There are three
supported notations for complex numbers in rectangular form. The
default is as a pair of real numbers enclosed in parentheses and
separated by a comma: ‘(a,b)’. The d c
(calc-complex-notation) command selects this
style.
The other notations are
d i (calc-i-notation), in which numbers
are displayed in ‘a+bi’ form, and d j
(calc-j-notation) which displays the form
‘a+bj’
preferred in some disciplines.
Complex numbers are normally
entered in ‘(a,b)’ format. If you enter
‘2+3i’ as an
algebraic formula, it will be stored as the formula
‘2 + 3 * i’.
However, if you use = to evaluate this formula and you
have not changed the variable ‘i’, the ‘i’ will be interpreted as
‘(0,1)’ and
the formula will be simplified to ‘(2,3)’. Other commands (like
calc-sin) will not interpret the formula
‘2 + 3 * i’ as
a complex number. See Variables, under “special
constants.”