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Complex Math Library for C# and VB.NET

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15 Dec 2002CPOL9 min read 255.1K   3.6K   39   26
Complex math library for C# and VB.NET

Introduction

Update: Things have changed since this article was written in 2002. (Thanks artcodingSB for the note) .NET now has complex types built in. If you are using an older version of .NET, this might still be helpful.

The .NET platform doesn't have complex numbers built in. If you do scientific calculations such as groundwater modeling, complex numbers are essential. This tip describes a full implementation of complex numbers for .NET, and how to use it with VB or C#.

Complex numbers have a real and imaginary part. Math operations are performed on complex numbers using special rules to keep track of the real and imaginary parts. Fortran and C++ have complex numbers built in.

C# Example (cs_complex.cs)

C#
using System;
using KarlsTools;

class TestComplex{
   static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        Complex c1 = new Complex(3.0, 4.0);
        double d = Complex.Abs(c1);
        Console.WriteLine("Test Complex,  d = "+ d);
    }
}

Compile and run the above code with the following commands:

c:\>csc cs_complex.cs /r:complex.dll
C:\>cs_complex
Test Complex, d = 5

Complex Number Class for .NET

List of Functionality

C# Example

C#
using System;
using KarlsTools;
C# output
     

Constructor

   
Complex(double real, double imag) Complex c1 = new Complex(3,4); c1 = (3,4)

Methods

   
String ToString() string s = "c1 = "+c1.ToString(); s = c1 = (3,4)
Static double Abs(Complex c) double d = Complex.Abs(c1); d = 5
Static double Arg(Complex c) double d2 = Complex.Arg(c1); d2 = 0.927295218001612
Static Complex Conj(Complex c) Complex c2 = Complex.Conj(c1); c2 = (3,-4)
Static double Imag(Complex c) double imag =Complex.Imag(c2); imag = -4
Static double Real(Complex c) double real =Complex.Real(c1); real = 3
Double Imag() double imag2 = c1.Imag(); imag2 = 4
Double Real() double real2 = c1.Real(); real2 = 3
Static Complex Polar(double r, double theta) Complex p = Complex.Polar(5,Math.PI/180); p = (4.99924,0.087262)
Static Complex Cos(Complex c) Complex c3 = Complex.Cos(p); c3 = (0.28401,0.0838028)
Static Complex Cosh(Complex c) Complex c4 = Complex.Cosh(p); c4 = (73.8713,6.46199)
Static Complex Exp(Complex c) Complex c5 = Complex.Exp(p); c5 = (147.736,12.9246)
Static Complex Log(Complex c) Complex c6 = Complex.Log(p); c6 = (1.60944,0.0174533)
Static Complex Log10(Complex c) Complex c7 = Complex.Log10(p); c7 = (0.69897,0.00757987)
Static double Norm(Complex c) double n = Complex.Norm(p); n = 25
Static Complex Pow(Complex base, double power) Complex c9 = Complex.Pow(p,4); c9 = (623.478,43.5978)
Static Complex Pow(Complex base, Complex power) Complex c10 = Complex.Pow(p,p); c10 = (3035.98,703.481)
Static Complex Pow(double base, Complex power) Complex c11 = Complex.Pow(2,p); c11 = (31.9246,1.93333)
Static Complex Sin(Complex c) Complex c12 = Complex.Sin(p); c12 = (-0.962794,0.0247206)
Static Complex Sinh(Complex c) Complex c13 = Complex.Sinh(p); c13 = (73.8646,6.46257)
Static Complex Sqrt(Complex c) Complex c14 = Complex.Sqrt(p); c14 = (2.23598,0.0195131)
Static Complex Tan(Complex c) Complex c15 = Complex.Tan(p); c15 = (-3.09486,1.00024)
Static Complex Tanh(Complex c) Complex c15a = Complex.Tanh(p); c15a = (0.99991,1.57891e-05)

