1 AdEMath – Advanced Engineering Mathematics for ECE

COMPLEX NUMBERS

MODULUS AND ARGUMENT OF COMPLEX NUMBERS

Let 𝑍 = 𝑥 + 𝑗𝑦 be a complex number where x and y are real quantities. The modulus of Z is
denoted as |𝑍| due to the Weirstrass notation. It also means the magnitude of the vector
quantity or sometimes called the absolute value of the complex number.

|𝑍| = √(𝑥)2 + (𝑦)2 = 𝑟

The argument of Z, arg Z, means the angle of the vector quantity. The angle is measured with
reference to the positive x-axis and in counterclockwise direction.
𝑦
arg 𝑍 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 =𝜃
𝑥
It is necessary to illustrate the modulus and argument of a complex number in an Argand
diagram and to use it when evaluating these quantities.

Example 1.
Find the modulus and argument of the complex number:
𝑍 = 3 + 𝑗4

|𝑍| = 𝑟 = √(3)2 + (4)2 = 5

4
arg 𝑍 = 𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 = 53.130°
3

FORMS OF COMPLEX NUMBERS

A. Rectangular form (𝑥 + 𝑗𝑦)

B. Polar form or Steinmetz form (𝑟  )

where: r = modulus, magnitude or amplitude

 = argument, angle or phase difference in degrees, 𝜃 °
C. Trigonometric form { 𝑟(cos  + 𝑗𝑠𝑖𝑛)} = 𝑟𝑐𝑗𝑠 = 𝑟𝑐𝑖𝑠

D. Exponential form (𝑟𝑒j)

where:  = in radians

r = magnitude/modulus

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2 AdEMath – Advanced Engineering Mathematics for ECE
COMPLEX NUMBERS

CONVERSION OF FORMS
Express the complex number in different forms: 𝑍 = 3 + 𝑗4

a. Rectangular form: (𝑥 + 𝑗𝑦)

𝒁 = 𝟑 + 𝒋𝟒

b. Polar form: (𝑟  )
𝑍 = 3 + 𝑗4

|𝑍| = 𝑟 = √(3)2 + (4)2 = 5

4
arg 𝑍 = 𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 = 53.130°
3
𝒁 = 𝟓  𝟓𝟑. 𝟏𝟑𝟎°
∗∗ 𝒙 = 𝒓𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜃 = 5 cos 53.130 = 3
∗∗ 𝒚 = 𝒓𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜃 = 5 sin 53.130 = 4

c. Trigonometric form: { 𝑟(cos  + 𝑗𝑠𝑖𝑛)} = 𝑟𝑐𝑗𝑠 = 𝑟𝑐𝑖𝑠

𝑍 = 3 + 𝑗4

𝑟 = √(3)2 + (4)2 = 5
4
𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 = 53.130°
3
𝒁 = 𝟓(𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟓𝟑. 𝟏𝟑𝟎° + 𝒋 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟓𝟑. 𝟏𝟑𝟎° ) = 𝟓 𝒄𝒊𝒔 𝟓𝟑. 𝟏𝟑𝟎°

d. Exponential form: (𝑟𝑒j)

𝑍 = 3 + 𝑗4
𝑟 = √(3)2 + (4)2 = 5
4
𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 = 53.130°
3
𝑟 °
𝜋
𝜃 = 53.130 𝑥 = 0.927
180°

𝒁 = 𝟓 𝒆𝒋𝟎.𝟗𝟐𝟕

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3 AdEMath – Advanced Engineering Mathematics for ECE
COMPLEX NUMBERS

Example 2.
Find the modulus and argument of the complex number: 𝑍 = (5 306.87° )
𝑟=5
𝜃 = 306.87°

Express the complex number in different forms: 𝑍 = (5 306.87° )

a. Rectangular form: (𝑥 + 𝑗𝑦)

𝑥 = 𝑟𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 5 cos 306.87 = 3

𝑦 = 𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 = 5 sin 306.87 = −4

𝒁 = 𝟑 − 𝒋𝟒

b. Polar form: (𝑟  )
𝑍 = 3 − 𝑗4

𝑟 = √(3)2 + (−4)2 = 5
−4
𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 = −53.130°
3
*The angle is measured with reference to the positive x-axis and in counterclockwise direction.
4
𝜃 = 360° − 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 3 = 306.87° Disregard the signs (±).

