Arguments and Polar Form of Complex Numbers
Arguments and Polar Form of Complex Numbers
Argument of 𝑧
The argument of a complex number is the angle measured anticlockwise
from the positive real axis. The argument can be any of the coterminal
angles that align with complex number. That is, all complex numbers on the
same ray from the origin, except the origin, will have the same argument.
Principal Argument
Since the argument of a complex number is not unique, we
introduce the principal argument as the unique argument within
one revolution from −𝜋 to 𝜋 for each complex number.
Example
Evaluate Arg(−1 − 𝑖).
1 𝜋 𝜋 3𝜋
−1 − 𝑖 is in Q3 and the reference angle is tan ⎯⎯ = ⎯⎯. ∴ Arg(−1 − 𝑖) = −𝜋 + ⎯⎯= − ⎯⎯⎯
1 4 4 4
Example VCAA 2014 Exam 2 Question 2ai Example VCAA 2008 Exam 2 Question 8
⎯⎯ In polar form, the complex number 𝑖 − 1 is
Express √3 − 3𝑖 in polar form.
⎯⎯ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ⎯⎯⎯ ⎯⎯ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ⎯⎯
√3 − 3𝑖 = √3 + 9 = √12 = 2√3 |𝑖 − 1| = (−1) + 1 = √2
⎯⎯ 𝑖 − 1 is in Q2 and the reference angle is:
√3 − 3𝑖 is in Q4 and the reference angle is
3 ⎯⎯ 𝜋 1 𝜋
tan ⎯⎯⎯ tan ⎯⎯ = ⎯⎯
⎯⎯ = tan √3 = ⎯⎯ 3 1 4
√3
⎯⎯ 𝜋 𝜋 3𝜋
Arg √3 − 3𝑖 = − ⎯⎯ Arg(𝑖 − 1) = 𝜋 − ⎯⎯= ⎯⎯⎯
3 4 4
⎯⎯ ⎯⎯ 𝜋 ⎯⎯ 3𝜋
∴ √3 − 3𝑖 = 2√3 cis − ⎯⎯ ∴ 𝑖 − 1 = √2 cis ⎯⎯⎯
3 4
Converting from Polar Form to Cartesian Form
The Cartesian form of 𝑟 cis(𝜃) is 𝑟 cos(𝜃) + 𝑟 sin(𝜃) 𝑖.
That is, we expand cis(𝜃) to cos(𝜃) + 𝑖 sin(𝜃) and evaluate the real and imaginary parts.
Example
5𝜋
Express 8 cis ⎯⎯⎯ in Cartesian form.
6
⎯⎯
5𝜋 5𝜋 5𝜋 √3 1 ⎯⎯
8 cis ⎯⎯⎯ = 8 cos ⎯⎯⎯ + 𝑖 sin ⎯⎯⎯ = 8 − ⎯⎯⎯+ ⎯⎯𝑖 = −4√3 + 4𝑖
6 6 6 2 2
Example
⎯⎯ 𝜋
Express 2√3 cis − ⎯⎯ in Cartesian form.
3 ⎯⎯
⎯⎯ 𝜋 ⎯⎯ 𝜋 𝜋 ⎯⎯ 1 √3 ⎯⎯
2√3 cis − ⎯⎯ = 2√3 cos − ⎯⎯ + 𝑖 sin − ⎯⎯ = 2√3 ⎯⎯− ⎯⎯⎯𝑖 = √3 − 3𝑖
3 3 3 2 2
Complex Conjugate of 𝑧, 𝑧̅
The complex number with the opposite imaginary value.
That is, a reflection of a complex number in the real axis.
For a complex number in polar form: 𝑧̅ = 𝑟 cis(𝜃) = 𝑟 cis(−𝜃)
Example Example
2𝜋 2𝜋 6 cis(−1.34) = 6 cis(1.34)
2 cis ⎯⎯⎯ = 2 cis − ⎯⎯⎯
3 3
Example
6 cis(𝜋) = 6 cis(−𝜋) = 6 cis(𝜋)