Chapter 17: Problem 7
Write the given complex number in polar form. \(-\sqrt{3}+i\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
The polar form is
\(2(\cos \frac{5\pi}{6} + i \sin \frac{5\pi}{6})\).
Step by step solution
01
Identify Components of the Complex Number
The given complex number is \(-\sqrt{3} + i\). This can be expressed as A + Bi where A is the real part and B is the imaginary part.Here, A = -\sqrt{3} and B = 1.
02
Calculate the Magnitude (r)
Calculate the magnitude of the complex number using the formula \(r = \sqrt{A^2 + B^2}\).Substitute A and B to get \(r = \sqrt{(-\sqrt{3})^2 + (1)^2} = \sqrt{3 + 1} = \sqrt{4} = 2\).
03
Calculate the Argument (θ)
The argument \(θ\) of the complex number can be found using \(θ = \tan^{-1}\left(\frac{B}{A}\right)\).Here, \(θ = \tan^{-1}\left(\frac{1}{-\sqrt{3}}\right)\).Since the complex number is in the second quadrant, it implies \(θ = \pi - \frac{\pi}{6} = \frac{5\pi}{6}\).
04
Write the Polar Form
The polar form of a complex number is written as \(r(\cos θ + i \sin θ)\).Substitute the obtained values to get the polar form as \(2(\cos \frac{5\pi}{6} + i \sin \frac{5\pi}{6})\).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Complex Numbers
Complex numbers might seem a little intimidating at first, but they are not that hard to understand. They are numbers that have a real part and an imaginary part in the form of \(A + Bi\). Here, \(A\) is the real part, and \(Bi\) is the imaginary part. The letter \(i\) is used to denote the imaginary unit, with the property that \(i^2 = -1\). The complex number in the given example is \(-\sqrt{3} + i\), where \(-\sqrt{3}\) is the real part and \(i\) is the imaginary part.
- Real Part: Just like real numbers, this is the part that we are familiar with from everyday mathematics.
- Imaginary Part: This involves the imaginary unit \(i\), and it allows for solutions to equations that don't have real solutions.
Magnitude of Complex Numbers
The magnitude of a complex number, also called the modulus, is a way to determine its distance from the origin in the complex plane. It's like finding the hypotenuse of a right triangle formed by the real and imaginary parts. The formula for the magnitude \(r\) of a complex number \(A + Bi\) is \(r = \sqrt{A^2 + B^2}\).For instance, in the given problem, the complex number is \(-\sqrt{3} + i\). - Substitute \(A = -\sqrt{3}\) and \(B = 1\) into the formula: \[ r = \sqrt{(-\sqrt{3})^2 + (1)^2} = \sqrt{3 + 1} = \sqrt{4} = 2 \]This means the magnitude of \(-\sqrt{3} + i\) is 2. The magnitude helps us visualize the size of the complex number directly in a geometric sense.
Argument of Complex Numbers
The argument of a complex number is the angle it makes with the positive real axis in the complex plane. It's an essential part to describe a complex number in polar form.To calculate the argument \(θ\), you use the formula:\[θ = \tan^{-1}\left(\frac{B}{A}\right)\]In this case, you have \(-\sqrt{3} + i\) with \(A = -\sqrt{3}\) and \(B = 1\).- The initial calculation: \[ θ = \tan^{-1}\left(\frac{1}{-\sqrt{3}}\right) = -\frac{\pi}{6} \]But the complex number actually lies in the second quadrant, implying:- To adjust for quadrant, the angle becomes: \[ θ = \pi - \frac{\pi}{6} = \frac{5\pi}{6} \]The argument \(\frac{5\pi}{6}\) shows us the direction from the origin to the point \(-\sqrt{3}, i\). Knowing the argument facilities transforming complex numbers between rectangular and polar forms.
Trigonometric Form of Complex Numbers
Presenting complex numbers in trigonometric or polar form gives a more flexible and often simpler way to work with them, especially in multiplication and division.The trigonometric form uses the magnitude and argument:The standard polar form is:\[ r(\cos θ + i \sin θ)\]Using our previous findings:The magnitude \(r = 2\), and the argument \(θ = \frac{5\pi}{6}\), hence the polar form is:- Substitute into the form: \[ 2(\cos \frac{5\pi}{6} + i \sin \frac{5\pi}{6}) \]
- Cosine: Represents the horizontal component.
- Sine: Represents the vertical component.