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Complex Numbers Theory Sheet 3

Multiplication and Division of Complex Numbers in Polar form. De Moivres Theorem Learning Outcomes have been outlined in Theory Sheet 1
Theory Sheets 1 and 2 showed how complex numbers can be obtained when solving quadratic equations added, subtracted, multiplied and divided in Rectangular (a + bj) Form converted into Polar ( r ) Form, and back visualised using the Argand Diagram (inc. operations on complex numbers) added and subtracted in Polar Form used to solve engineering problems relating to vectors and phasors. REMEMBER: It is not directly possible to add or subtract complex numbers in Polar Form. The vector example on p. 6 of Complex Numbers, Theory Sheet 2, shows that it is necessary to convert from Polar to Rectangular Form first, perform the addition (and/or subtraction) and then convert back to Polar Form. As a reminder Example 1.

Review

Addition/Subtraction of Complex Numbers in Polar Form - a Review

3300 + 5 800 = ( 2.5981 + 1.5 j ) + ( 0.8682 4.9240 j ) = 3.4663 3.4240 j = 4.8723 44.650
This can be verified using Polar Addition in the accompanying MathinSite applet

Example 2.

81300 + 2 700 4500 = ( 5.1423 + 6.1284 j ) + ( 0.6840 1.8794 j ) ( 2.5712 + 3.0642 j ) = 7.0295 + 1.1848 j = 7.1286170.430

Are there simple methods for multiplication/division in Polar Form? There is good news here; there are! The bad news is; we need to undertake a bit of general analysis to determine these methods. This needs the trigonometrical identities:
cos 1 cos 2 sin 1 sin 2 = cos (1 + 2 ) cos 1 cos 2 + sin 1 sin 2 = cos (1 2 )

Multiplication of Complex Numbers in Polar form

sin 1 cos 2 + cos 1 sin 2 = sin (1 + 2 ) sin 2 + cos 2 = 1

sin 1 cos 2 cos 1 sin 2 = sin (1 2 )

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Consider two complex numbers in Polar Form, z1 and z2, where z1 = r11 and

and z2 = r2 ( cos 2 + j sin 2 ) . So multiplying z1 and z2, = r1 ( cos 1 + j sin 1 ) r2 ( cos 2 + j sin 2 ) z1 z2 = r11 r2 2

z2 = r2 2 . Remember that this notation is a shortened form for z1 = r1 ( cos 1 + j sin 1 )

= r1 r2 ( cos 1 + j sin 1 ) ( cos 2 + j sin 2 )

= r1r2 ( cos 1 cos 2 + cos 1 j sin 2 + j sin 1 cos 2 + j sin 1 j sin 2 ) = r1r2 ( ( cos 1 cos 2 sin 1 sin 2 ) + j ( cos 1 sin 2 + sin 1 cos 2 ) ) = r1r2 ( cos (1 + 2 ) + j sin (1 + 2 ) ) = r1r2 (1 + 2 )

This really amazing and helpful result says:

r11 r2 2 = r1r2 (1 + 2 )
or When multiplying complex numbers in Polar Form, simply multiply the magnitudes and add the angles. Examples of Complex Multiplication in Polar Form 1. 4300 5850 = 201150 2. 14300 31600 = 421900 OR 42 1700 3. 3.9300 2.3 600 = 8.97 300 2 11 4. 3.9 3 2.3 5 = 8.97 15 5. 2 23 3 67 = 6 32 OR 6 10 21 21

NOTE: In Polar Form angles can be quoted in the range 00 < 3600 , but can equally be given in the ranges 00 1800 and 1800 < 00 . So that in Example 2 above, 421900 OR 42 1700 are equally valid answers.

There is a simple method for division of complex numbers in Polar Form as well. The analysis follows a similar pattern to that for multiplication. and z2 = r2 ( cos 2 + j sin 2 ) . Consider two complex numbers in Polar Form, z1 and z2, where z1 = r1 ( cos 1 + j sin 1 )
r ( cos 1 + j sin 1 ) r ( cos 1 + j sin 1 ) ( cos 2 j sin 2 ) z1 r = 1 = 1 = 1 z2 r2 2 1 r2 ( cos 2 + j sin 2 ) r2 ( cos 2 + j sin 2 ) ( cos 2 j sin 2 )

Division of Complex Numbers in Polar form

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= = =

r1 ( cos 1 cos 2 cos 1 j sin 2 + j sin 1 cos 2 j sin 1 j sin 2 ) r2 cos 2 2 + sin 2 2 r1 cos 1 cos 2 + sin 1 sin 2 + j ( cos 1 sin 2 + sin 1 cos 2 ) r2 cos 2 2 + sin 2 2 r1 ( cos (1 2 ) + j sin (1 2 ) ) r2

= r1r2 (1 2 )

Again, an amazing and helpful result that says:

r11 = r1r2 (1 2 ) r2 2 or When dividing complex numbers in Polar Form, simply divide the magnitudes and subtract the angles.

Examples of Complex Division in Polar Form 4300 = 0.8 550 5850 14300 = 7 1300 ( OR 422300 ) 21600 3.9300 = 3900 0 1.3 60 3.9 3 2 = 3 ( 3 5 ) = 3 ( 15 ) 1.3 25 2 10 2 23 10 67 5 35 = ( 23 + 67 35 ) = 4 97 105 5 Powers Using the rule for multiplication of Complex numbers in Polar Form, it is easy to see that for a complex number, z = r , z 2 = r r = rr ( + ) = r 22 and

Powers and Roots of Complex Numbers

z 3 = r r r = rrr ( + + ) = r 33 and so on.

