## anonymous one year ago which is the proper way to type my answer using parentheses? I have to type my answers as (a-bi)/c or (a+bi)/c. Thanks. the answer is 4i-1 - ------ 2 (with the minus sign before the fraction) would I type -(1+4i)/2 or (1+4i)/2 or something totally different? Thanks!!

1. SolomonZelman

-(4i-1)/2 is equivalent to $$\large\color{slate}{\displaystyle-\frac{4i-1}{2}}$$ if that is what you are asking

2. anonymous

yes, but moving it to a-bi form... I lost points on my previous answers with format, so I want to make sure I get the format and the signs correct this time.

3. anonymous

does the -( ) stay outside the () and it becomes -(-1+4i) or does it distribute and become (1-4i) ? Does that make sense?

4. SolomonZelman

for example: -(ci-d)/2 (-ci+d)/2 (d-ci)/2 (d/2) - (c/2)i

5. SolomonZelman

do you want to know how to put the parenthesis and this is better, or should I post it in latex or draw it?

6. SolomonZelman

that is a+bi or a-bi form

7. SolomonZelman

It seems as though you are lost....

8. SolomonZelman

(with my explanation I wouldn't get surprised)

9. anonymous

not really. I solved (3+5i)/(-2+2i), got -(4i-1)/2 answer, but lost points on format. Is there a "more correct" way to format the answer? Personally, I think either would be good, but my teacher seems to disagree. :)

10. SolomonZelman

you are entering the answer just using what your keyboard has to offer without attachments, pictures and such. This is why you have a problem, because you sometimes fail to correctly put the answer that you actually had in mind. Is that right?

11. anonymous

yes! only the keyboard :(

12. anonymous

i have no way to attach it written for this problem, with my work. It's just the answer.

13. SolomonZelman

In my college email I use latex pictures if I want to communicate with my professor. (Any latex converter suffices. Then convert it to an image...) but I guess we would HAVE TO comprehend the parenthesis spaces and everything

14. SolomonZelman

I might not be able to perfectly teach you right now, but you know what?

15. SolomonZelman

http://www.wolframalpha.com/ enter your input in here (all your parenthesis and etc.) and wolfram is going to give you what you wrote an interpretation

16. anonymous

This is an online HS course :) I prefer the assignments I can use Word equations or take a photo of my work for. I'm betting it doesn't really matter the format :) Thanks! I'll give it a try.

17. SolomonZelman

For example: when I enter (d/2) - (c/2)i I will use wolfram to see what it would show. http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=%28d%2F2%29+-+%28c%2F2%29i it just interpreted my input (under "Input")

18. anonymous

it gave me 1/2 -2i ?

19. SolomonZelman

that means that -(4i-1)/2 is correct

20. SolomonZelman

|dw:1435030403997:dw|

21. SolomonZelman

and the way to check this, if it is same or not, is as follows: http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=+%283%2B5i%29%2F%28-2%2B2i%29%3D-%284i-1%29%2F2%3D%281%2F2%29-2i look at what I entered and the interpretation it gave.

22. SolomonZelman

(and the result "True" confirms that)

23. anonymous

OK. I get that! I'm thinking since my teacher requires a-bi format, I should write it as 1/2-2i instead of -(4i-1)/2 ... ? I understand it all, I just hate losing points due to a -; when all the answers are essentially the same :) !!! I lost points with the 4i being written first on previous problems.

24. SolomonZelman

when you are missing the minus your result is the exact opposite. Although it is "exact" opposite (like everything besides -) it is still the exact "opposite" (the answer is wrong).

25. anonymous

I meant whether it was -(4i-1) or (1+4i) not that the negative sign wasn't there. :)

26. anonymous

Thanks for your help! I submitted. We'll see if I get it marked correct.

Find more explanations on OpenStudy