers.

Introduction

Here you go: a simple but mathematically rigorous implementation of complex numbers in one small C# library. No problem in square rooting negative numbers anymore!

Functions

  • Absolute value
  • Addition
  • Argument
  • Conjugation
  • Cosine
  • Exponential function
  • Exponentiation
  • Division
  • Hyperbolic functions (Sinh, Cosh, Tanh, Coth, Sech, Csch)
  • Logarithm
  • Multiplication
  • Sine
  • Square root
  • Subtraction

Using the code

Either add a reference to CompLib.dll to your project, or directly use the class Complex.cs within your project.

The actual usage is intuitive:

C#
Complex I = Complex.I; // imaginary unit
Complex a = new Complex(1, 3); // inits a = 1+3i
Complex a2 = 1 + 3 * I; // a equals a2

Complex z = Complex.Pow((Complex.Sin(1/(1+I))), 1/3);

Points of interest

One more thing: Complex logarithm is not a unique operation; the main value is computed as is common in the CAS world. E.g., the equation z^4 = -1 has four complex solutions, but only one is returned when trying "z = Complex.Sqrt(Complex.Sqrt(-1));" (as does Maple, for instance). This is due to the computation of the exponentiation:

Pow(a,b) := Exp(b * Log(a))

History

Coming soon

  • init complex number with format string such as "3+4i" using regex.

Update July 3, 2007 #2

  • Major bug in Arg() fixed (thanks Petr Stanislav!); this affects Log(), Pow(), and Sqrt().

Update July 3, 2007

  • Added hyperbolic functions.

Update June 10, 2007

  • Replaced ^-operator with "public static Complex Pow", similar to Math.Pow.

Update June 7, 2007

  • Added Zero and One as constants (e.g., use "Complex z = Complex.One;" instead of "Complex z = new Complex(1)").
  • Major bug of division operation removed (using a/b = a*Conj(b)*(1/(Abs(b)*Abs(b)) now).
  • ToString method bug fixed.

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)


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Comments and Discussions

 
Questioncode licence Pin
enrico.deg10-Jun-10 22:53
enrico.deg10-Jun-10 22:53 
Generalstruct instead of class Pin
Member 190663510-Jun-08 1:17
Member 190663510-Jun-08 1:17 
GeneralRe: struct instead of class Pin
PIEBALDconsult2-Apr-09 12:56
mvePIEBALDconsult2-Apr-09 12:56 
General7-Zip will extract Pin
Dom Rositas20-Jun-07 16:22
Dom Rositas20-Jun-07 16:22 
GeneralRe: 7-Zip will extract [modified] Pin
hanzzoid3-Jul-07 2:19
hanzzoid3-Jul-07 2:19 
GeneralWinZip unknown compression type Pin
Dom Rositas20-Jun-07 7:49
Dom Rositas20-Jun-07 7:49 
GeneralCannot extract files from ZIP archive Pin
Tom14-Jun-07 3:54
Tom14-Jun-07 3:54 
GeneralRe: Cannot extract files from ZIP archive Pin
Tom118-Jun-07 5:39
Tom118-Jun-07 5:39 
GeneralExponentiation ALWAYS binds more strongly than multiplication. Pin
sherifffruitfly3-Jun-07 11:08
sherifffruitfly3-Jun-07 11:08 
GeneralRe: Exponentiation ALWAYS binds more strongly than multiplication. Pin
Keith Rule3-Jun-07 20:16
professionalKeith Rule3-Jun-07 20:16 
GeneralRe: Exponentiation ALWAYS binds more strongly than multiplication. Pin
peterchen3-Jun-07 22:20
peterchen3-Jun-07 22:20 
I think sherifffruitfly is right, and using the XOR-Operator for pow is dangerous.

The whole point of operator overloading is to make expressions more intuitive, and close to the "problem domain". With overloading pow, you seem to extend that, but introduce a difference that may be sublte but devastating (depending on the context it is used).

It would be OK if all other operators would generally evaluate from left to right and parantheses for mathematically correct evaluation would always be required.

In C++, this already has been discussed to death. Virtually all of the discussion, however, is the inability to overload a exponentiation operator. So C# could define a ** operator, and make millions happy Wink | ;)




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GeneralRe: Exponentiation ALWAYS binds more strongly than multiplication. Pin
hanzzoid3-Jul-07 2:15
hanzzoid3-Jul-07 2:15 
GeneralRe: Exponentiation ALWAYS binds more strongly than multiplication. Pin
PIEBALDconsult2-Apr-09 12:59
mvePIEBALDconsult2-Apr-09 12:59 
GeneralRe: Exponentiation ALWAYS binds more strongly than multiplication. Pin
sherifffruitfly2-Apr-09 13:22
sherifffruitfly2-Apr-09 13:22 
GeneralRe: Exponentiation ALWAYS binds more strongly than multiplication. Pin
PIEBALDconsult2-Apr-09 16:28
mvePIEBALDconsult2-Apr-09 16:28 

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