Sign In | Starter Of The Day | Tablesmaster | Fun Maths | Maths Map | Topics | More
Here are some specific activities, investigations or visual aids we have picked out. Click anywhere in the grey area to access the resource.
Click on a topic below for suggested lesson Starters, resources and activities from Transum.
Complex numbers can be represented in various forms, including Cartesian, modulus-argument (also known as polar), and Euler form. Converting between these forms is a fundamental skill in complex number analysis.
Cartesian Form: A complex number in Cartesian form is represented as \( z = a + bi \), where \( a \) and \( b \) are real numbers, and \( i \) is the imaginary unit.
Modulus-Argument (Polar) Form: In this form, a complex number is represented as \( z = r(\cos(\theta) + i\sin(\theta)) \), where \( r \) is the modulus (or magnitude) of the complex number and \( \theta \) is the argument (or angle) in radians. The modulus is given by \( r = \sqrt{a^2 + b^2} \) and the argument is \( \theta = \arctan\left(\frac{b}{a}\right) \).
Euler Form: Euler's formula relates the exponential function and the trigonometric functions. A complex number in Euler form is given by \( z = re^{i\theta} \). Using Euler's formula, this can be expanded as \( z = r(\cos(\theta) + i\sin(\theta)) \).
Key Formulae:
$$ \text{Cartesian to Polar:} \\ r = \sqrt{a^2 + b^2} \\ \theta = \arctan\left(\frac{b}{a}\right) $$
$$ \text{Polar to Cartesian:} \\ a = r\cos(\theta) \\ b = r\sin(\theta) $$
$$ \text{Euler Form:} \\ z = re^{i\theta} = r(\cos(\theta) + i\sin(\theta)) $$
Example: Convert the complex number \( z = 3 + 4i \) to its modulus-argument and Euler forms.
Using the formulae:
$$ r = \sqrt{3^2 + 4^2} = 5 \\ \theta = \arctan\left(\frac{4}{3}\right) $$
The modulus-argument form is \( z = 5(\cos(\theta) + i\sin(\theta)) \) and the Euler form is \( z = 5e^{i\theta} \).
How do you teach this topic? Do you have any tips or suggestions for other teachers? It is always useful to receive feedback and helps make these free resources even more useful for Maths teachers anywhere in the world. Click here to enter your comments.