Labelling Argand diagrams? (1 Viewer)

rumbleroar

Survivor of the HSC
Joined
Nov 30, 2011
Messages
2,271
Gender
Female
HSC
2014
Just a quick question (it seems a bit stupid) but how would you label an Argand diagram? For example, would I label the vector 1+i as (1,1) or (1,i) ?

I'm only asking because I've been told conflicting things.

Thanks in advance!
 

QZP

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2013
Messages
839
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
2014
You would represent z=1+i as the point (1,1) on the Argand plane. This is because a complex number z is in the form x + iy with variable constants x, y and the axes of the Argand plane are Re(z)=x and Im(z)=y.
Hence, (1,1) would translate to: x = 1, y = 1 and thus z = 1+(1)i = 1+ i.
Otherwise, (1, 1i) translates to x = 1, y = 1i and thus z = 1+(1i)i = 0 which is clearly wrong. Alternatively, you can immediately see this is wrong since y is defined as a real number and y= 1i invalidates this.

Hope this clears everything.

Edit: Just realised you were asking for vectors. In that case I'd say 1+i only because I've never seen it the other way round.
 
Last edited:

Makematics

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2013
Messages
1,824
Location
Sydney
Gender
Male
HSC
2013
Just a quick question (it seems a bit stupid) but how would you label an Argand diagram? For example, would I label the vector 1+i as (1,1) or (1,i) ?

I'm only asking because I've been told conflicting things.

Thanks in advance!
Good q, and im not entirely sure myself. But i would think it would be (1,1), and thats not actually referring to the vector, but rather the actual point, or complex number. I mean that you write (1,1) at the actual point corresponding
to (1,1) on the argand diagram, rather than next to the vector going from the origin to the point.

Correct me if im wrong, my complex numbers are rusty.
 

panda15

Alligator Navigator
Joined
Feb 22, 2012
Messages
673
Gender
Male
HSC
2013
I just write it as (1,1), but I also label the axis Imz and Rez, to cover both ways.
 

braintic

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2011
Messages
2,111
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
1+i for the vector; (1,1) for the point; and never (1,i).
In university maths vectors are often written as ordered pairs, but this is more like matrix notation which is not in our syllabus. I think if you labelled a vector that didn't start at the origin as (1,1) many teachers would consider it as incorrect because they are not familiar with uni maths. Complex numbers themselves are often written as ordered pairs without even referring to a diagram, but on the Argand diagram this is best reserved for the point representation only.
 

rumbleroar

Survivor of the HSC
Joined
Nov 30, 2011
Messages
2,271
Gender
Female
HSC
2014
Thanks guys! I usually label it (1,1) if I were to represent 1+i. (With axes as re(z) and im(z))

Just gotta get some clarification because my teacher writes (1,i) on the axes with y and x. Would that still be technically correct? Or is it better to stick with re(z) and im(z) and (1,1)?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free
 

rumbleroar

Survivor of the HSC
Joined
Nov 30, 2011
Messages
2,271
Gender
Female
HSC
2014
Good q, and im not entirely sure myself. But i would think it would be (1,1), and thats not actually referring to the vector, but rather the actual point, or complex number. I mean that you write (1,1) at the actual point corresponding
to (1,1) on the argand diagram, rather than next to the vector going from the origin to the point.

Correct me if im wrong, my complex numbers are rusty.
Yes I meant the point sorry. I should've not mentioned the vector. Thanks for that :p


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free
 

Makematics

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2013
Messages
1,824
Location
Sydney
Gender
Male
HSC
2013
Thanks guys! I usually label it (1,1) if I were to represent 1+i. (With axes as re(z) and im(z))

Just gotta get some clarification because my teacher writes (1,i) on the axes with y and x. Would that still be technically correct? Or is it better to stick with re(z) and im(z) and (1,1)?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free
No writing y is the same as writing Imz because Imz=Im(x+iy)=y
 

braintic

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2011
Messages
2,111
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
Thanks guys! I usually label it (1,1) if I were to represent 1+i. (With axes as re(z) and im(z))

Just gotta get some clarification because my teacher writes (1,i) on the axes with y and x. Would that still be technically correct? Or is it better to stick with re(z) and im(z) and (1,1)?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free
Ahh but that's different. There is nothing wrong with marking the imaginary axis with -i, 0, i, 2i, 3i, etc. All you are saying then is that the points that you have marked represents those particular complex numbers. But I suspect more people use real numbers there.

Though I'm not sure why you would write (1,i) on the axes when it belongs somewhere in the 1st quadrant, so maybe I am misinterpreting.
 

rumbleroar

Survivor of the HSC
Joined
Nov 30, 2011
Messages
2,271
Gender
Female
HSC
2014
Ahh but that's different. There is nothing wrong with marking the imaginary axis with -i, 0, i, 2i, 3i, etc. All you are saying then is that the points that you have marked represents those particular complex numbers. But I suspect more people use real numbers there.

Though I'm not sure why you would write (1,i) on the axes when it belongs somewhere in the 1st quadrant, so maybe I am misinterpreting.
Sorry bad phrasing! It's like the point (1,i) with the axes x and y on the Argand diagram. (Strong ex1 student lolz) (if that makes any sense at all..)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 0, Guests: 1)

Top