Help wanted to show given formula for argument of given complex number is valid.

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on proving the validity of the argument formula for the complex number defined as ##z=\frac{i(1+is)}{1-is}##, where ##s \in \mathbb{R}##. The argument is shown to be ##\text{Arg}(z)=\begin{cases} \frac{\pi}{2}+2\arctan s & \text{for } s \leq 1, \\ -\frac{3\pi}{2}+2\arctan s & \text{for } s > 1. \end{cases}## The proof is structured into five cases based on the value of ##s##, confirming the given formula aligns with derived results from first principles. The analysis includes the behavior of the argument as ##s## approaches critical values.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of complex numbers and their representation in the form ##z = x + iy##.
  • Familiarity with the concept of the argument of a complex number, denoted as ##\text{Arg}(z)##.
  • Knowledge of the arctangent function and its properties, particularly in relation to the tangent function.
  • Proficiency in using the angle sum formula for tangent: ##\tan(\alpha \pm \beta) = \frac{\tan\alpha \pm \tan\beta}{1 \mp \tan\alpha \tan\beta}##.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation of the argument of complex numbers in polar form.
  • Learn about the properties of the arctangent function and its implications in complex analysis.
  • Explore the geometric interpretation of complex numbers on the Argand diagram.
  • Investigate the limiting behavior of complex functions as they approach critical points.
USEFUL FOR

Mathematics students, particularly those studying complex analysis, as well as educators and anyone involved in teaching or learning about the properties of complex numbers and their arguments.

EdMel
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Homework Statement


37. Let ##z=\frac{i(1+is)}{1-is}## where ##s\epsilon\mathbb{R}##.

(a) Show that
$$\text{Arg}(z)=
\begin{cases}
\quad\frac{\pi}{2}+2\arctan s & \qquad \text{for}\quad s\leq1,\\
-\frac{3\pi}{2}+2\arctan s & \qquad\text{for}\quad s>1.
\end{cases}$$

Homework Equations



The formula for the argument of a complex number ##z## called Arg(##z##), with real part ##x## and imaginary part ##y##, can be given as

$$\text{Arg}(z)=
\begin{cases}
\arctan\left(\frac{y}{x}\right) & \text{if }x>0,\\
\arctan\left(\frac{y}{x}\right)+\pi & \text{if }x<0\text{ and }y\geq0,\\
\arctan\left(\frac{y}{x}\right)-\pi & \text{if }x<0\text{ and }y<0,\\
\qquad\quad\frac{\pi}{2} & \text{if }x=0\text{ and }y>0,\\
\qquad-\frac{\pi}{2} & \text{if }x=0\text{ and }y<0.
\end{cases}$$

The angle sum formula for the tangent function is
$$\tan(\alpha\pm\beta)=\frac{\tan\alpha\pm\tan \beta}{1\mp\tan\alpha\tan\beta}.$$

The Attempt at a Solution


NOTE: My questions about my solution are included at the end.

##\qquad##I started by 'realizing' the denominator of ##z##:
$$z=\frac{i(1+is)}{1-is}=\frac{i(1+is)}{1 is}\times\frac{1+is}{1+is}=\frac{i(1+2is+i^{2}s^{2})}{1-i^{2}s^{2}}
=\frac{i(1+2is-s^{2})}{1+s^{2}}=\frac{i+2i^{2}s-is^{2}}{1+s^{2}}=\frac{-2s}{1+s^{2}}+i\frac{1-s^{2}}{1+s^{2}},$$
so,
$$z=\frac{-2s}{1+s^{2}}+i\frac{1-s^{2}}{1+s^{2}}.$$

It can be shown that the modulus ##|z|=1##, so the set of ##z## forms the unit circle, but missing the point ##(-1,0)##,
as there is no value for ##s## such that ##\frac{1-s^{2}}{1+s^{2}}## equals -1. However, the limit of
##\frac{1-s^{2}}{1+s^{2}}## as ##s\rightarrow\pm\infty## is -1.

