Diagrams are very important when it comes to understanding how to add and subtract complex numbers. This is especially true for students in Year 9 studying math in the UK.

Diagrams help us see complex numbers as points on a graph. On this graph, the horizontal line shows the real part of the number, and the vertical line shows the imaginary part.

Why Diagrams Are Helpful:

1. Clear Visuals: Diagrams make it easier to see how the real and imaginary parts relate to each other.
2. Geometric View: Adding complex numbers is like adding arrows (or vectors). You can find the new point by making a triangle with the arrows.
3. Subtraction: This is shown as moving from one point to another, which helps us see the change in direction.

Research Findings:

• Studies show that about 70% of students who use pictures and diagrams while learning math are better at understanding and remembering tough ideas.

In short, using diagrams helps students understand and work with complex numbers better. They make it easier to add and subtract these numbers and remember the standard form, which is $a + bi$.