Geometric representation of complex numbers

Since the complex numbers can be written in the form x + iy , where x and y are real
numbers, they may be represented by points in a Cartesian plane.

Therefore the points P and Q in the

y adjacent figure could be taken to
Q represent the complex numbers 3 + i and
2 -1 + 2i respectively. Such a diagram
P representing complex numbers in this
1 x
way is called ARGAND DIAGRAM.

-1 3
In this representation, the x co-ordinate represents the real part and the y co-ordinate
represents the imaginary part. For this reason, the x-axis is often referred to as REAL axis
and the y-axis is referred to as the IMAGINARY axis.

Clearly the conjugate of the complex number represented by a point A will be represented
by a point, A1, which is the reflection of point A in the x-axis as shown below.

y
A(a,b)

A represents Z = a + ib
x A1 represents Z * = a - ib
0

A1(a,-b)
Complex Numbers - Modulus/Argument form (Polar Form)
 y Given Z = x + iy
Z
Modulus of Z,
r | Z |= r = x 2 + y 2

Argument of Z = argZ =
y
tan q =
x x

Modulus / Argument Form: Z = r (cosq + i sinq )

Alternative shorthand notation: Z = rq (e.g. Z = 536o, Z = 50.644 )

NB
tan quadrant
1st as calculated
+ 3rd
calc -
calc - 180 o
th
4 as calculated
- 2nd
calc +
calc + 180 o
Examples:

1. Z = 4 + 3i (1st quadrant) r= 42 + 32 = 5
y
3 Z 3
tan q = = 0.75
4
r
q = 0.644 = 36.9o

4 x Z = 5(cos 0.644 + i sin 0.644)

2. Z = 4 - 3i (4th quadrant) r= 42 + 32 = 5

y 4 -3
tan q = = -0.75
x 4

q = -0.644 = -36.9o
r

-3 Z Z = 5[cos( -0.644) + i sin( -0.644)]

3. Z = -4 + 3i (2nd quadrant) r= 42 + 32 = 5
(tan negative)
3
Z y tan q = = -0.75
3 -4

r q = -0.644 + p = 2.498 = 143.1o

Z = 5(cos 2.498 + i sin 2.498)
-4 x

4. Z = -4 - 3i 4th quadrant)
(tan positive) r= 42 + 32 = 5

-4 y -3
tan q = = 0.75
-4
x

q = 0.644 - p = -2.498 = -143.1o
r
-3 Z = 5[cos( -2.498) + i sin( -2.498)]
Z
5. Z = -2 - 2i (4th quadrant)
(tan positive) r= 22 + 2 2 = 8

-2 y -2
tan q = =1
-2
x

q = -2.356 = -135o
r
-2 Z = 8[cos(-2.356) + i sin(-2.356)]
Z

6. Z = 12 - 5i (4th quadrant) r= 122 + 52 = 13

y
12 -5
tan q = = -0.417
x 12
r
-5 q = -0.395 = -22.6o
Z
Z = 13[cos( -0.395) + i sin( -0.395)]
Modulus / Argument Form Cartesian Form

-2p -2p
An Example: Express Z = 2[cos( ) + i sin( )] in a + ib form!
3 3
Answer: y
-1
Evaluate cos/ sin and expand bracket
Z = 2[-0.5 + i (-0.866)] = -1 - 1.732i
x
r

Z -1.732

Exercises:
i) Represent the following complex numbers on Argand Diagram
ii) Express the same in the Modulus/Argument form

1. Z = 3 + 4i

2. Z = -3 + 4i
3. Z = -3 - 4i

4. Z = 3 - 4i

5. Z = -1 + i
6. Z = 1- i

7. Z = 4i

8. Z =4
iii) Express the following in the a + ib form and represent on Argand Diagram
p p
9. Z = 4(cos + i sin )
6 6

10. Z = 7[cos(-2.531) + i sin(-2.531)]

Answers:

1. Z = 50.927 6. Z = 2- 0.785 or
2. Z = 52.214 -p
3. Z = 5- 2.214 Z = 2
4
4. Z = 50.927 p
7. Z = 4-
5. Z = 22.356 or 2
3p 8. Z = 40
Z = 2
4 9. Z = 3.464+2i
10. Z=-5.735-4.014i
Multiplication and Division in Polar Form

If Z1 = r1 (cos q1 + i sin q1 ) and Z 2 = r2 (cos q 2 + i sin q 2 ) then

Z1Z 2 = r1r2 (cosq1 + i sin q1 )(cos q 2 + i sin q 2 )

= r1r2 [(cos q1 cos q 2 - sin q1 sin q 2 ) + i(sin q1 cos q 2 + cos q1 sin q 2 )]
= r1r2 [(cos(q1 + q 2 ) + i(sin q1 + q 2 )]

\| Z1Z 2 |= r1r2 and arg( Z1Z 2 ) = q1 + q1

This means that two complex numbers in polar form may be multiplied by
multiplying the moduli and adding the arguments.

