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Plane Geometry and Complex Numbers Author(s): Robert G. Blake Reviewed work(s): Source: Mathematics Magazine, Vol.

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

xo Fl(- ;-a: + 1; -x /4)

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

ROBERT G. BLAKE, Uniiversity Florida of

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.

Solving these forX and 2d gives


i(Z2
-

Z1)

Z 2-Z1Z I

2d =

i(z2z1 -Z12) Z2-Zl I

A trianglewith 0, zi, Z2 as vertices has Therefore area is givenby its

IZ2-Zlj

as base and d as altitude.

AreaTri (0, z1, Z2) Tri (0, z1,Z3) we have


Since Area Tri
(Zl, Z2,

i(z221 -Z12)/4 Z2) +Area

z3)= Area Tri (0, zl,

Tri (0,

Z2, Z3)

-Area

240

MATHEMATICS

MAGAZINE zi i1
Z2 Z3

[Sept.-Oct.
1 1
1 .

(4)

Area Tri (zI,

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

Z2- zoz- z0o = O. not in a straightline then it followsfromequation


zi
A= Z2
Z3

Zi Z2
Z3

1
1
1

O0.

In this case expanding the determinantin the equation


zz
(9) Z Zl
Z2Z2 Z3Z3

z
Z
Z2 Z3

1
=O

Z2 1
22 Z3

by dividinig A and putting


Z1Z1 Z1
zo=

1
1
1

Zi

-(1/A)

Z222
Z323

Z2
Z3

and

2
Z2

Zi

Z4-(1/)

2 Z3

Z3

gives the equation


ZZ ZoZ ZoZ + ZoZo = Z4Z4.

1962]

PLANE GEOMETRY AND COMPLEX NUMBERS

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
-

+ e2X2z2 (2e2 - 4)zz + e2X2z2 4(o +

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.

If e=1 this has two solutions zV= So/(1 + e) or sv = zo/(1


-

e).

axis is I2ezo/(1 -e2) 1.

From these we see that the centeris at z=zo/(

e2) and that the lengthof the

242

MATHEMATICS MAGAZINE References

[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

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