Video Transcript
In this video, weβll learn how to
express complex numbers in exponential form. We should know how to express a
complex number in algebraic and polar form. So this is a natural extension of
this logic. Weβll learn what we mean by
exponential form and how to multiply and divide with these numbers. Weβll also learn how to convert
between numbers in algebraic, polar, and exponential form before discovering how the
exponential form can help us solve equations involving complex numbers.
The algebraic form of a complex
number is π§ equals π plus ππ. π and π are real numbers. And we say that π is the real part
of the complex number, whereas π is the imaginary part. And we know that the polar β
sometimes called trigonometric form of a complex number β is π cos π plus π sin
π. π is the modulus and π is the
argument usually given in radians. So what about the exponential form
of a complex number?
Here, we need Eulerβs formula. This says that π to the ππ is
equal to cos π plus π sin π. Now, letβs compare this to the
polar form of a complex number. We can see that if we multiply
through by π, we get ππ to the ππ equals π cos π plus π sin π. And so, we can write our complex
number π§ as ππ to the ππ, where π is still the modulus and π is still the
argument, given in radians here. And we can use the same methods for
calculating the modulus and argument of a complex number in exponential form as we
would for a complex number written in polar form. Letβs see what this might look
like.
Put the number π§ equals five root
two over two minus five root six over two π in exponential form.
This complex number is currently in
algebraic form. It has a real part of five root two
over two and an imaginary part of negative five root six over two. Remember a complex number in
exponential form is ππ to the ππ, where π is the modulus and π is the argument
in radians. The modulus is fairly
straightforward to calculate. For a complex number of the form π
plus ππ, its modulus is the square root of the sum of the square of π and π.
In this case, itβs the square root
of five root two over two all squared plus negative five root six over two all
squared. Five root two over two all squared
is 25 over two. And negative five root six over two
all squared is 75 over two. The sum of 25 over two and 75 over
two is 100 over two, which is simply 50. So the modulus of π§ is the square
root of 50, which we can simplify to five root two. But what about the argument?
If we put this complex number on
the Argand plane, itβs represented by the point whose Cartesian coordinates are five
root two over two and negative five root six over two. This means it lies in the fourth
quadrant. We can find the argument for
complex numbers that lie in the first and fourth quadrant by using the formula
arctan of π divided by π or arctan of the imaginary part divided by the real
part.
In this example, thatβs arctan of
negative five root six over two divided by five root two over two, which is negative
π by three. So the argument for our complex
number is negative π by three. We calculated the modulus of π§ to
π five root two and its argument to be negative π by three. So in exponential form, we can say
itβs five root two π to the negative π by three π. And at this point, itβs worth
recalling that the argument is periodic with a period of two π. So we can add or subtract multiples
of two π to our argument.
If we add two π to negative π by
three, we get five root two π to the five π over three π.
Whilst the argument of the complex
number in this second form is outside of the range for the principal argument which
is greater than negative π and less than or equal to π, itβs not unusual to see
these numbers written in either form. And what about converting back from
a number in exponential form?
Well, the conversion between
exponential and polar form is fairly straightforward, which is to use the same
values for the modulus and the argument. To convert from exponential form
back into algebraic form though, we first convert into polar form and then convert
it to algebraic form. Since ππ to the ππ is the same
as π cos π plus π sin π, we can distribute these parentheses and then compare
this directly to the algebraic form of a complex number. The real part will be π cos π and
the imaginary part will be π sin π.
Now that we have a definition of
the exponential form for a complex number, we can use this to develop some rules for
multiplication and division with these numbers. Letβs say we have two complex
numbers π one π to the ππ one and π two π to the ππ two. Their product is π one π to the
ππ one multiplied by π two π to the ππ two. And then, we recall the properties
of the modulus and arguments of a complex number.
