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35, No. 4 (Sep., 1962), pp. 239-242 Published by: Mathematical Association of America Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2688563 . Accessed: 02/09/2012 15:38
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1962]
-a E -a
PLANE
GEOMETRY
AND COMPLEX
NUMBERS
239
X = 2
x S
J'(-a + 1)J_ca(x)
unless -a is zero or a negative integer.If -a is zero, this second solution is not independentof the firstand if -a is a negative integer,this second solution above does not exist. In these two cases, a logarithmicsolution must be found. PLANE GEOMETRY AND COMPLEX NUMBERS
Let the complex numberz=x+iy represent point in the Euclidean plane, a its d= (x2+y2)1/2 distance fromthe origin,and X= (x+iy)/d the directionof its of a radius vector.Since multiplying complexnumberby i has the effect rotating iX its radius vector throughan angle of 7r/2, is perpendicularto X. Then if b is a any real number,the complexnumberz = iXbrepresents pointon a line through to the originand perpendicular X. Every pointon the line throughthe originand perpendicularto X can be representedby z=iXb. Then the complex conjugate of z is given by z = - iAb. Eliminatingb betweenthese two equations gives as the equation of the line throughthe originperpendicularto 'X: (1) Xz + M =O. Translating to a new origin z0 gives as the equation of a line throughthe point zo and perpendicularto X:
(2) Xz + z = Xzo + Zo.
If the distance fromthe originto the line is d, the line will pass throughthe point zo = Xd. Substitutingthis in the above equation gives as the normal form of the equation of a line: (3) Xz + X = 2d. If the line is to pass throughthe points z1 and
Xz1 + X, = 2d
Z2
we have
and
XZ2 + X2
= 2d.
Z1)
Z 2-Z1Z I
2d =
IZ2-Zlj
Tri (0,
Z2, Z3)
-Area
240
MATHEMATICS
MAGAZINE zi i1
Z2 Z3
[Sept.-Oct.
1 1
1 .
(4)
Z2, Z3) =
(i/4)
Z2
Z3
From equation (4) it followsthat the equation of a line through and Z2 can zi be written: z (5) z
Z2
1 2
Z2
1
1
=0.
Z2=
If z =a, then z lies on a circle of radius a with the originas center.Sinice | z 2, the equation of a circle of radius a with center at the origin can be written:
(6) zz= a2.
to Translatinig a new origin,zo, gives as the equation of a circle of radius a with center at zo: (7) zz- oz-zo2 + zozoa2. If the circle passes throughthe origin,zo2o=a2, and its equation is (8) If the points zl, Z2, (4) tllat
Z3 are
Zi Z2
Z3
1
1
1
O0.
z
Z
Z2 Z3
1
=O
Z2 1
22 Z3
1
1
1
Zi
-(1/A)
Z222
Z323
Z2
Z3
and
2
Z2
Zi
Z4-(1/)
2 Z3
Z3
1962]
241
Thus equation (9) is the equation of a circle with the center at zo and a radius of Iz41. For These equations can be used to study certain transformations. example, substitutingz = 17w in equation (1) gives Xw?+K = 0 showing that the transz formation = 1/wcarriesa line throughthe origininto a conjugate line through the origin. Making the same substitutionin equation (3) gives ww7-(X/2d)w into a - (X/2d) =0 showing that a line not throughthe originis transformed zv circlethroughthe origin.Substitutingin equation (7) gives
w7b -
[zo/(zo2o
a2)]w -
[ZO/(zOO-
a2)]zD +
1/(zo2o
a2) = 0.
This is the equation of a circle with its centerat zo/(zo2o-a2) and a radius of a/Izo a2o|. Substitutingin equation (8) gives |
(zo/I zoI )w + (2o/ zoI )w
=
1/I zoj
into a line not passing showing that a circle throughthe originis transformed throughthe origin. The distance fromthe point z to the line Xz'+Xz'=2d is |d-(Xz+?X)/21. focusat the Therefore equation of a conic sectionwithXz'+X2' = 2d as directrix,
zo, and eccentricity e is:
|z-zol
This can be written: (10)
=e+ed-(z
-
)/21.
de2X)z+ 4(zo
-
de2X)z
+ 4(d2e2 -ZoZO)0.
Z0)
The substitution
(11) z = Xz + Xd + X(Xzo -X/2
will rotate and translate the figureso that the imaginaryaxis is the directrix and the focus is on the real axis at the point zo=2o0 (Xzo+Xo)/2 -d. The resultingequation is: (12) e z + (2e -4) zz e z + 4zo(z+z)-4zo = O.
The verticeswill then lie on the real axis and if the vertexis zvthen zv zv. Substitutingthis in equation (12) gives
(1-e
0 2 2
)z,
2zoz, + zo = 0.
e).
242
[Sept.-Oct.]
Dover Publications, Inc. New York (1952). representations. H. Kober, Dictionaryof conformal Ruel V. Churchill, Complex variables and applications, Chapter 1. McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc. New York. Second Ed. (1960). Walter B. Carver, The conjugate coordinate system for plane Euclidean geometry,Slaught Memorial Paper, Number 5, Amer. Math. Monthly,63, No. 9, (November 1956).
O THOU LEAST SQUARE As we pursue our complex course Our anchor, origin,and source rests in theeNow and forever And we would keep divisor-free Thy additive identity. The span to thee remainsour norm. form Thy real and pure-imagined Can never a divisor beSo keep us fromthe heresy Of tryingto divide by thee.
MARLOW SHOLANDER