Question

Find the modulus and the argument of the complex number$z = - 1 - i\sqrt 3 $.

Answer 1

Hint-These types of questions can be solved by using the formula of modulus and argument of
 the complex number.
Given complex number is
$z = - 1 - i\sqrt 3 $
Now we know that the general form of complex number is
$z = x + iy$
Now comparing the above two we get,
$x = - 1$ and ${\text{ }}y = - \sqrt 3 $
Now let’s find the modulus of the complex number.
We know that the modulus of a complex number is $\left| z \right|$
$\left| z \right| = \sqrt {{x^2} + {y^2}} $
Now putting the value of $x$ and $y$ we get,
$
  \left| z \right| = \sqrt {{{( - 1)}^2} + {{( - \sqrt 3 )}^2}} \\
  \left| z \right| = \sqrt {1 + 3} \\
  \left| z \right| = \sqrt 4 \\
  \left| z \right| = 2 \\
 $
Therefore, the modulus of a given complex number is $2$.
Now let’s find the argument of the complex number.
Now we know that the general form of complex number is
$z = x + iy$
Let $x$ be $r\cos \theta $ and$y$ be $r\sin \theta $ where $r$ is the modulus of the complex number.
Now putting the values of $x$ and $y$ in $z$ we get,
$z = r\cos \theta + ir\sin \theta $
Now comparing the above two we get,
$ - 1 - i\sqrt 3 {\text{ }} = r\cos \theta + ir\sin \theta $
Now, comparing the real parts we get,
${\text{ - 1 = }}r\cos \theta $
Now, putting the value of $r$ in the above equation we get,
$
  {\text{ - 1 = 2}}\cos \theta \\
  {\text{or }}\cos \theta = \dfrac{{ - 1}}{2}{\text{ }} \\
 $
Similarly, compare the imaginary parts and put the value of $r$ we get,
$
   - \sqrt 3 = 2\sin \theta \\
  {\text{or }}\sin \theta = - \dfrac{{\sqrt 3 }}{2} \\
 $
Hence, $\sin \theta = - \dfrac{{\sqrt 3 }}{2}{\text{ and }}\cos \theta = \dfrac{{ - 1}}{2}{\text{ }}$
or$\theta {\text{ = }}{60^ \circ }$
Now we can clearly see that the values of both $\sin \theta $ and$\cos \theta $ are negative.
And we know that they both are negative in ${3^{rd}}$ quadrant.
Therefore, the argument is in ${3^{rd}}$ quadrant.
Argument${\text{ = - (18}}{0^ \circ } - \theta {\text{)}}$
$
  {\text{ = - (18}}{0^ \circ } - \theta {\text{)}} \\
   = {\text{ - (18}}{0^ \circ } - {60^ \circ }{\text{)}} \\
  {\text{ = - (12}}{{\text{0}}^ \circ }{\text{)}} \\
  {\text{ = - 12}}{0^ \circ } \\
 $
Now converting it in $\pi $ form we get,
$
   = - {120^ \circ } \times \dfrac{\pi }{{{{180}^ \circ }}} \\
   = - \dfrac{{2\pi }}{3} \\
 $
Hence, the argument of complex number is $ - \dfrac{{2\pi }}{3}$
Note- Whenever we face such types of questions the key concept is that we simply compare the given
 complex number with its general form and then find the value of $x$ and $y$ and put it in the formula
 of modulus and argument of the complex number