Then, letting ##\theta## be the argument of ##z## and based on the ##a+ib## form of ##z## above I made the following table:

\begin{array}{|c|c|c|c|}
\mathbf{s} & \mathbf{Re(z)=\frac{-2s}{1+s^{2}}} & \mathbf{Im(z)=\frac{1-s^{2}}{1+s^{2}}} &
\mathbf{\text{Quadrant $$z$$ lies in on Argand diagram}} \\
s>1 & Re(z)<0 & Im(z)<0 & 3 \\
s=1 & Re(z)<0 & Im(z)=0 & \text{on the real axis, point (-1,0)} \\
0<s<1 & Re(z)<0 & Im(z)>0 & 2 \\
s=0 & Re(z)=0 & Im(z)>0 & \text{on the imaginary axis, point (0,1)} \\
-1<s<0 & Re(z)>0 & Im(z)>0 & 1 \\
s=-1 & Re(z)>0 & Im(z)=0 & \text{on the real axis, point (1,0)} \\
s<-1 & Re(z)>0 & Im(z)<0 & 4
\end{array}

Then let the ##x## be the real part of ##z## and ##y## be the imaginary part, then ##\frac{y}{x}=\frac{1-s^2}{-2s}##, and we get

##\text{Arg}(z)=\theta=
\begin{cases}
\arctan\left(\frac{1-s^2}{-2s}\right) & \text{if }x>0, & \text{for }s<0, & \text{Case 1,} \\
\arctan\left(\frac{1-s^2}{-2s}\right)+\pi & \text{if }x<0\text{ and }y\geq0, & \text{for }0<s\leq1, & \text{Case 2,} \\
\arctan\left(\frac{1-s^2}{-2s}\right)-\pi & \text{if }x<0\text{ and }y<0, & \text{for }1<s, & \text{Case 3,} \\
\qquad\quad\frac{\pi}{2} & \text{if }x=0\text{ and }y>0, & \text{for }s=0, & \text{Case 4,} \\
\qquad-\frac{\pi}{2} & \text{if }x=0\text{ and }y<0, & \text{for no values of }s, & \text{Case 5}.
\end{cases}##

From now on a I shall refer to the 'given' formula for Arg(z) as that given in the question and the 'derived' formula as that gained from the relevant equation given in Section 2. The proof is split up into the five cases given above.

Case 1 : ##\mathbf{s<0}##

##\qquad##'derived'
For ##s<0## the derived formula gives ##\tan\theta=\frac{1-s^{2}}{-2s}## ...(1).

##\qquad##'given'
Then, that given from the question has
$$\theta=\frac{\pi}{2}+2\arctan s\Rightarrow\tan\left(\frac{\theta}{2}-\frac{\pi}{4}\right) =s,$$
and using the angle sum formula for the tangent we can write
$$s=\frac{\tan\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right) \tan\left(\frac{\pi}{4}\right) }
{1+\tan\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right) \tan\left(\frac{\pi}{4}\right) }
=\frac{\tan\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right) -1}
{1+\tan\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right) .1}
,$$
which can be rearranged to
$$\tan\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right) =\frac{s+1}{1-s}\qquad\mathbf{...(2)}.$$
We can again use the angle sum for tangent and (2) to get
$$\tan(\theta)
=\frac{2\tan\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right) }
{1+\tan^{2}\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right) }
=\frac{2.\frac{s+1}{1-s}}
{1+\left(\frac{s+1}{1-s}\right) ^{2}}
,$$
which can be re-arranged to get
$$\tan(\theta)=\frac{1-s^{2}}{-2s},$$
which agrees with (1), and we have shown that the given formula for Arg(z) is correct for Case 1.