Operators

   
- (Unary) Complex c16 = -c15; c16 = (3.09486,-1.00024)
+ (Unary) Complex c17 = +c16; c17 = (3.09486,-1.00024)
== bool eq = (c16 == -c15); eq = True
== (overloaded) bool eq2 = ( new Complex(2,0) == 2); eq2 = True
== (overloaded) bool eq3 = ( 2 == new Complex(2,0)); eq3 = True
!= bool ne = (c16 != c16); ne = False
!= (overloaded) bool ne2 = ( new Complex(2,0) != 2); ne2 = False
!= (overloaded) bool ne3 = ( 2 != new Complex(2,0)); ne3 = False
* Complex c18 = c1*c1; c18 = (-7,24)
* (overloaded) Complex c19 = c1*double.PositiveInfinity; c19 = (Infinity,Infinity)
* (overloaded) Complex c20 = 12*c1; c20 = (36,48)
/ Complex c21 = c1/c1; c21 = (1,0)
/ (overloaded) Complex c22 = c1/double.PositiveInfinity; c22 = (0,0)
/ (overloaded) Complex c23 = 1/c1; c23 = (0.12,-0.16)
+ Complex c24 = c1+c1; c24 = (6,8)
+ (overloaded) Complex c25 = c1+double.PositiveInfinity; c25 = (Infinity,4)
+ (overloaded) Complex c26 = 1+c1; c26 = (4,4)
- Complex c27 = c1-c1; c27 = (0,0)
- (overloaded) Complex c28 = c1-double.PositiveInfinity; c28 = (-Infinity,4)
- (overloaded) Complex c29 = 1-c1; c29 = (-2,-4)

VB .NET Example (vb_complex.vb)

VB.NET
Imports System
Imports KarlsTools

Module Module1

    Sub Main()
        Dim c1 As Complex = New Complex(3.0, 4.0)
        dim d as Double = Complex.Abs(c1)
        Console.WriteLine("Test Complex,  d = "& d.ToString())
    End Sub
End Module

Compile and run the above code with the following commands:

c:\>vbc vb_complex.vb /r:complex.dll /r:System.dll
c:\>vb_complex.exe
Test Complex, d = 5

Complex Number Class for .NET

List of Functionality

Visual Basic Example VB output
 
VB
Imports KarlsTools
 

Constructor

   
Complex(double real, double imag) Dim c1 As Complex = New Complex(3, 4) c1 = (3,4)
Methods    
String ToString() Dim s As String = "c1 = " + c1.ToString() s = c1 = (3,4)
shared double Abs(Complex c) Dim d As Double = Complex.Abs(c1) d = 5
shared double Arg(Complex c) Dim d2 As Double = Complex.Arg(c1) d2 = 0.927295218001612
shared Complex Conj(Complex c) Dim c2 As Complex = Complex.Conj(c1) c2 = (3,-4)
shared double Imag(Complex c) Dim imag As Double = Complex.Imag(c2) imag = -4
shared double Real(Complex c) Dim real As Double = Complex.Real(c1) real = 3
double Imag() Dim imag2 As Double = c1.Imag() imag2 = 4
double Real() Dim real2 As Double = c1.Real() real2 = 3
shared Complex Polar(double r, double theta) Dim p As Complex = Complex.Polar(5, Math.PI / 180) p = (4.99924,0.087262)
shared Complex Cos(Complex c) Dim c3 As Complex = Complex.Cos(p) c3 = (0.28401,0.0838028)
shared Complex Cosh(Complex c) Dim c4 As Complex = Complex.Cosh(p) c4 = (73.8713,6.46199)
shared Complex Exp(Complex c) Dim c5 As Complex = Complex.Exp(p) c5 = (147.736,12.9246)
shared Complex Log(Complex c) Dim c6 As Complex = Complex.Log(p) c6 = (1.60944,0.0174533)
shared Complex Log10(Complex c) Dim c7 As Complex = Complex.Log10(p) c7 = (0.69897,0.00757987)
shared double Norm(Complex c) Dim n As Double = Complex.Norm(p) n = 25
shared Complex Pow(Complex base, double power) Dim c9 As Complex = Complex.Pow(p, 4) c9 = (623.478,43.5978)
shared Complex Pow(Complex base, Complex power) Dim c10 As Complex = Complex.Pow(p, p) c10 = (3035.98,703.481)
shared Complex Pow(double base, Complex power) Dim c11 As Complex = Complex.Pow(2, p) c11 = (31.9246,1.93333)
shared Complex Sin(Complex c) Dim c12 As Complex = Complex.Sin(p) c12 = (-0.962794,0.0247206)
shared Complex Sinh(Complex c) Dim c13 As Complex = Complex.Sinh(p) c13 = (73.8646,6.46257)
shared Complex Sqrt(Complex c) Dim c14 As Complex = Complex.Sqrt(p) c14 = (2.23598,0.0195131)
shared Complex Tan(Complex c) Dim c15 As Complex = Complex.Tan(p) c15 = (-3.09486,1.00024)
shared Complex Tanh(Complex c) Dim c15a As Complex = Complex.Tanh(p) c15a = (0.99991,1.57891e-05)

