How do you write the trigonometric form of 2-2i22i?

1 Answer
Mar 28, 2017

z=2sqrt2[cos7pi/4+isin7pi/4]z=22[cos7π4+isin7π4]

Explanation:

We are trying to get it to the form; z=r(costheta+isintheta)z=r(cosθ+isinθ), usually called z=rcisthetaz=rcisθ

Where;
The complex number is z=a+biz=a+bi

The modulus (or absolute value) of the complex number zz is r=|z|=sqrt(a^2+b^2)r=|z|=a2+b2

And tantheta=b/atanθ=ba

Now to the question, first we find the modulus of |z||z| or rr

z=2-2iz=22i

|z|=r=sqrt(2^2+(-2^2))=sqrt(4+4)=sqrt8=2sqrt2|z|=r=22+(22)=4+4=8=22

Let's find thetaθ

tantheta=(-2)/2=-1tanθ=22=1

We know that tantheta=(opposite)/(adjacent)=sintheta/costhetatanθ=oppositeadjacent=sinθcosθ,

when r=1r=1 for the latter.

If you sketch a right angled triangle and put -22 opposite thetaθ and 22 adjacent to thetaθ, the hypotenuse will be -sqrt22.

If you are familiar with the unit circle, you will know that the reference angle for the triangle is 45° or pi/4.

If you are not familiar with the unit circle, using the triangle drawn,

we know this because cos=(adjacent)/(hypoten use)=sqrt2/2 and

sin=(opposite)/(hypoten use)=sqrt2/2 which are the values for 45°

Here though the tangent of 45° or pi/4 is 1 and not -1.

How do we figure out what gives us a tangent of -1?

Easy! We know that a=2 and b=-2.

If a, the abscissa (what we normally refer to as the x- coordinate) is positive, then it means we are looking at Quadrant I or IV.

If b, the ordinate (what we normally refer to as the y-coordinate) is negative, then it means we are looking at Quadrant IV.

Thus, we know that the complex number z lies in Quadrant IV.

If it lies in IV, then the angle that makes tangent -1 is;

theta=315° or 7pi/4 because that is the 45° or pi/4 angle in IV

Now, we have the modulus and theta so we can go ahead and substitute it into our trig form of z.

z=2sqrt2[cos(7pi/4) +isin(7pi/4)]

I hope this was well explained...