Case 2 : ##\mathbf{0<s\leq1}##

##\qquad##'derived'
For ##0<s\leq1## the derived formula gives
$$\theta=\arctan{\frac{1-s^2}{-2s}}+\pi\Rightarrow\tan\left(\theta-\pi\right) =\frac{1-s^2}{-2s}.$$
Use the angle sum formula for tangent to get
$$\frac{1-s^2}{-2s}=\tan\left(\theta-\pi\right) =\frac{\tan\theta-\tan\pi}{1+\tan\theta\tan\pi},$$
and as ##\tan\pi=0## we get
$$\frac{1-s^2}{-2s}=\frac{\tan\theta-0}{1+\tan\theta.0}\Rightarrow\tan\theta=\frac{1-s^2}{-2s}\qquad\mathbf{...(3)}$$

##\qquad##'given'
As per Case 1 the given formula leads to
$$\tan\theta=\frac{1-s^2}{-2s}$$
which agrees with (3) and the given formula is valid for Case 2.

Case 3 : ##\mathbf{1<s}##

##\qquad##'derived'
For ##1<s## the derived formula gives
$$\theta=\arctan{\frac{1-s^2}{-2s}}-\pi\Rightarrow\tan\left(\theta+\pi\right) =\frac{1-s^2}{-2s}.$$
Use the angle sum formula for tangent to get
$$\frac{1-s^2}{-2s}=\tan\left(\theta+\pi\right) =\frac{\tan\theta+\tan\pi}{1-\tan\theta\tan\pi},$$
and as ##\tan\pi=0## we get
$$\frac{1-s^2}{-2s}=\frac{\tan\theta+0}{1-\tan\theta.0}\Rightarrow \tan\theta=\frac{1-s^2}{-2s}\qquad\mathbf{...(4)}$$

##\qquad##'given'
For s>1 the given formula has
$$\theta
=-\frac{3\pi}{2}
+2\arctan{s}\Rightarrow\tan\left(\frac{\theta}{2}+\frac{3\pi}{4}\right) =s.$$
Then using the angle sum formula for tan we can write
$$s= \tan\left(\frac{\theta}{2}+\frac{3\pi}{4}\right)
=\frac{\tan\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right) +\tan\left(\frac{3\pi}{4}\right) }
{1-\tan\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right) \tan\left(\frac{3\pi}{4}\right) }
$$
and as ##\tan\left(\frac{3\pi}{4}\right) =-1## we get
$$s=
\frac{\tan\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right) +(-1) }
{1-\tan\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right) .(-1)}
\Rightarrow \tan\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right) =\frac{s+1}{1-s},$$
which is (2) from Case 1, and use of the angle sum formula for tangent again leads to
$$\tan\theta=\frac{1-s^{2}}{-2s},$$
which is the same as (4) and the given formula is true for Case 3.

Case 4 : ##\mathbf{s=0}##

##\qquad##'derived'
For ##s=0## the derived formula gives
$$\theta=\frac{\pi}{2}.$$

##\qquad##'given'
For ##s=0## given formula has
$$\theta=\frac{\pi}{2}+2\arctan{s}\Rightarrow \theta=\frac{\pi}{2}+2\arctan{0}\Rightarrow\theta=\frac{\pi}{2}+2k\pi,~k\epsilon\mathbb{R}.$$
The only ##k## that gives ##-\pi<\theta\leq\pi## is ##k=0## so we have it that
$$\theta=\frac{\pi}{2}+2.0.\pi=\frac{\pi}{2},$$
which equals the derived value above, so the given formula is true for Case 4.

Case 5 is not applicable as ##\theta## never equals ##-\frac{\pi}{2}##.

Thus, the given formula for Arg(##z##) hase shown to be true for ##z=\frac{i(1+is)}{1-is}## by proving Cases 1 to 4. ##\Box##

My Questions:
1. Am I on the right track here?
2. My main concern is I have not started from first principles and derived the given formula. I have only shown that is equal to something derived from first principles.
3. Should I include something about the limiting behavior of the given formula for Arg(z) as it approaches ##\frac{\pi}{2}##, ##\pi## and ##-\frac{\pi}{2}##?

Thanks in advance.
 
