Complex Number Angle Formula:
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The angle (or argument) of a complex number represents the direction of the vector from the origin to the point (Re, Im) in the complex plane. It is measured counterclockwise from the positive real axis.
The calculator uses the arctangent formula:
Where:
Explanation: The calculator uses the atan2 function which automatically handles all four quadrants and special cases like division by zero.
Details: The angle is crucial for representing complex numbers in polar form, analyzing AC circuits, signal processing, and solving differential equations in engineering and physics.
Tips: Enter both real and imaginary parts as numbers. The calculator will determine the correct quadrant and provide results in both radians and degrees.
Q1: Why use atan2 instead of regular arctangent?
A: atan2 automatically determines the correct quadrant and handles cases where Re = 0, providing more accurate results.
Q2: What is the range of possible angles?
A: The angle ranges from -π to π radians (-180° to 180°).
Q3: What happens when both Re and Im are zero?
A: The angle is undefined at the origin (0,0) since there is no unique direction.
Q4: How is the angle used in polar form?
A: In polar form, a complex number is expressed as r(cosθ + i·sinθ) or re^(iθ), where r is the magnitude and θ is the angle.
Q5: What are principal values of complex angles?
A: The principal value is typically taken in the range (-π, π] radians, though angles can differ by multiples of 2π.