Argand diagrams: modulus,

argument and polar form

IB HL
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Adrian Sparrow
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The Argand plane
The plane of complex numbers is known as the Argand plane.
The y-axis is the imaginary part and the x-axis is the real part.
Examples

z
1
= 3+ 2i
z
2
= 2 + i

z
1
+ z
2
=1+ 3i

2 z
2
( )
= 4 + 2i

z
1
( )
*
= 3 2i

z
1

z
2

z
1
+ z
2

2 z
2
( )

z
1
( )
*


Draw a sketch to show
each of these:
z
1
+ z
2
2z
2
z
1
( )
*


Modulus
Examples


The modulus, z, is the length the line z.

z
1


z
1
= 3+ 2i
z
2
= 2 + i
Find,
z
1
and z
2


Find,
z
1
+ z
2
2 z
2
( )
z
1
( )
*

z
1
= 3
2
+2
2
= 13

z
2
= 2
2
+1
2
= 5

2 5

13

z
2

10


Argument


The argument of a complex number is the angle, u, made between
the line and the positive axis.


Consider z
1
= 4 + 4i

u

tanu =
4
4
u =
t
4

argz
1
=
t
4


Note that: t su st


Consider z
2
= 3+ 3i

tanu =
3
3
u =
t
4

argz
2
= t
t
4
=
3t
4

u


Argument - examples 1

z
1
= 4

argz
1
=0

z
2
=5i

argz
2
=
t
2

z
3
= 3

argz
3
=t

z
4
=4i

argz
4
=
t
2


Argument - examples 2


1. Find the argument of the
complex number z = 3 + i.


2. Find the argument of the
complex number w=1 3i.


tanu =
1
3
or sinu =
1
2

argz =
t
6


tanu =
3
1
or cosu =
1
2

argw =
t
3

u

u

3

3

1

1

2

2


Polar and Euler form


Cartesian form: z =x+yi


Polar form: z = z cosu + isinu
( )
The modulus of
the complex
number.
The argument of the
complex number.


z = z cosu + i sinu
( )
can be z = z cisu


The Euler form of
z = z cisu is given as
z = z e
iu
We will derive the Euler form of
a complex number in a later
lessons.


Cartesian to polar form


Write the complex number
z =3+i 3 in polar form.
Questions - write each of the
following in polar form.
Draw a sketch on your Argand
diagram

u
Make a right angled triangle and
find the hypotenuse, modulus, and
the angle, argument.

3


3

sinu =
3
2 3
=
1
2
|
\

|
.
|
u =
t
6

3
( )
2
+ 3
2
= 12 = 2 3

z = 2 3 cis
t
6
|
\

|
.
|

2 3


1. z = 2 2i
2. z = 2 + i 2 3
( )
3. z = 1 3i
4. z = 4 4i

z = 2 2cis
3t
4
|
\

|
.
|

z = 4cis
t
3
|
\

|
.
|

z = 2cis
2t
3
|
\

|
.
|

z = 4 2cis
t
4
|
\

|
.
|


Polar to cartesian form


Write the polar complex number
z =2cis -
t
6
|
\

|
.
|
in cartesian form.
Draw a sketch on your Argand
diagram.

t
6

2

sin
t
6
=
1
2
sin
opp
hyp

1


Work backward using the angle
t
6
.

opp =1, adj = 3

3

z = 3 i
Questions - write each of the
following in cartesian form.

z = 3+ i 3 3
( )

z = 5 2 i 5 2
( )

z = 2 3 2i

z = 8+ i 8 5
( )


1. z =6cis
t
3
2. z =10cis
t
4
|
\

|
.
|
3. z =4cis
5t
6
|
\

|
.
|
4. z =16cis
2t
3
|
\

|
.
|