𝒁 = 𝟓  𝟑𝟎𝟔. 𝟖𝟕°

c. Trigonometric form: { 𝑟(cos  + 𝑗𝑠𝑖𝑛)} = 𝑟𝑐𝑗𝑠 = 𝑟𝑐𝑖𝑠

𝑍 = 3 − 𝑗4

𝑟 = √(3)2 + (−4)2 = 5
4
𝜃 = 360° − 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 = 306.87°
3
𝒁 = 𝟓(𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟑𝟎𝟔. 𝟖𝟕° + 𝒋 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟑𝟎𝟔. 𝟖𝟕° ) = 𝟓 𝒄𝒊𝒔 𝟑𝟎𝟔. 𝟖𝟕°

d. Exponential form: (𝑟𝑒j)

𝑍 = 3 − 𝑗4

𝑟 = √(3)2 + (−4)2 = 5
4
𝜃 = 360° − 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 = 306.87°
3
𝜋
𝜃 𝑟 = 306.87° 𝑥 = 5.356
180°

𝒁 = 𝟓 𝒆𝒋𝟓.𝟑𝟓𝟔

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4 AdEMath – Advanced Engineering Mathematics for ECE
COMPLEX NUMBERS

OPERATIONS AND THEOREMS ON COMPLEX NUMBERS

A. Equality – two complex numbers are equal if and only if their real and imaginary
numbers are equal respectively.
𝑥1 + 𝑗𝑦1 = 𝑥2 + 𝑗𝑦2
𝑥1 = 𝑥2 ; 𝑦1 = 𝑦2
B. Conjugate – can be obtained by negating the imaginary part of the complex number.
𝑥 + 𝑗𝑦 = 𝑥 – 𝑗𝑦
C. Reciprocal
1
𝑥 + 𝑗𝑦 =
𝑥 + 𝑗𝑦

D. Addition & Subtraction – complex numbers can only be added/subtracted in

rectangular form.
(𝑥1 ± 𝑗𝑦1 ) ± (𝑥2 ± 𝑗𝑦2 ) = (𝑥1 ± 𝑥2 ) ± (𝑦1 ± 𝑦2 )

E. Multiplication & Division – you can only multiply/divide directly if it is in polar form.
F. Power/Roots – to solve for roots or power, use the De Moivre’s Theorem.
𝑍 = 𝑟 = 𝑟𝑒j
Power (𝑟)𝑛 = 𝑟 𝑛 𝑛 = 𝑟 𝑛 ∙ 𝑒jn

Power (𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 + 𝑗 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃)𝑛 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑛𝜃 + 𝑗 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑛𝜃.

1 1
 +𝑘(360)
Roots (𝑟)𝑛 = 𝑟 𝑛  𝑘 = 0, 1, 2, 3, … , 𝑛 − 1
𝑛
1 1  +𝑘(360)
(𝑟)𝑛 = 𝑟 𝑛 ∙ 𝑒
𝑗( )
Roots 𝑛 𝑘 = 0, 1, 2, 3, … , 𝑛 − 1

G. Exponential & Trigonometric Functions

𝑒 𝑗𝜃 − 𝑒 −𝑗𝜃
sin 𝜃 =
𝑗2

𝑒 𝑗𝜃 + 𝑒 −𝑗𝜃
cos 𝜃 =
2
𝑒 𝑗𝜃 = cos 𝜃 + 𝑗 sin 𝜃
𝑒 −𝑗𝜃 = cos 𝜃 − 𝑗 sin 𝜃

H. Logarithmic Functions
It is more convenient to solve for the logarithms of complex number if it is expressed in
exponential form.
ln 𝑍 = ln 𝑟𝑒 j = ln 𝑟 + ln 𝑒 𝑗𝜃
ln 𝑟𝑒 j = ln 𝑟 + 𝑗𝜃 ln 𝑒 ∗∗ ln 𝑒 = 1
ln 𝑟𝑒 j = ln 𝑟 + 𝑗𝜃

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5 AdEMath – Advanced Engineering Mathematics for ECE
COMPLEX NUMBERS

End of Chapter Practice Problems.

Express in rectangular form the following complex numbers.

1. 3−30°
𝜋
2. 5 − 2
3.  − 180
Find the moduli and arguments of the following complex numbers; Express each in polar
form.
3−𝑗4
1. 𝑍1 = 5+𝑗12
1−𝑗3
2. 𝑍2 = 2+𝑗5
3−𝑗4
3. 𝑍3 = −3−𝑗4
4. 𝑍4 = 5 𝑒 𝑗𝜋
−11𝜋
5. 𝑍5 = −3 𝑒 𝑗 6

Multiply and divide the complex numbers.

𝑍1 = 335° 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑍2 = 5−45°
𝜋
A complex number Z has a modulus √2 and an argument of . Write down this complex
3
number in:

1. Rectangular form
2. Polar form
3. Trigonometric form
4. Exponential form
2𝑍−𝑗
If Z = cos 𝜃 + 𝑗(1 + sin 𝜃), show that the magnitude of −1+𝑗𝑍 is 1.

Find the power of the complex number using different theorems.

1. (1 − 𝑗2)6

Find all the roots of the complex numbers using different theorems.
1
1. (−5 + 𝑗12)5

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