Express #z_2=4+4i# in polar form?

1 Answer
May 16, 2018

#z_2 =4sqrt2e^(ipi/4) #

Explanation:

Let #(r,theta)# be the Polar coordinates of #z_2#. We have to find some sort of relations between the Polar coordinates and the Cartesian ones, which we know are #(4,4)#.

Let #zeta=x+yi# be a complex number with polar coordinates #(r,theta)#. We can represent it is:

http://www.softschools.com/math/algebra/topics/polar_form_of_a_complex_number/

From the diagram above, we can deduce the following properties:

#{(r^2=x^2+y^2),(x=rcostheta),(y=rsintheta):}#

Let us return to our particular case, #z_2 = 4+4i#. Instead of brute-forcing it through the formulae, we can instead factor out the #4#:

#z_2 = 4(color(red)(1+i))#

Now, in the complex plane, we know that #1# and #i# have the same magnitude, thus, the complex number #1+i# forms a isosceles right triangle, with angle #theta=pi"/"4#.

Since both #"Re"(z_2)# and #"Im"(z_2)# are positive, our #theta# must be #pi"/"4#.

We know that for this type of triangle, the hypotenuse is the lenght of its side times #sqrt2#. The lenght of each of the legs in our triangle #4#, as we have #"Re"(z_2)="Im"(z_2)=4#.

#=> r=4sqrt2#

Thus, the Polar coordinates of #z_2# are #(4sqrt2,pi/4)#.

In other words, #z_2 = 4sqrt2e^(ipi/4)#, by Euler's identity.