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4.37 Geometrical interpretation of complex multiplication

Geometrical interpretation of multiplication

Let w=seiϕw=se^{i\phi}. Then zzwz\mapsto zw rotates zz through angle ϕ\phi about the origin and scales its modulus by ss.

Scaling means the same as magnifying (as in a photograph), so that we change lengths and keep angles the same.

Example

Consider the effect of multiplying by w=2eiπ/4w=2e^{i\pi/4}.