Grade 11 · Complex polar form
Complex polar form: Equal positive components
Complex polar form: investigate equal positive components with modulus r = 1.5; final angle (degrees) = 45.
Predict what will happen, press Play, then pause and explain what changed. Every control also works without playback.
Watch the relationship
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Understand what you are seeing
The idea behind the motion.
Polar form describes a complex number with a length and angle. Rotating changes the signed real and imaginary components but preserves their squared sum. Reading both coordinates together avoids losing quadrant information when converting between polar and rectangular descriptions. This investigation starts with Modulus r = 1.5; Final angle (degrees) = 45. Predict the result before playing, then change one parameter while keeping the other fixed to test the reason for the change.
A relationship to keep
z=r cos θ+i r sin θ; |z|=r
Read the symbols alongside the explanation. A diagram shows the relationship; the assumptions tell you when it applies.
- STEP 1
Set up the mathematical model
Start at the positive real number r. Distinguish the radius from either individual coordinate. The starting case is “Equal positive components.”
- STEP 2
Follow the changing quantity
Rotate toward the selected angle. Positive angles turn counterclockwise and negative angles clockwise.
- STEP 3
Explain and test the result
Square and add the two displayed components to check that their sum is r², including at axis crossings.
Your turn to explain
Make a prediction. Test your reasoning.
Keep Modulus r = 1.5; Final angle (degrees) = 45. Pause the timeline at 100%. Given angle in degrees = 45, calculate real part, imaginary part, modulus. Show the substitution into the displayed formula.
Use the values specified in the question. Reset restores the initial values for this investigation.
Compare your explanation
At θ=45°, the coordinates are (1.5 cos(45°), 1.5 sin(45°))=(1.06066,1.06066). Their squared sum is 2.25, and the dot product with (1,0) selects the first coordinate. Results: Real part: 1.061; Imaginary part: 1.061; Modulus: 1.5. Decimal values are rounded; retain the original parameters when checking.
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