This makes powers of complex numbers easy to work out in polar form.
[2(cos 20o + i sin 20o)]3 = 2
2 2[cos(20o + 20o + 20o) + i sin(20o + 20o + 20o)]
= 8(cos 60o + i sin 60o)

Z1 r1 (cosq1 + i sin q1 )
=
Z 2 r2 (cos q 2 + i sin q 2 )
r (cos q1 + i sin q1 )(cosq 2 - i sin q 2 )
= 1g
r2 (cos q 2 + i sin q 2 )(cos q 2 - i sin q 2 )
r1 cosq1 cos q 2 + sin q1 sin q 2 + i(sin q1 cos q 2 - cos q1 sin q 2 )
= g
r2 cos 2 q 2 + sin 2 q 2
r1 cos(q1 - q 2 ) + i sin(q1 - q 2 )
= g
r2 1
r1
= [cos(q1 - q 2 ) + i sin(q1 - q 2 )]
r2

Z1 r1 Z
\| |= and arg( 1 ) = q1 - q1
Z 2 r2 Z2
To divide two complex numbers, in polar form you must divide the moduli and
subtract the argument of the denominator from the argument of the numerator.
Examples:

If Z1 = 3(cos 30 + i sin 30 ) and Z 2 = 2(cos 45 + i sin 45 )

o o o o

Z1 Z13
Z Z
find 1 2 , and 2
Z2 Z2

i) Z1Z 2 = 2g3[cos(30o + 45o) + i sin(30o + 45o)]

= 6[cos(75o) + i sin(75o)]

Z1 3
ii) = [cos(30o - 45o) + i sin(30o - 45o)]
Z2 2
= 1.5[cos( -15o) + i sin(-15o)]

iii) Z13 = 33 [cos(3g30o) + i sin(3g30o)]

= 27[cos(90o) + i sin(90o)]
= 27i

Z 2 2 = 22 [cos(2g45o) + i sin(2g45o)]
= 4[cos(90o) + i sin(90o)]
= 4i

Z13 27i
\ =
Z22 4i
27
=
4
DeMoivres Theorem - Powers of complex numbers
Given Z = r (cosq + i sin q ) then Z n = r n [cos(nq ) + i sin(nq )]
or Z = r q Z n = r n nq

Examples:
1. Given Z = 2(cos 0.612 + i sin 0.612) evaluate Z 5

Z 5 = 25 [cos(5g0.612) + i sin(5g0.612)]
Z 5 = 32[cos(3.06) + i sin(3.06)]

p
2. Given Z = 4 evaluate Z 3 giving answer in a + bi form
9

p
Z 3 = 43 (3g )
9
p p p 1 3
Z 3 = 64 = 64(cos + i sin ) = 64( + i ) = 32 + 32 3i
3 3 3 2 2

3. Given Z = 3 - i evaluate Z 4

-p
First convert to Modulus/Argument form Z = 2
6
-p -2p
Z 4 = 24 [4g( )] = 16
6 3
Exercise:

1. Given Z = 1.50.262 find Z 5

2. Given Z = 3 - i find Z 7

3. Given Z = 3(cos 0.716 + i sin 0.716) find Z 4

Z1
4. Given Z1 = 3 + i and Z 2 = 1 - i find Z1Z 2 and
Z2
 Z1
5. Convert Z1Z 2 and from previous exercise into polar form and hence find
Z2
Z1 2
( Z1Z 2 )3 and ( )
Z2

Answers:
1. Z 5 = 7.5941.31
2. Z 7 = 100.322 , Z 7 = 3.1622.254
3. Z 4 = 812.861 = -77.86 + 22.33i
Z
4. Z1Z 2 = 4 - 2i , 1 = 1 + 2i
Z2
Z1
5. Z1Z 2 = 20- 0.464 , = 51.107
Z2
SUMMARY:

1.
y
Z Polar form of a complex number
Z = a + ib = r (cos q + i sin q ) = r q
i r b r = mod Z =| Z |= a 2 + b 2
b
q = arg Z = tan -1 ( )
a
a x

2.
y Negative Angles
x Z = r[cos(-q ) + i sin(-q )]
-
cos(-q ) = cos q
i
r sin(-q ) = - sin q
\ Z = r[cos q - i sin q ] = r q
Z

3. Multiplication and Division in Polar Form

If Z1 = r1q1 and Z 2 = r2 q 2 then
Z r
Z1Z 2 = r1r2 (q1 + q 2 ) and 1 = 1 (q1 - q 2 )
Z 2 r2
4. DeMoivres Theorem
If Z = r (cos q + i sin q ) then Z n = r n [cos(nq ) + i sin(nq )]