We can deduce that, in general, z n = r n n , and this is de Moivres Theorem (in its simpler form). i.e. de Moivres theorem is ( r ) = r n n
n

It is very simple to apply:

( 430 ) ( 250 )

0 3 0 10

= 64900 = 10245000 10241400

(find the remainder when multiples of 360o have been removed) Page 3 of 6

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( 3140 )
(3 + 4 j )
10

0 5

= 2437000 2433400

OR 243 200

This is particularly useful if the complex number is given in Rectangular Form, = ( 553.1300 ) = 9765625531.300 = 9653260.614 + 1477156.448 j
10

This uses 5 significant figure accuracy for the angle 53.130o So note how silly my answer is, Im using 5 s.f. input and writing the answer to 10 s.f!

Here, there is some good news and some bad news. Good News: It is much, much quicker to convert to Polar Form, apply de Moivres Theorem and then convert back than to multiply the (3 + 4j) by itself 10 times over! Bad News: Unfortunately the calculations, including the R P and then P R conversions, introduce rounding errors. Even using all the digits allowable on my calculator, which displays 10 significant figures, I obtain -9653287.001 + 1476983.999j. Compare with the previous answer. Bearing in mind that the original problem, ( 3 + 4 j ) , requires whole-number answers,
10

the answer here would appear to be -9653287 + 1476984j.

So BEWARE: using de Moivres Theorem to obtain simplifications to problems 10 such as ( 3 + 4 j ) is quick, but can introduce inaccuracies. Roots De Moivres Theorem can also be found for finding the roots (e.g. square roots, cube roots, etc) of complex numbers. However, the Theorem itself, which appeared in its simpler form above, needs to be extended to accommodate the fact that there are TWO square roots (e.g. the square root of 9 is +3 OR -3), THREE cube roots, FOUR fourth roots, and so on the above de Moivre formula would only ever give ONE root.

Bear in mind that an angle of, say, is the same angle as which is the same as which in turn, is the same as which, in general, is the same as

30o on an Argand Diagram o o 30 + 360 = 390o, 30o + 720o = 30o + 2 x 360o = 750o , o o o o 30 + 1080 = 30 + 3 x 360 = 1110o, etc o o 30 + k x 360

So any angle, , can be represented on an Argand Diagram by o + 360ko for any k = -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, So the more comprehensive version of de Moivres theorem (only used for finding roots) is

( r )

0 n

= r n n ( 0 + 360k 0 )

where k = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, Obviously, this could also be used with radian measure, in which case this would be

( r )
This form is also

= r n n ( + 2 k ) straightforward to apply
Page 4 of 6

where k = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4,

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3 + 4 j = ( 3 + 4 j ) 2 = 5 ( 53.1300 + 360k 0 )

= 5 2 ( 26.5650 + 180k 0 )
1

o for k = 0, 1 3 + 4 j = 5 2 ( 26.5650 ) = 2.236126.5650 = 2.0000 + 1.0000 j o for k = 1, 1 3 + 4 j = 5 2 ( 206.5650 ) = 2.2361206.5650 = 2.0000 1.0000 j

NOTES: As expected, just as

9 = 3 , so here

Square roots are separated on an Argand diagram by 180o (360o / 2) Working and answers here are given to 5 s.f. The answers are, for this problem, exactly ( 2 + j ) , but otherwise, once again, watch out for rounding errors. There are only TWO square roots, so once both have been found there is no point looking for more (by using k = 2, 3, 4, etc since these will only repeat those already found).

3 + 4 j = ( 2.0000 + 1.0000 j )

Find the cube roots of 8. An obvious cube root here is 2 since 23 = 8. But where are the others? The reason they are not easy to guess is because the other two roots are complex!
3

8 = 3 8 + 0 j = ( 8 ( 0 + 2 k ) ) 3 (lets use radians this time)

1

So

2 8 =8 31 3 ( 0 + 2 k ) = 2 3 k
1

o For k = 0, o For k = 1, o For k = 2,

3
3 3

8 = 20 = 2 + 0 j = 2
8 = 2 23 = 1 + 1.7321 j

(the obvious answer)

8 = 2 43 = 1 1.7321 j
1200 ( = 3600 / 3) .

NOTES: Cube roots are separated on an Argand diagram by

2 3

Fourth roots will be separated by 360/4 = 90o, fifth roots by 360/5 = 72o, etc There are only THREE roots, so once all three have been found there is no point looking for more (by using k = 3, 4, etc). Since the problem is set in Rectangular Form (8 + 0j), the answer should be in Rectangular Form also. Use this as a general rule: Start format = End format.

You can, of course, check this result using the accompanying MathinSite Complex Numbers applet available from http://mathinsite.bmth.ac.uk/html/applets.html using the Rectangular Roots/3 roots option from the drop-down menus in the top right of the applet window. Snap to grid is useful to obtain 8 + 0j exactly.

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Exercises
Use the MathinSite Complex Numbers applet to corroborate your answers where possible. 1. Find (a) 5300 + 7 300 2. Find (a) 5300 7 300 (c) 32300 3 1300 32300 7 300 (e) 5300 3 1300 (b) 5300 7 300 (d) 32300 3 1300 (b) 32300 + 3 1300 ,

3. Find (3 j)5 by (a) multiplying out the brackets in Rectangular Form (b) converting to Polar Form (with 4 significant figure accuracy), using de Moivres Theorem and converting back to Rectangular Form. Compare your answers for (a) and (b) and account for any differences. 4. Find (c) The fourth roots of 2 (d) The fifth roots of -3 + j (e) The cube roots of 1 + 2j (f) The square roots of 3-4j Sketch each case on an Argand Diagram noting the angles of separation of the roots. (a) ( 3.234 1.675 j ) 3
2

5. Find

(b)

(2 3 j)

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