Operators

   
- (Unary) Dim c16 As Complex = Complex.Negative(c15) c16 = (3.09486,-1.00024)
+ (Unary) Dim c17 As Complex = Complex.Plus(c16) c17 = (3.09486,-1.00024)
== Dim eq As Boolean = c16.Equals(c17) eq = True
== (overloaded) Dim eq2 As Boolean = (New Complex(2, 0)).Equals(2) eq2 = True
== (overloaded) Dim eq3 As Boolean = Complex.Equals(2, New Complex(2, 0)) eq3 = True
!= Dim ne As Boolean = Complex.NotEqual(c16, c16) ne = False
!= (overloaded) Dim ne2 As Boolean = Complex.NotEqual(New Complex(2, 0), 2) ne2 = False
!= (overloaded) Dim ne3 As Boolean = Complex.NotEqual(2, New Complex(2, 0)) ne3 = False
* Dim c18 As Complex = Complex.Multiply(c1, c1) c18 = (-7,24)
* (overloaded) Dim c19 As Complex = Complex.Multiply(c1, Double.PositiveInfinity) c19 = (Infinity,Infinity)
* (overloaded) Dim c20 As Complex = Complex.Multiply(12, c1) c20 = (36,48)
/ Dim c21 As Complex = Complex.Divide(c1, c1) c21 = (1,0)
/ (overloaded) Dim c22 As Complex = Complex.Divide(c1, Double.PositiveInfinity) c22 = (0,0)
/ (overloaded) Dim c23 As Complex = Complex.Divide(1, c1) c23 = (0.12,-0.16)
+ Dim c24 As Complex = Complex.Add(c1, c1) c24 = (6,8)
+ (overloaded) Dim c25 As Complex = Complex.Add(c1, Double.PositiveInfinity) c25 = (Infinity,4)
+ (overloaded) Dim c26 As Complex = Complex.Add(1, c1) c26 = (4,4)
- Dim c27 As Complex = Complex.Subtract(c1, c1) c27 = (0,0)
- (overloaded) Dim c28 As Complex = Complex.Subtract(c1, Double.PositiveInfinity) c28 = (-Infinity,4)
- (overloaded) Dim c29 As Complex = Complex.Subtract(1, c1) c29 = (-2,-4)

Implementation

This class is implemented using Managed C++. It duplicates the capabilities of the Fortran complex*16 type, and is a value type class with static (shared) math functions. This is how the .NET Math class is designed. Non-trivial methods are wrappers around the Standard Template Library (STL) <complex> class. The library has been tested with C# against all C++ STL <complex> sample output on Microsoft's web site.

Use either Visual Studio or the make file to compile the library (complex.dll). If you have Visual C++, open complex.vcproj and build. An alternate way to compile is by typing 'nmake' from a command prompt. A make file is included with the download.

Issues When Wrapping a C++ STL Class for Use with VB and C#

An easy way to provide complete functionality is to wrap the C++ STL <complex> class using Managed C++. This works well but wrapped methods run twice as slow as a method written from scratch. This is because the MSIL code generated by the C++ compiler has calls to the System.Runtime.CompilerServices to access the STL. I compromised by writing trivial methods from scratch and relied on the STL implementation otherwise.

This class duplicates the FORTRAN complex*16 type. Eight bytes for the real part, and 8 bytes for the imaginary part, by using std::complex<double>. This is not as flexible as the C++ STL class which allows double, float, or int to be used.

Extra code was added to provide VB functionality. The C++/C# operators !=, ==, +, -, * and / didn't directly work in VB. I added methods: NotEqual, Equals, Add, Subtract, Multiply and Divide to provide complete functionality in VB. I do not understand why I needed to do this - please comment.

