PlanMaker IMCONJUGATE: Reflect the imaginary coefficient and audit invariants
IMCONJUGATE preserves the real coefficient and reverses the imaginary coefficient. For x+yi its conjugate is x−yi. This differs from negating the entire complex number, which reverses both coefficients.
Verification status: See the evidence and test scope described in this guide. How formula examples are checked
IMCONJUGATE preserves the real coefficient and reverses the imaginary coefficient. For x+yi its conjugate is x−yi. This differs from negating the entire complex number, which reverses both coefficients.
Availability and evidence
The 2026 function reference, 2024 reference and 2021 reference were retrieved and read on October 15, 2026. They establish documented support in those PlanMaker manual families. The original introduction and any last-working-version endpoint remain unverified; 2021 is the oldest reference checked here, not an introduction claim. Specific FreeOffice/mobile builds and every desktop platform were not tested.
The tables combine documented function rules with independent component arithmetic and high-precision mathematical calculations. No native PlanMaker execution, screenshot, export or import test was performed. Complex result components are used where native string formatting is not established. English examples use commas between arguments; adapt locale syntax only after checking the installed editor.
Exact syntax
=IMCONJUGATE(ComplexNumber)
Syntax and vendor example
The single ComplexNumber argument is required in the documented x+yi or x+yj form; no optional argument is listed. SoftMaker’s example =IMCONJUGATE("2+4i") returns 2-4i. Quotes belong around a literal complex representation, not around a cell address.
Inspect both coefficients of a conjugate
Create ConjugateParts with Real, Imaginary, Original, Conjugate, Result_real and Result_imaginary in A1:F1. Enter A:B below. Fill C2 =COMPLEX(A2,B2), D2 =IMCONJUGATE(C2), E2 =IMREAL(D2) and F2 =IMAGINARY(D2) through row 8.
| Row | A | B | Expected E | Expected F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | -4 |
| 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | -4 |
| 4 | -3 | 4 | -3 | -4 |
| 5 | -3 | -4 | -3 | 4 |
| 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | -5 |
| 7 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
These are numeric component expectations, not a promise of one exact display spelling for zeros or unit coefficients. Change B3 from 4 to -4 in a copy: the conjugate’s imaginary coefficient changes from -4 to 4, while its real coefficient stays 3.
Advanced: conjugate twice and preserve magnitude
On the original sheet, fill G2 =IMCONJUGATE(D2) through G8. Extract its components using IMREAL and IMAGINARY in spare columns. The expected pairs reproduce every original A:B pair because reversing the imaginary sign twice restores it.
For row 3, =IMABS(C3) and =IMABS(D3) are both mathematically 5. This remains true after reversing the sign of either original coefficient, because magnitude depends on squares. The equality is a mathematical invariant for these controls, not proof that an arbitrary imported string parsed successfully.
Advanced: separate symmetric and antisymmetric components
For the original row-3 value (3,4), enter H3 =IMSUM(C3,D3) and I3 =IMSUB(C3,D3). Their expected coefficients are (6,0) and (0,8). Adding a value and its conjugate cancels the imaginary coefficient; subtracting the conjugate cancels the real coefficient.
Thus =IMREAL(H3)/2 reconstructs the original real coefficient 3, while =IMAGINARY(I3)/2 reconstructs the original imaginary coefficient 4. These are coefficient identities. They do not authorize dropping a component from a model without understanding what it represents.
If the original row is changed to (-3,4), the sum becomes (-6,0) and the difference remains (0,8). A full negation would instead turn (3,4) into (-3,-4). Use IMNEG only when that full sign reversal is intended, and read its Excel-export warning.
Troubleshooting and portability
A direct component reconstruction is =COMPLEX(IMREAL(C3),-IMAGINARY(C3)). It has the same expected mathematical coefficients, but COMPLEX defaults to i notation. Supply its third argument "j" when that output convention is required; do not assume a reconstruction automatically retains the input suffix.
The checked reference does not enumerate every malformed-string error, coercion rule, mixed-suffix case or numerical limit. Avoid asserting that native formatting, text comparisons or file transfers are identical just because component identities hold mathematically. Keep source values visible and compare components rather than only rendered strings.
IMREAL exposes the unchanged coefficient, IMAGINARY exposes the sign reversal, and IMABS supplies a magnitude check. Conjugation is neither extraction nor a general error-cleanup operation.
Verify in an installed version
Record the exact product/build, edition, platform, locale and workbook format. Enter the full source table, inspect components and apply the changed-input controls on separate copies. Keep full precision for calculations and round only the display. Saved-file recalculation and destination compatibility require their own tests.