# Complex Number basic problem

1. Jul 9, 2011

In a complex number sum, I have encountered a minute difficulty in understanding a step:

$\left|(cos\theta-1)+i.sin\theta\right|$
= $\sqrt{}(cos\theta-1)^2+sin^2\theta$

Now my question is, how did the 'i' got eliminated from the second step? Now, i equals $\sqrt{}-1$, so when squared, there should be a minus sign in the second step. Can anyone help me clearing my basics?

2. Jul 9, 2011

### Rasalhague

Are you remembering that the modulus of a complex number is the square root of the product of the number with its conjugate? That is:

$$\left | a \right | = \sqrt{\overline{a}a},$$

where

$$a =(\text{Re}(a)+i \, \text{Im}(a)),$$

$$\overline{a}=(\text{Re}(a)-i \, \text{Im}(a)),$$

and Re(a) is the real part of a, and Im(a) the imaginary part.

3. Jul 9, 2011

Thanks for the help! Simply ignored this basic rule initially.

4. Jul 9, 2011

### micromass

Staff Emeritus
The equality

$$|a+bi|=\sqrt{a^2+b^2}$$

is just the definition of the absolute value! There is no reasoning behind it, it's just true by definition. Your OP was also true by definition.

5. Jul 10, 2011

### Rasalhague

As often happens, we have two identities, and whichever is taken as the definition, the other pops out as a theorem.