License

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


Written By
Other
United States United States
Karl is a Water Resources Engineer and Programmer. He holds a Masters degree in Civil Engineering, and is a Microsoft Certified Solution Developer.

Comments and Discussions

 
SuggestionSystem.Numerics.Complex since .Net v4.0 Pin
artcodingSB9-Sep-15 23:00
artcodingSB9-Sep-15 23:00 
QuestionS....L....O....W.... Pin
mattsoundworld14-Oct-11 3:34
mattsoundworld14-Oct-11 3:34 
NewsUpdates and extensions Pin
bitzblitz14-Sep-10 3:54
professionalbitzblitz14-Sep-10 3:54 
GeneralCool Pin
Hard Coder15-Feb-10 9:01
Hard Coder15-Feb-10 9:01 
Generalhi Pin
Jay20003229-Mar-09 12:18
Jay20003229-Mar-09 12:18 
GeneralNorm of 3 and 4 won`t be 25. Pin
vitamine19831-Nov-08 20:51
vitamine19831-Nov-08 20:51 
AnswerRe: Norm of 3 and 4 won`t be 25. Pin
bitzblitz14-Sep-10 4:09
professionalbitzblitz14-Sep-10 4:09 
GeneralConvert Double Precision Pin
Trupti Mehta7-Oct-08 20:45
Trupti Mehta7-Oct-08 20:45 
GeneralHelp Pin
Vucina7-Aug-08 12:30
Vucina7-Aug-08 12:30 
GeneralRe: Help Pin
Karl Tarbet9-Aug-08 8:23
Karl Tarbet9-Aug-08 8:23 
GeneralThank you Pin
davoodrajabi2-Nov-07 20:35
davoodrajabi2-Nov-07 20:35 
GeneralA Simple Pure C# Complex Class Pin
bossin8-Jun-06 16:29
bossin8-Jun-06 16:29 
GeneralRe: A Simple Pure C# Complex Class Pin
boaza14-Nov-07 21:17
boaza14-Nov-07 21:17 
GeneralRe: A Simple Pure C# Complex Class Pin
leppie12-Aug-08 0:19
leppie12-Aug-08 0:19 
GeneralRe: A Simple Pure C# Complex Class Pin
thefellow3j18-Oct-10 5:17
thefellow3j18-Oct-10 5:17 
QuestionWindows Forms support? Pin
Bill200531-Dec-05 20:24
Bill200531-Dec-05 20:24 
Can this run with Windows Forms instead of console? I tried adding complex.dll as a reference (in Visual Studio 2005) but got the following error ar runtime:

LoaderLock was detected

DLL 'C:\Documents and Settings\Bill\My Documents\Visual Studio 2005\Projects\TestComplex\TestComplex\bin\Release\complex.dll' is attempting managed execution inside OS Loader lock. Do not attempt to run managed code inside a DllMain or image initialization function since doing so can cause the application to hang.
AnswerRe: Windows Forms support? Pin
Karl Tarbet2-Jan-06 4:17
Karl Tarbet2-Jan-06 4:17 
QuestionVisual Studio 2005 support? Pin
Bill200531-Dec-05 20:18
Bill200531-Dec-05 20:18 
AnswerRe: Visual Studio 2005 support? Pin
Karl Tarbet1-Jan-06 4:46
Karl Tarbet1-Jan-06 4:46 
GeneralRe: Visual Studio 2005 support? Pin
Bill20051-Jan-06 14:42
Bill20051-Jan-06 14:42 
GeneralI must say it's very good piece of work Pin
piotr.kolodziej11-Dec-05 8:45
piotr.kolodziej11-Dec-05 8:45 
GeneralYou don't have to Pin
Doker20-Oct-05 21:51
Doker20-Oct-05 21:51 
General&lt;complex&gt; and managed code Pin
PDHB12-Oct-03 15:43
PDHB12-Oct-03 15:43 
GeneralThis seems, well, too complex Pin
Marc Clifton16-Dec-02 3:37
mvaMarc Clifton16-Dec-02 3:37 
GeneralRe: This seems, well, too complex Pin
Karl Tarbet16-Dec-02 13:24
Karl Tarbet16-Dec-02 13:24 

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