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EdMel said:

Homework Statement


37. Let ##z=\frac{i(1+is)}{1-is}## where ##s\epsilon\mathbb{R}##.

(a) Show that
$$\text{Arg}(z)=
\begin{cases}
\quad\frac{\pi}{2}+2\arctan s & \qquad \text{for}\quad s\leq1,\\
-\frac{3\pi}{2}+2\arctan s & \qquad\text{for}\quad s>1.
\end{cases}$$

Homework Equations



The formula for the argument of a complex number ##z## called Arg(##z##), with real part ##x## and imaginary part ##y##, can be given as

$$\text{Arg}(z)=
\begin{cases}
\arctan\left(\frac{y}{x}\right) & \text{if }x>0,\\
\arctan\left(\frac{y}{x}\right)+\pi & \text{if }x<0\text{ and }y\geq0,\\
\arctan\left(\frac{y}{x}\right)-\pi & \text{if }x<0\text{ and }y<0,\\
\qquad\quad\frac{\pi}{2} & \text{if }x=0\text{ and }y>0,\\
\qquad-\frac{\pi}{2} & \text{if }x=0\text{ and }y<0.
\end{cases}$$

The angle sum formula for the tangent function is
$$\tan(\alpha\pm\beta)=\frac{\tan\alpha\pm\tan \beta}{1\mp\tan\alpha\tan\beta}.$$

The Attempt at a Solution


NOTE: My questions about my solution are included at the end.

##\qquad##I started by 'realizing' the denominator of ##z##:
$$z=\frac{i(1+is)}{1-is}=\frac{i(1+is)}{1 is}\times\frac{1+is}{1+is}=\frac{i(1+2is+i^{2}s^{2})}{1-i^{2}s^{2}}
=\frac{i(1+2is-s^{2})}{1+s^{2}}=\frac{i+2i^{2}s-is^{2}}{1+s^{2}}=\frac{-2s}{1+s^{2}}+i\frac{1-s^{2}}{1+s^{2}},$$
so,
$$z=\frac{-2s}{1+s^{2}}+i\frac{1-s^{2}}{1+s^{2}}.$$

It can be shown that the modulus ##|z|=1##, so the set of ##z## forms the unit circle, but missing the point ##(-1,0)##,
as there is no value for ##s## such that ##\frac{1-s^{2}}{1+s^{2}}## equals -1. However, the limit of
##\frac{1-s^{2}}{1+s^{2}}## as ##s\rightarrow\pm\infty## is -1.

Then, letting ##\theta## be the argument of ##z## and based on the ##a+ib## form of ##z## above I made the following table:

\begin{array}{|c|c|c|c|}
\mathbf{s} & \mathbf{Re(z)=\frac{-2s}{1+s^{2}}} & \mathbf{Im(z)=\frac{1-s^{2}}{1+s^{2}}} &
\mathbf{\text{Quadrant $$z$$ lies in on Argand diagram}} \\
s>1 & Re(z)<0 & Im(z)<0 & 3 \\
s=1 & Re(z)<0 & Im(z)=0 & \text{on the real axis, point (-1,0)} \\
0<s<1 & Re(z)<0 & Im(z)>0 & 2 \\
s=0 & Re(z)=0 & Im(z)>0 & \text{on the imaginary axis, point (0,1)} \\
-1<s<0 & Re(z)>0 & Im(z)>0 & 1 \\
s=-1 & Re(z)>0 & Im(z)=0 & \text{on the real axis, point (1,0)} \\
s<-1 & Re(z)>0 & Im(z)<0 & 4
\end{array}

Then let the ##x## be the real part of ##z## and ##y## be the imaginary part, then ##\frac{y}{x}=\frac{1-s^2}{-2s}##, and we get

##\text{Arg}(z)=\theta=
\begin{cases}
\arctan\left(\frac{1-s^2}{-2s}\right) & \text{if }x>0, & \text{for }s<0, & \text{Case 1,} \\
\arctan\left(\frac{1-s^2}{-2s}\right)+\pi & \text{if }x<0\text{ and }y\geq0, & \text{for }0<s\leq1, & \text{Case 2,} \\
\arctan\left(\frac{1-s^2}{-2s}\right)-\pi & \text{if }x<0\text{ and }y<0, & \text{for }1<s, & \text{Case 3,} \\
\qquad\quad\frac{\pi}{2} & \text{if }x=0\text{ and }y>0, & \text{for }s=0, & \text{Case 4,} \\
\qquad-\frac{\pi}{2} & \text{if }x=0\text{ and }y<0, & \text{for no values of }s, & \text{Case 5}.
\end{cases}##

From now on a I shall refer to the 'given' formula for Arg(z) as that given in the question and the 'derived' formula as that gained from the relevant equation given in Section 2. The proof is split up into the five cases given above.

