How to Use the IMAGINARY Function in WPS on Windows

Last updated:July 20, 2026

This how-to guide includes 4 operation topics for using IMAGINARY in WPS on Windows; all 4 are available without membership and 0 are membership-related, so you can jump from the index to the task you need.

How-to Index

No.TopicMembership Requirement
11. Enter the IMAGINARY functionFree
22. View function syntax guidanceFree
33. Use cell references in the formulaFree
44. Nest IMAGINARY inside other formulasFree

How-to Guide

1. Enter the IMAGINARY function

Entry point: Formulas tab → formula bar

  1. Open WPS Spreadsheets and select the target cell.
  2. Type = to start a formula.
  3. Type IMAGINARY(.
  4. Enter a complex-number string or a cell reference, close the parenthesis, and press Enter.

Success Criteria

  • On-screen result: The cell shows a calculated result.
  • What you can do next: You can continue editing, copying, or filling the formula.

Tips While Using

  • Common mistake: If you do not start with =, the content may be treated as plain text.
  • Environment note: The input should follow a recognizable complex-number format.

2. View function syntax guidance

Entry point: formula bar

  1. Select any blank cell.
  2. Type =IMAGINARY(.
  3. Watch for the syntax guidance shown in the editing area.
  4. Confirm the parameter format and continue entering the formula.

Success Criteria

  • On-screen result: You can see parameter guidance or an example prompt.
  • What you can do next: You can finish the formula based on the guidance.

Tips While Using

  • Common mistake: If the function name is incomplete or misspelled, the guidance may not appear as expected.

3. Use cell references in the formula

Entry point: formula bar

  1. Enter a complex-number value in a source cell first.
  2. Select the cell where you want the result.
  3. Type a reference formula such as =IMAGINARY(A1).
  4. Press Enter to return the result.

Success Criteria

  • On-screen result: The result cell returns the imaginary coefficient from the referenced complex number.
  • What you can do next: If you change the source cell, the result updates automatically.

Tips While Using

  • Common mistake: If the referenced cell does not contain a recognizable complex number, the result may not match your expectation.

4. Nest IMAGINARY inside other formulas

Entry point: formula bar

  1. Select the target result cell.
  2. Type a combined formula that includes IMAGINARY.
  3. Check that parentheses and parameter positions are correct.
  4. Press Enter to complete the calculation.

Success Criteria

  • On-screen result: The cell returns the final result of the combined formula.
  • What you can do next: You can copy, revise, or extend the formula further.

Tips While Using

  • Common mistake: Unmatched parentheses in a nested formula can cause an input error.
  • Environment note: It helps to review the full expression in the formula bar before confirming it.