7.

5 ARGAND DIAGRAM AND POLAR REPRSESNTATION OF COMPLEX NUMBERS

Consider a Cartesian (Rectangular) coordinate axis that is drawn previously as a start for this
sub-unit. The main task of this section is to show a 1-to-1 correspondence between the set of
points in a plane and the set of complex numbers (rectangular and polar form). Both types of
form represent the same complex numbers.

Example: plot the following in the complex plane.

a) A = 2 + 3i b) B = -3 + 5i c) C = -4 d) D = -3i

B imaginary axis

C real axis

POLAR REPRESENTATION OF A COMPLEX NUMBER (polar coordinate system)

You have seen that a complex number can be represented as a point in the plane. Now, you can
use polar coordinate rather than Cartesian coordinates, giving the correspondences (assuming
z o)

Z = x + yi ⇔ (x, y) ⇔ (r, ) P(r, )

Polar coordinate system r

Pole O polar axis O

Fig. polar coordinate system

- is positive for counter clock wise rotation and negative for clock wise rotation.

r - is positive if measured from the pole along the terminal side of and r is negative if measured
along the terminal side extended through the pole.

Note: For a given point in a rectangular system, there exists exactly one set of rectangular
coordinates. On the other hand, in polar coordinate system, a point has infinitely many sets of
polar coordinates.
Explore – Discuss

A point in a coordinate system has coordinates (5, 300). How many other polar coordinates does
the point have for restricted to – 3600 3600? Find the other coordinates of the point,
and explain how they are found.

Polar (r, ) - Rectangular (x. y) Relationships

Y P (x, y) ⇔ P (r, ) r2 = x2 + y2

r sin = or y = r sin

O X cos = or x = r cos

Note: the signs of x and y determine the quadrant for . The angle is chosen so that - < <
or – 1800 < < 1800, unless directed otherwise.

Complex numbers in Rectangular and Polar forms

Polar Form:

Complex numbers also can be written in polar form. Using the polar-rectangular relationships:

x = r cos and y = r sin

We can write the complex number z = x + yi in polar form as follows:

z = x + yi = rcos +i rsin = r(cos )

When a complex number is written in the form z = r(cos + i sin ), is called an argument of z
is denoted by arg z. The particular argument of z lying in the range –π θ π is called the
principal argument of z and is denoted by Arg z.

y z = x + iy or z = r(cos θ + i sin θ)

O x

Fig. Rectangular-Polar relationship

Since cos θ and sin θ are both periodic with period 2π (remember in grade 10), we have

cos (θ + 2nπ) = cos θ and

sin (θ + 2nπ) = sin θ, where n is any integer.

r(cos θ + i sin θ) = r[cos(θ + 2nπ) + i sin(θ + 2nπ)], for any integer, θ + 2nπ is also an argument
of z, whenever θ = arg (z)

Example 1 (see on page 286):

Find a) arg (1) b) arg (-1) c) arg (i) d) arg (-i)

Solution: since arg (z) = θ and z = x +iy, can be found by calculating tan which is equal to
(x ). Therefore, writing each in standard form (z = x + iy):

a) 1 = 1 + i0, (x = 1 and y = 0) => tan = = 0, = 00, arg z = 00

Example 2 (see on page 286-287) express the following complex numbers (rectangular form) in
polar form.

a) z = 2 + 2√ i b) z = -5 + 5i c) z = 3i d) z = -1

Solution: finding r and first:

Note: the number r is called the MODULUS, or ABSOLUTE VALUE, of z and is denoted by
mod z, or |z|. The polar angle that line joining z to the origin makes with the polar axis is called
the ARGUMENT of z and denoted by arg z. y

Modulus and Argument for z = x +iy: z = 2 + 2√ i

mod z = r = √ never negative z = 4(cos + isin )

arg z = + 2n n is any integer r

where sin = and cos = x

As an example, a complex number in Cartesian form is z = 2 + 2√ i, where x = 2 and y = 2√ .

Solution: in the complex number z = 1 – i, x = 1 and y = -1 which in the 4th quadrant. Thus,
r = √ and = . Locating in the complex plane is: 1 x

r -1

z = 1- i or

y z = √ [cos (- ) + isin(- )]

Multiplication and Division of Complex Numbers

Suppose z1 = r1(cos + isin ) and z2 = r2(cos + isin ). Then the following hold true.

a) z1z2 = r1r2[cos ( + ) + isin ( + )]

From the above, if = and r1 = r2 = r and we have a complex number

zn = rn(cos nθ + i sin nθ); for any integer n.

Example: if z = r(cos θ + i sin θ), then is equal to:

Since = z-1 and from the above generalization z -1= [r(cos θ + i sin θ)]-1 = r-1[cos (- ) + isin (- )]

= r-1[cos ( ) - isin ( )],

since cos(- ) = cos( ) even and sin(- ) = - sin( ) odd function.

√
Example 4 (on page 289): i) find the modulus and principal argument of z = ( )

| | | |
Solution: letting z1 = √ and z2 = 1 + i, | |
= | | and | | = | |
complex numbers properties.

Then, | | = | | = and Arg ( ) = n Arg (z) remark 4, v (page 288). Then Arg z =
√
17 Arg( ) = 17[Arg(√ ) – Arg(1 + i)] = 17( )=- + 2k for k = 1 Arg z =

ii) express z in polar form, consequently z = (cos + isin )

Do exercise 7.6
Example: describe the following geometrically in a complex plane.

| |=1

If z = x + yi, then | | = 1.

| | = √( ) =1

( ) + = 1, this means a circle with center (1, 0) and radius 1.

Exercise: give the geometric interpretation of the following complex equations.

a) |z| = 1 b) |z + 1| = 3

Example: convert the following from polar to Cartesian (Rectangular).

√ (cos ) hence, r = √ and Arg z = = = 1350 (in the 2nd quadrant, x < 0
√ √
and y > 0). Therefore, z = rcos + isin with r = √ , cos 1350 = - and sin1350 = in the 2nd
√ √
quadrant is equal to z = √ (- ) + i√ ( ) = -1 + i in Cartesian form.

Do Review Exercises on Unit 7 (page 291-292)

END OF UNIT 7

Dear students (Grade 11)

After unit 7, natural science students will have two units (Vectors & Trigonometry) and social
science students will have also two units (Linear programming & Mathematical Applications in
Business). I will continue after 2-3 weeks. Wishing you all good health!

Million T

May/ 2020