1

# Why would you do this?

## Why do we sometimes add, divide or multiply complex numbers of the form $a + b i$ in trigonometric form. The result is exactly the same as doing it in the original form. I just don't understand why you would do all that extra work, it seems stupid, or am I missing something here?.

preview ×
• Edit wording or topic
Update the question or its topic
Then teach the underlying concepts
Don't copy without citing sources
preview
?

#### Explanation

Explain in detail...

#### Explanation:

I want someone to double check my answer
• Show activity
• @wonderer Wonderer asked the question.
1 month ago
• @gio Gió I think I see your point and I do not want to confuse you but the need for a "bridge" between rectangular/trigometric form of a complex number may arise when you study, for example, periodic phenomena such as Alternate Current. In this case you have sine/cosines and you want to manipulate them in an easier way using the concepts (and operations) you learnt from complex numbers. I suspect that we sometimes study things in a kind of wrong direction (we should start saying: "it is difficult to multiply or divide trigonometric functions BUT we can use complex numbers to simplify these operations!" instead we start from the complex numbers to go towards the trigonometric based operations!). Hope I didn't confuse you even more...
2 weeks ago
• 14 minutes ago
• 15 minutes ago
• 19 minutes ago
• 20 minutes ago
• 3 minutes ago
• 3 minutes ago
• 4 minutes ago
• 10 minutes ago
• 11 minutes ago
• 12 minutes ago
• 14 minutes ago
• 15 minutes ago
• 19 minutes ago
• 20 minutes ago