1.4 • THE GEOMETRY OF COMPLEX NUMBERS, CONTINUED 23
• EXAMPLE 1.7 If z = 1 + i, then r = J2 and z = ( J2cos f, J2sin f) =
J2(cos f + isin ~) is a polar representation of z. The polar coordinates in this
case are r = J2, and 0 = f.
As Figure 1.11 (b) shows, 0 can be any value Tor which the identities cos 0 = ~
and sin 0 = ~ hold. For z =f 0, the collection of all values of 0 for which
z = r(cos O+isin 0) is denoted arg z. Formally, we have the following definitions.
I Definit ion 1.10: arg z
If z =f 0,
arg z = {8: z = r(cos8 + isinO)}.
If 8 E arg z, we say that 0 is an argument of z.
(1-28)
Note thl'lt we write 8 E arg z as opposed to 0 = arg z. We do so because
arg z is a set, and the designation 0 E arg z indicates that 0 belongs to that set.
Note also that, if 01 E arg z and 02 E arg z, then there exists some integer n
such that
(1-29)
• EXAMPLE 1.8 Because 1 + i = J2(cos f + isin f ), we have
arg (I + i ") = -{ 7r 4 +^2 rm: n is. an mteger. } = { · · · , --77r 4'4'4'4' - -7r 97r -l 77r · · · }.
Mathematicians have agreed to single out a special choice of 0 E arg z. It is
that value of 0 for which -7r < 8 ~ 7r, as the following definition indicates.
I Definition 1.11: Arg z
Let z =f 0 be a complex number. Then
Argz = 0, provided z = r (cos8 + isin8) and - 7r < 8 ~ 7r. (1-30)
If 0 = Arg z, we call 0 the argument of z,