Problem 130
Easy Powers and Roots

Find the modulus and principal argument of: 1^° e^(π i/2)…

Find the modulus and principal argument of: $\ 1^\circ\ e^{\pi i/2};\quad2^\circ\ e^{2-3i};\quad3^\circ\ e^{-3-4i};\quad4^\circ\ e^{-i\varphi}\ (|\varphi|<\pi)$.

Explanation of Method

For $z=x+iy$: $\ |e^z|=e^x$ and $\arg(e^z)=y$, reduced modulo $2\pi$ into the principal range $(-\pi,\pi]$.

Part $1^\circ$: $e^{\pi i/2}$

$x=0,\ y=\frac\pi2$. $\ |e^{\pi i/2}|=e^0=1$. Since $\frac\pi2\in(-\pi,\pi]$: $\ \text{Arg}=\frac\pi2$.

Check: $e^{\pi i/2}=\cos\frac\pi2+i\sin\frac\pi2=i$, and indeed $|i|=1,\ \arg i=\frac\pi2$ ✓.

Part $2^\circ$: $e^{2-3i}$

$x=2,\ y=-3$. $\ |e^{2-3i}|=e^2$. Since $-\pi\approx-3.1416<-3\le\pi$, the value $-3$ is already in $(-\pi,\pi]$:

$$ \boxed{|e^{2-3i}|=e^2, \quad \text{Arg}(e^{2-3i})=-3} $$

Part $3^\circ$: $e^{-3-4i}$

$x=-3,\ y=-4$. $\ |e^{-3-4i}|=e^{-3}$. Since $-4<-\pi$, add $2\pi$ to bring it into range:

$$ -4+2\pi\approx2.283\in(-\pi,\pi] $$

$$ \boxed{|e^{-3-4i}|=e^{-3}, \quad \text{Arg}(e^{-3-4i})=2\pi-4} $$

Part $4^\circ$: $e^{-i\varphi}$, $|\varphi|<\pi$

$x=0,\ y=-\varphi$. $\ |e^{-i\varphi}|=1$. Since $|\varphi|<\pi$, we have $-\varphi\in(-\pi,\pi)\subset(-\pi,\pi]$, already principal:

$$ \boxed{|e^{-i\varphi}|=1, \quad \text{Arg}(e^{-i\varphi})=-\varphi} $$

Verification

Expression$|e^z|$$\text{Arg}(e^z)$
$e^{\pi i/2}$$1$$\frac\pi2$
$e^{2-3i}$$e^2$$-3$
$e^{-3-4i}$$e^{-3}$$2\pi-4\approx2.283$
$e^{-i\varphi}$$1$$-\varphi$

Result

$$ |e^{x+iy}|=e^x, \qquad \text{Arg}(e^{x+iy})=y-2\pi\left\lfloor\frac{y+\pi}{2\pi}\right\rfloor \ \ (\text{bringing } y \text{ into } (-\pi,\pi]) $$

The modulus of $e^z$ depends only on $\text{Re}(z)$; the argument is $\text{Im}(z)$ itself, reduced into the principal range by adding or subtracting the appropriate multiple of $2\pi$.