2.7.

1: Sinusoidal signals, conmplex exponentials, and phasors

Multiplication and division, on the other hand, are probably most easily performed using polar
coordinates. If we define two complex numbers as:

A = A e jθ A = A ∠θ A
B = B e jθ B = B ∠θ B

the product and difference can be determined by:

A ⋅ B = A e jθ A ⋅ B e jθ B = A ⋅ B e j ( θ A +θ B ) = A ⋅ B ∠( θ A + θ B )

and

jθ
A Ae A A A
= jθ B
= e j ( θ A −θ B ) = ∠( θ A − θ B )
B Be B B

The conjugate of a complex number, denoted by a *, is obtained by changing the sign on the
imaginary part of the number. For example, if A = a + jb = A e jθ , then

∗
A = a − jb = A e − jθ

Conjugation does not affect the magnitude of the complex number, but it changes the sign on the
phase angle. It is easy to show that

∗ 2
A⋅ A = A

Several useful relationships between polar and rectangular coordinate representations of complex
numbers are provided below. The student is encouraged to prove any that are not self-evident.

j = 1∠90 o

− j = 1∠ − 90 o

1
= − j = 1∠ − 90 o
j

1 = 1∠0 o

− 1 = 1∠180 o

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