Polar Representation of a Complex Number

Polar Representation of a Complex Number

Polar Representation of a Complex Number 150 150 SchoolTutoring Academy

In polar representation, a complex number is represented in terms of two variables r and t, where r is the modulus of complex number and t is the angle with the positive direction of x-axis.

We know that the modulus of a complex number z=a+ib is denoted by |z| and is defined as . We also know that the point P(a,b) is the representation of the complex number a+bi in a coordinate plane.

Then from the above figure,

Cos t = a/r ==> a = r Cost

Sin t = b/r ==>b= r Sint,

where t is the angle in radians which is called the argument of a+bi.

and we have tant = b/a==> t = tan-1(b/a)

Aslo, from trigonometric Pythagorean identity, we have

Cos2t +Sin2t = 1

a2/r2 + b2/r2 = 1

r2 = a2+b2

r = √(a2+b2). So, r is nothing but the modulus of a+bi.

Thus, we can write a complex number a+bi as follows.

a+bi= r(Cost + i Sin t), where

r= √ a2+b2

and t = tan-1(b/a).

The above representation is called polar form of a+ib.

Converting a given complex number into polar form:

(1)    Find r = √ a2+b2

(2)    Find t = tan-1(b/a).

(3)    Substitute r and t in the polar form r(Cos t + i Sint)

Example:

1)      i = 1 (Cos π/2 + i Sin π/2).

2)      1+I

R = √ a2+b2=√2

t = tan-1(b/a)=  tan-1(1)=π/4.

So, 1+I = √2 (Cos π/4 + i Sin π/4)

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Example image courtesy of  https://www.ping.be/~ping1339/complget.htm