Is it possible to factor a complex number?

Question

Say i have a complex number $5+5i$, is it then possible to factor out a five, so that:

$5+5i$ becomes $5(1+i)$

Arithmetically this would work, but I don't know if I mix thr real and imaginary part or something when I do so. So is this possible?

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Yes. This is called the distributive property which can be done in any ring.

Answer 2

This would definitely work. By distributivity: $$ 5(1+i)=5\cdot 1+5\cdot i=5+5i $$