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Multiple Choice
Find the quotient. Express your answer in standard form.
A
53+54i
B
18i
C
23−41i
D
6523−6541i
Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the given complex fraction: \(\frac{-5 + 3i}{-7 - 4i}\). Our goal is to express this quotient in standard form, which is \(a + bi\), where \(a\) and \(b\) are real numbers.
To simplify the division of complex numbers, multiply both the numerator and the denominator by the conjugate of the denominator. The conjugate of \(-7 - 4i\) is \(-7 + 4i\). So, multiply numerator and denominator by \(-7 + 4i\):
Use the distributive property (FOIL) to expand both the numerator and the denominator:
- Numerator: \((-5 + 3i)(-7 + 4i)\)
- Denominator: \((-7 - 4i)(-7 + 4i)\)
Calculate the denominator first, recognizing it as a difference of squares: \(a^2 - b^2\), where \(a = -7\) and \(b = 4i\). This will result in a real number.
Expand the numerator by multiplying each term carefully, remembering that \(i^2 = -1\). Then combine like terms to write the numerator in the form \(A + Bi\).
Finally, write the quotient as \(\frac{A}{D} + \frac{B}{D}i\), where \(D\) is the real number from the denominator. This is the standard form \(a + bi\).