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CIE A Level Maths: Pure 3 Your notes

8.3 Further Complex Numbers

Contents
8.3.1 Exponential Form of Complex Numbers
8.3.2 Geometry of Complex Multiplication & Division
8.3.3 Square Roots of a Complex Number - Advanced

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8.3.1 Exponential Form of Complex Numbers

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Exponential Form of Complex Numbers
You now know how to do lots of operations with complex numbers: add, subtract, multiply, divide, raise to a
power and even square root. The last operation to learn is raising the number e to the power of an imaginary
number.
How do we calculate e to the power of an imaginary number?
Given an imaginary number (iθ) we can define exponentiation as
eiθ = cos θ + isin θ
eiθ is the complex number with modulus 1 and argument θ
This works with our current rules of exponents
e0 = e0i = cos0 + isin0 = 1
This shows e to the power 0 would still give the answer of 1
iθ 1 iθ i(θ + θ )
e × e 2= e 1 2
This is because when you multiply complex numbers you can add the arguments
This shows that when you multiply two powers you can still add the indices
iθ1
e i(θ1 − θ2)
iθ2
=e
e
This is because when you divide complex numbers you can subtract the arguments
This shows that when you divide two powers you can still subtract the indices

What is the exponential form of a complex number?

Any complex number z = a + b i can be written in polar form z = r ( cosθ + isinθ )
r is the modulus
θ is the argument
Using the definition of eiθ we can now also write z in exponential form
z = r e iθ
Why do I need to use the exponential form of a complex number?
It's just a shorter and quicker way of expressing complex numbers
It makes a link between the exponential function and trigonometric functions
It makes it easier to remember what happens with the moduli and arguments when multiplying and
dividing

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iθ 1 iθ 2
If z = r e and z = r e then
1 1 2 2
i θ 1 + θ 2) Your notes
z1 × z2 = r1r2e (
You can clearly see that the moduli have been multiplied and the arguments have been
added
z1 r1 i θ 1 − θ 2)
= e(
z2 r2
You can clearly see that the moduli have been divided and the arguments have been
subtracted
What are some common numbers in exponential form?
As cos (2π) = 1 and sin (2π) = 0 you can write:
1 = e2π i
Using the same idea you can write:
1 = e0 = e2π i = e4π i = e6π i = e2kπ i where k is any integer
As cos(π) = − 1 and sin(π) = 0 you can write:
eπ i = − 1
Or more commonly written as eiπ + 1 = 0

As cos ⎜
⎛π ⎞⎟ = 0 and sin ⎛⎜ π ⎞⎟ = 1 you can write:
⎝2 ⎠ ⎝2 ⎠
π
i
i=e 2

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Worked example
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Exam Tip
The powers can be long and contain fractions so make sure you write the expression clearly.
You don’t want to lose marks because the examiner can’t read your answer

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8.3.2 Geometry of Complex Multiplication & Division

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Geometry of Complex Multiplication & Division
You now know how conjugation, addition and subtraction affect the geometry of complex numbers on an
Argand diagram. Now we can look at the effects of multiplication and division.
What do multiplication and division look like on an Argand diagram?
Let z1 and z2 be two complex numbers
With moduli r1 and r2 respectively
And arguments θ1 and θ2 respectively
To plot z × z on an Argand diagram
1 2
The modulus will be r × r
1 2
The argument will be θ + θ2
1
Subtract 2π from the argument if it is not in the range
z1
To plot on an Argand diagram
z2
r1
The modulus will be
r2
The argument will be θ − θ
1 2
Add 2π to the argument if it is not in the range

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What are the geometric representations of complex multiplication and division?

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Let w be a given complex number with modulus r and argument θ
In exponential form w = r eiθ
Let z be any complex number represented on an Argand diagram
Multiplying z by w results in z being:
Stretched from the origin by a scale factor of r
If r > 1 then z will move further away from the origin
If 0 < r < 1 then z will move closer to the origin
If r = 1 then z will remain the same distance from the origin
Rotated anti-clockwise about the origin by angle θ
If θ < 0 then the rotation will be clockwise
Dividing z by w results in z being:
1
Stretched from the origin by a scale factor of
r
If r > 1 then z will move closer to the origin
If 0 < r < 1 then z will further away from the origin
If r = 1 then z will remain the same distance from the origin
Rotated clockwise about the origin by angle θ
If θ < 0 then the rotation will be anti-clockwise

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Exam Tip
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If a complex number is given in Cartesian form, first convert it to polar form or exponential form to
find the modulus and argument.

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8.3.3 Square Roots of a Complex Number - Advanced

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Square Roots of a Complex Number - Advanced
Previously we looked at how to find the square roots of a complex number in Cartesian form (a+bi). We can
also find square roots using polar ( r ( cos θ + i sin θ ) ) and exponential form (re iθ ).

How do I find a square root of a complex number in polar/exponential form?

Let w = re iθ be a square root of z = ne iα
w ×w =z
( re iθ) 2 = ne iα
Applying rules of indices:
r 2 e 2 iθ = ne iα
Comparing the coefficients of e (moduli) and powers of e (arguments) we can state:
n = r2
r= n
α = 2θ
α
θ=
2
α
i
A square root of z = ne iα is w = ne2
Square root the modulus
Halve the argument
How do I find the second square root?
The second square root is the first one multiplied by -1
α α
i i
w= n e 2 and −w = − ne2
We can write the second one in polar or exponential form too
Adding 2π to the argument of a complex number still gives the same complex number
So we could also say that ne i(α + 2π ) = r 2 e 2iθ
Therefore α + 2π = 2θ is another possibility
α
θ= +π
2
So the two square roots of (ne iα ) are:

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α
i
z1 = n e2
Your notes
⎛⎜ α ⎞
⎜⎜ +π ⎟⎟⎟ i
z2 = n e⎝ 2 ⎠
You should notice that the two square roots are π radians apart from each other
This is always true when finding square roots
And if you were to write them in cartesian form they would be negatives of one another
E.g. a+bi and -a-bi
This is also always true when finding square roots
This approach can be extended to find higher order roots (e.g. cube roots) by knowing that the nth
2π
roots will be radians apart from each other, however this is beyond the specification of this
n
course

Exam Tip
The square roots will be negatives of each other when written in cartesian form, and the two square
roots will be π radians apart when written in polar form. These two facts can help you find the roots
quicker and/or check your answers.
If your calculator is able to work with complex numbers, you should also square the square-roots
you found to check that you get the original number.

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Exam Tip
Your notes
The square roots will be negatives of each other when written in cartesian form, and the two square
roots will be π radians apart when written in polar form. These two facts can help you find the roots
quicker and/or check your answers.
If your calculator is able to work with complex numbers, you should also square the square-roots
you found to check that you get the original number.

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