Precalculus : Polar Coordinates and Complex Numbers

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Precalculus

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Example Questions

Example Question #463 : Pre Calculus

Divide.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To divide complex numbers, multiply both the numerator and denominator by the conjugate of the denominator.

To find the conjugate, just change the sign in the denominator. The conjugate used will be .

Now, distribute and simplify.

Recall that 

Example Question #464 : Pre Calculus

Divide

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Start by simplifying the fraction.

Recall that 

To divide complex numbers, multiply both the numerator and denominator by the conjugate of the denominator.

To find the conjugate, just change the sign in the denominator. The conjugate used will be .

Now, distribute and simplify.

Recall that 

Example Question #465 : Pre Calculus

Simplify  into a number of the form .

Possible Answers:

None of the other answers.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We have

 

Multiply by the complex conjugate of the denominator.

The complex conjugate is the denominator with the sign changed:

 

Multiply fractions

 

 FOIL the numerator and denominator

 

Apply the rule of :

   

 Simplify.

 

Simplify further using the addition of fractions rule, then factor the i out of the 2nd fraction.

 

Example Question #21 : Polar Coordinates And Complex Numbers

Divide:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To divide complex numbers, multiply both the numerator and denominator by the conjugate of the denominator.

To find the conjugate, just change the sign in the denominator. The conjugate used will be .

Now, distribute and simplify.

Recall that 

Then combine like terms:

Then since each term is a multiple of  you can simplify:

Example Question #21 : Polar Coordinates And Complex Numbers

Find the magnitude of the complex number described by .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To find the magnitude of a complex number we use the formula:

,

where our complex number is in the form .

Therefore,

Example Question #22 : Polar Coordinates And Complex Numbers

Find the magnitude of :

, where the complex number satisfies .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Note for any complex number z, we have:

.

Let .  Hence 

Therefore:

This gives the result.

Example Question #1 : Evaluate Powers Of Complex Numbers Using De Moivre's Theorem

What is the magnitude of ?

 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To find the magnitude of a complex number we use the following formula:

, where .

Therefore we get,

.

Now to find

.

 

Example Question #1 : Powers And Roots Of Complex Numbers

Simplify

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We can use DeMoivre's formula which states:

Now plugging in our values of  and  we get the desired result.

 

Example Question #1 : Evaluate Powers Of Complex Numbers Using De Moivre's Theorem

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

First convert this point to polar form:

Since this number has a negative imaginary part and a positive real part, it is in quadrant IV, so the angle is

We are evaluating

Using DeMoivre's Theorem:

DeMoivre's Theorem is

 

 

We apply it to our situation to get.

which is coterminal with since it is an odd multiplie

Example Question #4 : Powers And Roots Of Complex Numbers

Evaluate

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

First, convert this complex number to polar form:

Since the real part is positive and the imaginary part is negative, this is in quadrant IV, so the angle is

So we are evaluating

Using DeMoivre's Theorem:

DeMoivre's Theorem is

We apply it to our situation to get.

is coterminal with  since it is an even multiple of 

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