The modulus of the product of two
complex numbers is equal to the product of their moduli and the argument of their
product is equal to the sum of their respective arguments. So we can say that the product of
π§ one and π§ two is π one π two π to the π π one plus π two. Essentially, we multiply their
moduli and add their arguments. Similarly, to divide two complex
numbers, we get π one divided by π two multiplied by π to the π π one minus π
two. This time, we divide their moduli
and subtract their arguments.
Now whilst it does look like we
could have simply applied the rules for integer exponents to derive these results,
we do need to be a little careful assuming those rules work for all complex
numbers. This is not always necessarily
true. And so, itβs much more preferable
to think about the product and quotient of complex numbers in terms of their moduli
and arguments. Letβs look at how to apply these
processes to multiplication and division of complex numbers in exponential form.
Given π§ one equals five π to the
negative π by two π and π§ two equals six π to the π by three π, express π§ one
π§ two in the form π plus ππ.
Here, weβve been given two complex
numbers in exponential form and weβre being asked to find their product in algebraic
form. Itβs much simpler to multiply
complex numbers whilst they are in exponential form. So weβll do that bit first before
converting their product to algebraic form. To multiply two complex numbers in
exponential form, we multiply their moduli and add their arguments.
The modulus of our first complex
number is five and its argument is negative π by two. The modulus of our second complex
number is six and its argument is π by three. This means the modulus of the
product of these two complex numbers will be five times six which is 30. And the argument of π§ one π§ two
will be negative π by two plus π by three.
We can add these two fractions by
creating a common denominator. Thatβs six. And we get negative three π by six
plus two π by six which is negative π by six. And therefore, we see that π§ one
π§ two is 30π to the negative π by six π. And thatβs in exponential form. So how do we convert this into
algebraic form? The easiest way is to represent it
in polar form first. Itβs 30 cos negative π by six plus
π sin of negative π by six. Weβll distribute these
parentheses.
And we see that this is equivalent
to 30 cos of negative π by six plus 30 sin of negative π by six π. Now, these are standard
results. Cos of negative π by six is root
three over two and sin of negative π by six is negative one-half. And we can therefore see that π§
one π§ two β the product of these two complex numbers β simplifies to 15 root three
minus 15π. This is now in algebraic form as
required. If we compare it to the general
form in our question, we see that π is 15 root three and π is negative 15.
Given that π§ equals π root two
over one minus π, write π§ in exponential form.
To answer this question, we have
two options. We could divide these two complex
numbers in algebraic form. And to do this, we need to multiply
both the numerator and denominator by the conjugate of the denominator then
distribute and simplify as far as possible. Iβm sure youβll agree thatβs rather
a lengthy process. Instead, weβll choose to write
these complex numbers in exponential form. So weβll need to calculate their
moduli and arguments.
π root two is a purely imaginary
number. On an Argand diagram, itβs
represented by the point whose Cartesian coordinates are zero, root two. Its modulus is the length of the
line segment that joins this point to the origin. So itβs root two. And since the argument is measured
in the counterclockwise direction from the positive real axis, we can see that the
argument of this complex number is equivalent to 90 degrees. Thatβs π by two radians. And in exponential form, we can say
that this is the same as root two π to the π by two π.
The complex number one minus π is
a little more tricky. Its real part is positive and its
imaginary part is negative. So it lies in the fourth
quadrant. Now, its modulus is independent of
this fact. We simply use the formula the
square root of the sum of the square of the real and imaginary parts. So thatβs the square root of one
squared plus negative one squared which once again is the square root of two.
We do need to be a little bit more
careful with the argument. Since itβs in the fourth quadrant,
we can use the formula thatβs unique to complex numbers that are plotted in the
first and fourth quadrants. Thatβs arctan of π over π, arctan
of the imaginary part divided by the real part. So in this case, thatβs the arctan
of negative one over one which is negative π by four. We expected a negative value for
the argument as this time weβre measuring in a clockwise direction. And so, we can rewrite our fraction
as root two π to the π by two π over root two π to the negative π by four
π. And now, we can easily divide.
