Multiplication, Division, and Powers in Polar and Exponential Forms • DeMoivre’s Theorem • Roots
The operations of multiplication and division can be performed with complex numbers in polar and exponential forms, as well as rectangular form. It is convenient to use polar form for multiplication and division as well as for finding powers or roots of complex numbers.
Using exponential form and laws of exponents, we multiply two complex numbers as
Rewriting this result in polar form, we have
and
The polar expressions are equal, which means the product of two complex numbers is
[The magnitudes are multiplied, and the angles are added.]
To multiply the complex numbers and we have
Note that the angle in the final result is between and . This is usually the case, although in some applications, it is expressed as a negative angle.
If we wish to divide one complex number in exponential form by another, we arrive at the following result:
Therefore, the result of dividing one complex number in polar form by another is given by
[The magnitudes are divided, and the angles are subtracted.]
Divide the first complex number of Example 1 by the second.
Using the notation, we have
We have just seen that multiplying and dividing numbers in polar form can be easily performed.
However, if we are to add or subtract numbers given in polar form, we must convert them to rectangular form before we do the addition or subtraction.
Perform the addition
In order to do this addition, we must change each number to rectangular form:
Converting back to polar form, we get (see Fig. 12.17).
To raise a complex number to a power, we use the exponential form of the number along with the properties of exponents and This leads to
Extending this to polar form, we have
Equation (12.17) is known as DeMoivre’s theorem and is valid for all real values of n. It is also used for finding roots of complex numbers if n is a fractional exponent. We note that the magnitude is raised to the power, and the angle is multiplied by the power.
Using DeMoivre’s theorem, find
Converting to polar form, Therefore,
Expressing in radians, we have Therefore,
Find the cube root of
Because is a real number, we can find its cube root by means of the definition. Since We check this by DeMoivre’s theorem. Writing in polar form, we have
Applying DeMoivre’s theorem, with we obtain
Observe that we did not obtain as the answer. If we check the answer, in the form by actually cubing it, we obtain Therefore, it is a correct answer.
We should note that it is possible to take of any angle up to and still have an angle less than . Because and have the same terminal side, let us try writing as Using DeMoivre’s theorem, we have
We have found the answer we originally anticipated.
Angles of and also have the same terminal side, so we try
Checking this, we find that it is also a correct root. We may try , but which has the same functional values as , and would give us the answer again.
We have found, therefore, three cube roots of They are
These roots are graphed in Fig. 12.18. Note that they are equally spaced on the circumference of a circle of radius 1.
[When the results of Example 5 are generalized, it can be proven that there are n nth roots of a complex number.]
When graphed, these roots are on a circle of radius and are equally spaced apart. Following is the method for finding these n roots.
Find the two square roots of 2j.
First, we write 2j in polar form as To find square roots, we use the exponent 1/2. The first square root is
To find the other square root, we add to . This gives us
Therefore, the two square roots of 2j are and We see in Fig. 12.19 that they are on a circle of radius and apart.
Find all the roots of the equation
Solving for x, we have or Therefore, we have to find the six sixth roots of 64. Writing 64 in polar form, we have Using the exponent 1/6 for the sixth root, we have the following solutions:
These roots are graphed in Fig. 12.20. Note that they are equally spaced apart on the circumference of a circle of radius 2.
From the text and examples of this and previous sections, we are able see the uses and advantages of the different forms of complex numbers. These can be summarized as follows:
Rectangular form: Used for all operations; best for addition and subtraction.
Polar form: Used for multiplication, division, powers, roots.
Exponential form: Used for multiplication, division, powers, and theoretical purposes (e.g., deriving DeMoivre’s theorem)
In Exercises 1–4, perform the indicated operations for the resulting complex numbers if the given changes are made in the indicated examples of this section.
In Example 1, change the sign of the angle in the first complex number and then perform the multiplication.
In Example 2, change the sign of the angle in the second complex number and then divide.
In Example 4, change the exponent to 5 and then find the result.
In Example 6, replace 2j with and then find the roots.
In Exercises 5–20, perform the indicated operations. Leave the result in polar form.
In Exercises 21–24, perform the indicated operations. Express results in polar form. See Example 3.
In Exercises 25–34, change each number to polar form and then perform the indicated operations. Express the result in rectangular and polar forms. Check by performing the same operation in rectangular form.
In Exercises 35–40, use DeMoivre’s theorem to find all the indicated roots. Be sure to find all roots.
The two square roots of
The three cube roots of
The three cube roots of
The two square roots of
The square roots of
The cube roots of
In Exercises 41–46, find all of the roots of the given equations.
In Exercises 47–56, solve the given problems.
Using the results of Example 5, find the cube roots of
Using the results of Example 6, find the square roots of 32j.
In Example 5, we showed that one cube root of is Cube this number in rectangular form and show that the result is
Explain why the two square roots of a complex number are negatives of each other.
The cube roots of can be found by solving the equation Find these roots by factoring as the sum of cubes and compare with Example 5.
The cube roots of 8 can be found by solving the equation Find these roots by factoring as the difference of cubes and compare with Exercise 42.
The electric power p (in W) supplied to an element in a circuit is the product of the voltage e and the current i (in A). Find the expression for the power supplied if volts and amperes.
The displacement d (in in.) of a weight suspended on a system of two springs is in. Perform the addition and express the answer in polar form.
The voltage across a certain inductor is volts. Simplify this expression and find the magnitude of the voltage.
In a microprocessor circuit, the current is and the impedance is Find the voltage E in rectangular form. Use
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