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