To divide complex numbers in
exponential form, we divide their moduli and subtract their arguments. Root two divided by root two is one
and π by two minus negative π by four is three π by four. In exponential form then, π§ is
equal to π to the three π by four π.
Weβve seen how to multiply and
divide with complex numbers in exponential form. Letβs now look at how to use
properties of complex numbers in exponential form to solve equations.
Given that ππ to the ππ plus
ππ to the negative two ππ is equal to cos of two π minus five π sin of two π,
where π is a real number and π is a real number, find π and π.
Here, we have an equation formed of
complex numbers, for which we have some unknowns. Before we can solve for π and π,
weβll need to ensure that each complex number is in the same form. Letβs convert the left-hand side to
polar form. Itβs made up of two complex
numbers. Their moduli are π and π,
respectively. And their arguments are two π and
negative two π. So we can say that their sum is
equal to π cos two π plus π sin two π plus π cos of negative two π plus π sin
of negative two π.
Now, weβre going to use the fact
that cos π is an even function and sin π is an odd function. And this means that cos of negative
two π is the same as cos of two π. But sin of negative two π is the
same as negative sin of two π. And we can rewrite our equation
ever so slightly as shown. We need to distribute π and π
over their respective parentheses. And then, we collect like
terms. And we see that we get cos of two
π times π plus π plus π sin two π of π minus π. And of course, comparing this to
original equation, we see that this is equal to cos of two π minus five π sin two
π. And now, we can equate
coefficients.
Equating coefficients for cos of
two π, we get one equals π plus π. And for sin of two π, we get
negative five equals π minus π. We now have a pair of simultaneous
equations in π and π. Letβs add these to eliminate
π. And when we do, we get negative
four equals two π. So π must be equal to negative
two. And then, we substitute this back
into the first equation. And we get one equals negative two
plus π. So π must be equal to three. Therefore, π is equal to negative
two and π is equal to three.
We can of course check this by
popping π equals negative two and π equals three into the other equation. When we do, we see that negative
two minus three equals negative five as required.
In our final example, weβre going
to recall the properties of the complex conjugate and see how being able to spot the
complex conjugate for numbers in exponential form can save us some time.
Find the numerical value of π to
the 11π by six π plus π to the negative 11π by six π.
To evaluate the sum of these two
complex numbers, we could convert them into algebraic form and add simply by
collecting like terms. However, it is useful to be able to
spot the complex conjugate of a number written in exponential form and weβll see why
in a moment. For a complex number π§ equals ππ
to the ππ, its conjugate denoted π§ star is ππ to the negative ππ. Notice how the modulus of the
conjugate is the same as the modulus of the original complex number and that its
argument is the negative of the argument of the original complex number.
The two complex numbers we have π
to the 11π by six π and π to the negative 11π by six π both have a modulus of
one. But the argument of the second
complex number is the negative argument of the first and in fact vice versa. This means that π to the negative
11π by six π is the complex conjugate for π to the 11π by six π and vice
versa. But why does this help? Well, it allows us to use the rule
for addition of a complex number and its conjugate. The sum of a complex number and its
conjugate is equal to two times the real part of that complex number.
Now, the real part of a complex
number written in exponential or polar form is simply π cos π. So for our complex number, the real
part is one times cos of 11π by six. And this means the sum of π to the
11π by six π and its conjugate π to the negative 11π by six π is two lots of
this. Cos of 11π by six is root three
over two. So two times the real part of our
complex number is two times root three over two, which is simply root three. And we can see that the numerical
value of π to the 11π by six π plus π to the negative 11π by six π is just
root three.
In this video, weβve learned that
we can express a complex number in exponential form by using ππ to the ππ, where
π is the modulus and π is the argument expressed in radians. And weβve seen that working with
numbers in this form can help us simplify calculations, involving multiplication and
division. To multiply two complex numbers,
for example, we multiply their moduli and we add their arguments. And to divide two complex numbers
written in exponential form, we divide their moduli and subtract their
arguments.