Case 1 : ##\mathbf{s<0}##

##\qquad##'derived'
For ##s<0## the derived formula gives ##\tan\theta=\frac{1-s^{2}}{-2s}## ...(1).

##\qquad##'given'
Then, that given from the question has
$$\theta=\frac{\pi}{2}+2\arctan s\Rightarrow\tan\left(\frac{\theta}{2}-\frac{\pi}{4}\right) =s,$$
and using the angle sum formula for the tangent we can write
$$s=\frac{\tan\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right) \tan\left(\frac{\pi}{4}\right) }
{1+\tan\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right) \tan\left(\frac{\pi}{4}\right) }
=\frac{\tan\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right) -1}
{1+\tan\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right) .1}
,$$
which can be rearranged to
$$\tan\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right) =\frac{s+1}{1-s}\qquad\mathbf{...(2)}.$$
We can again use the angle sum for tangent and (2) to get
$$\tan(\theta)
=\frac{2\tan\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right) }
{1+\tan^{2}\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right) }
=\frac{2.\frac{s+1}{1-s}}
{1+\left(\frac{s+1}{1-s}\right) ^{2}}
,$$
which can be re-arranged to get
$$\tan(\theta)=\frac{1-s^{2}}{-2s},$$
which agrees with (1), and we have shown that the given formula for Arg(z) is correct for Case 1.

Case 2 : ##\mathbf{0<s\leq1}##

##\qquad##'derived'
For ##0<s\leq1## the derived formula gives
$$\theta=\arctan{\frac{1-s^2}{-2s}}+\pi\Rightarrow\tan\left(\theta-\pi\right) =\frac{1-s^2}{-2s}.$$
Use the angle sum formula for tangent to get
$$\frac{1-s^2}{-2s}=\tan\left(\theta-\pi\right) =\frac{\tan\theta-\tan\pi}{1+\tan\theta\tan\pi},$$
and as ##\tan\pi=0## we get
$$\frac{1-s^2}{-2s}=\frac{\tan\theta-0}{1+\tan\theta.0}\Rightarrow\tan\theta=\frac{1-s^2}{-2s}\qquad\mathbf{...(3)}$$

##\qquad##'given'
As per Case 1 the given formula leads to
$$\tan\theta=\frac{1-s^2}{-2s}$$
which agrees with (3) and the given formula is valid for Case 2.

Case 3 : ##\mathbf{1<s}##

##\qquad##'derived'
For ##1<s## the derived formula gives
$$\theta=\arctan{\frac{1-s^2}{-2s}}-\pi\Rightarrow\tan\left(\theta+\pi\right) =\frac{1-s^2}{-2s}.$$
Use the angle sum formula for tangent to get
$$\frac{1-s^2}{-2s}=\tan\left(\theta+\pi\right) =\frac{\tan\theta+\tan\pi}{1-\tan\theta\tan\pi},$$
and as ##\tan\pi=0## we get
$$\frac{1-s^2}{-2s}=\frac{\tan\theta+0}{1-\tan\theta.0}\Rightarrow \tan\theta=\frac{1-s^2}{-2s}\qquad\mathbf{...(4)}$$

##\qquad##'given'
For s>1 the given formula has
$$\theta
=-\frac{3\pi}{2}
+2\arctan{s}\Rightarrow\tan\left(\frac{\theta}{2}+\frac{3\pi}{4}\right) =s.$$
Then using the angle sum formula for tan we can write
$$s= \tan\left(\frac{\theta}{2}+\frac{3\pi}{4}\right)
=\frac{\tan\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right) +\tan\left(\frac{3\pi}{4}\right) }
{1-\tan\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right) \tan\left(\frac{3\pi}{4}\right) }
$$
and as ##\tan\left(\frac{3\pi}{4}\right) =-1## we get
$$s=
\frac{\tan\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right) +(-1) }
{1-\tan\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right) .(-1)}
\Rightarrow \tan\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right) =\frac{s+1}{1-s},$$
which is (2) from Case 1, and use of the angle sum formula for tangent again leads to
$$\tan\theta=\frac{1-s^{2}}{-2s},$$
which is the same as (4) and the given formula is true for Case 3.

