Complex Numbers – What are They?
For this task, you will examine a few online resources to see how complex numbers
are introduced. Select at least two different resources below to review:
Khan Academy—Complex numbers
http://www.khanacademy.org/video/complex-numbers--part-1?playlist=Algebra
http://www.khanacademy.org/video/complex-numbers--part-2?playlist=Algebra
Purple Math – Complex numbers
http://www.purplemath.com/modules/complex.htm
University of North Carolina Wilmington – Complex Numbers
http://uncw.edu/courses/mat111hb/izs/complex/complex.html
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
http://www.geom.uiuc.edu/~laurence/
Dr. Math – Complex Numbers
http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/view/53809.html
For each resource you review, answer the following questions: (Make sure you
answer these questions based solely on the resource and not using your prior
knowledge!)
1. How are complex numbers introduced?
2. What are the big ideas being emphasized?
3. Why are complex numbers important?
4. Did this resource represent complex numbers using multiple
representations?
5. Did this resource develop a conceptual understanding of complex numbers
or was the focus on procedural fluency?
6. What (if anything) would you want to add to this resource?