High School

Use the properties of complex numbers to subtract [tex](-5i - 16i)[/tex].

A. 218
B. 118
C. [tex]-218[/tex]
D. [tex]-21[/tex]

Answer :

To subtract complex numbers, you only need to combine like terms. In this case, we are subtracting the imaginary parts of the complex numbers:

1. First, identify the imaginary terms to be combined: [tex]\(-5i\)[/tex] and [tex]\(-16i\)[/tex].

2. Simply subtract these imaginary parts:

[tex]\[
-5i - 16i = (-5 - 16)i
\][/tex]

3. Calculate the result of the subtraction:

[tex]\[
-5 - 16 = -21
\][/tex]

4. Combine the result with the imaginary unit [tex]\(i\)[/tex]:

[tex]\[
-21i
\][/tex]

So, the result of subtracting [tex]\(-5i - 16i\)[/tex] is [tex]\(-21i\)[/tex].