Case 4 : ##\mathbf{s=0}##

##\qquad##'derived'
For ##s=0## the derived formula gives
$$\theta=\frac{\pi}{2}.$$

##\qquad##'given'
For ##s=0## given formula has
$$\theta=\frac{\pi}{2}+2\arctan{s}\Rightarrow \theta=\frac{\pi}{2}+2\arctan{0}\Rightarrow\theta=\frac{\pi}{2}+2k\pi,~k\epsilon\mathbb{R}.$$
The only ##k## that gives ##-\pi<\theta\leq\pi## is ##k=0## so we have it that
$$\theta=\frac{\pi}{2}+2.0.\pi=\frac{\pi}{2},$$
which equals the derived value above, so the given formula is true for Case 4.

Case 5 is not applicable as ##\theta## never equals ##-\frac{\pi}{2}##.

Thus, the given formula for Arg(##z##) hase shown to be true for ##z=\frac{i(1+is)}{1-is}## by proving Cases 1 to 4. ##\Box##

My Questions:
1. Am I on the right track here?
2. My main concern is I have not started from first principles and derived the given formula. I have only shown that is equal to something derived from first principles.
3. Should I include something about the limiting behavior of the given formula for Arg(z) as it approaches ##\frac{\pi}{2}##, ##\pi## and ##-\frac{\pi}{2}##?

Thanks in advance.

Wow, that looks like a lot of work.

May I suggest a simpler approach?

Use arg(\frac{uv}{w}) = 2k\pi + arg(u) + arg(v) - arg(w) where k is a unique integer to get arg(\frac{uv}{w}) in the range (-\pi,\pi].

So, arg(z) = 2k\pi + arg(i) + arg(1+is) - arg(1-is) = 2k\pi + \frac{\pi}{2} + arg(1+is) - arg(1-is).

Note that arg(1+is) = \arctan s and arg(1-is) = -\arctan s, and these two numbers are simply complex conjugates. The difference is always 2\arctan s.

Let 2\arctan s = \theta and \frac{\pi}{2} + \theta = \phi. So arg(z) = 2k\pi + \phi for some (unique) k.

Now sketch 3 cases on an Argand diagram. Sketch the rays corresponding to arguments of \pm \frac{\pi}{4} for clarity.

Case 1, |s| \leq 1 \Rightarrow -1 \leq s \leq 1. In this case, -\frac{\pi}{2} \leq \theta \leq \frac{\pi}{2}, 0 \leq \phi \leq \pi, so k = 0 since this is already within the correct range for the argument. Hence in this case, arg(z) = \phi = \frac{\pi}{2} + 2\arctan s.

Case 2, s &lt; -1. In this case, -\pi &lt; \theta &lt; -\frac{\pi}{2}, -\frac{\pi}{2} &lt; \phi &lt; 0, so again k = 0 since this is already within the correct range for the argument. Hence again in this case, arg(z) = \phi = \frac{\pi}{2} + 2\arctan s.

We can then combine cases 1 and 2 into a single case for s \leq 1.

Case 3, s &gt; 1. In this case, \frac{\pi}{2} &lt; \theta &lt; \pi, \pi &lt; \phi &lt; \frac{3\pi}{2}, and here k = -1 to render this within the correct range for the argument. Hence in this case, arg(z) = -2\pi + \phi = -\frac{3\pi}{2} + \theta = -\frac{3\pi}{2} + 2\arctan s.
 
Last edited:
Thanks Curious3141 that makes sense.

At least I got LaTeX practise ;).
 

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