Help with complex number derivation

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the properties of complex numbers, specifically focusing on the multiplication of two complex numbers and the derivation of their resultant magnitude and angle. The original poster presents a problem involving the lengths and angles formed by segments connecting points in the complex plane.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the multiplication of complex numbers in standard form and how to derive the resultant length and angle. There are attempts to connect the expressions for x and y to the magnitudes r1 and r2, as well as the angles θ1 and θ2.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on using trigonometric identities and relationships to explore the problem further. There is an ongoing exploration of how to express the resultant angle and magnitude in terms of the original components, with no explicit consensus reached on the next steps.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of a homework assignment, which may limit the information they can use or the methods they can apply. There is a focus on deriving results rather than providing direct solutions.

diracy
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Homework Statement


(a) Suppose the segment connecting (a,b) to (0,0) has length r_{1} and forms an angle \theta_{1} with the positive side of the x-axis. Suppose the segment connecting (c,d) to (0,0) has a length r_{2} and forms an angle \theta_{2} with the positive side of the x-axis. Now let (a+bi)(c+di)=x+yi. Show that the length of the segment connecting (x,y) to the origin is r_{1}r_{2} and the angle formed is \theta_{1}+\theta_{2}.

(b) Use the result from (a) to find a complex number z\inC such that z^2=i.

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


(a+bi)(c+di)=x+yi
ac+adi+bci+bd(i^{2})=x+yi
ac+adi+bci-bd=x+yi
(ac-bd)+(ad+bc)=x+yi
x=(ac-bd), y=(ad+bc)

I'm not sure where to go from here. Just looking for some help. Thanks!
 
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Remember the formulas for going from standard form of a complex number to trig form. If z = a + bi = r(cos θ + i sin θ), then
r = \sqrt{a^2 + b^2},
a = r cos θ and b = r sin θ, and
\tan \theta = \frac{b}{a}.

If x=(ac-bd) and y=(ad+bc), then what is
\sqrt{x^2 + y^2}? You'll need to make it equal to r1r2.

For the angle, you'll need the tangent of a sum identity.
\tan (\theta_1 + \theta_2) = \frac{\tan \theta_1 + \tan \theta_2}{1 - \tan \theta_1 \tan \theta_2}
 
Last edited:
eumyang said:
Remember the formulas for going from standard form of a complex number to trig form. If z = a + bi = r(cos θ + i sin θ), then
r = \sqrt{a^2 + b^2},
a = r cos θ and b = r sin θ, and
\tan \theta = \frac{b}{a}.

If x=(ac-bd) and y=(ad+bc), then what is
\sqrt{x^2 + y^2}? You'll need to make it equal to r1r2.

For the angle, you'll need the tangent of a sum identity.
\tan (\theta_1 + \theta_2) = \frac{\tan \theta_1 + \tan \theta_2}{1 - \tan \theta_1 \tan \theta_2}

I'm honestly not getting very far with this. Could you help me out a little more?
 
Ok, I got the first part. Now I need to prove the angle part. Any help?
 
eumyang said:
If x=(ac-bd) and y=(ad+bc), then what is
\sqrt{x^2 + y^2}?
Start with this. Plug in what x and y equals into the square root and expand the radicand. Show us what you get.

EDIT: Never mind. You said that you got this part.
eumyang said:
For the angle, you'll need the tangent of a sum identity.
\tan (\theta_1 + \theta_2) = \frac{\tan \theta_1 + \tan \theta_2}{1 - \tan \theta_1 \tan \theta_2}
\tan \theta_1 = \frac{b}{a}
and
\tan \theta_2 = \frac{d}{c}
Plug these into the formula above and simplify. Somehow you'll have to simplify to y/x. (Remember that you had x and y can be expressed in terms of a, b, c, and d.)
 
eumyang said:
Start with this. Plug in what x and y equals into the square root and expand the radicand. Show us what you get.

EDIT: Never mind. You said that you got this part.



\tan \theta_1 = \frac{b}{a}
and
\tan \theta_2 = \frac{d}{c}
Plug these into the formula above and simplify. Somehow you'll have to simplify to y/x. (Remember that you had x and y can be expressed in terms of a, b, c, and d.)

Hmmm...

After I plug those in, what methods can I use to simply that expression?
 
After plugging those in, try multiplying the numerator and denominator of this complex fraction by ac.

(Going to bed now... :zzz:)
 

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