Technological Institute of the Philippines - Manila Course: MATH 024

Math & Physics Department ONLINE LECTURE

TOPIC # 5

Natural Logarithm of Complex Numbers

Intended Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the session the students should be able to:

1. Recall exponential function of complex numbers

2. Relate the natural logarithm with exponential function
3. Determine the principal value and other values of natural logarithm of complex
numbers

Complex Logarithm Function

The logarithm function ln 𝑧 is an inverse of the exponential function. Because the complex
exponential function 𝑒 % is a periodic function

𝑒 %&'() = 𝑒 %
an equation 𝑓(𝑧) = 𝑒 % has infinitely many solutions in a case of complex variable, and the
complex logarithm function 𝑙𝑛 𝑧 is a multi-valued function.

𝑙𝑛 𝑧 = ln|𝑧| + 𝑖(arg 𝑧 + 2𝑘𝜋), 𝑘 = 0, ±1, ±2, …

If k = 0 we have a principal logarithm 𝑙𝑛 𝑧 or principal branch of the logarithm:

𝑙𝑛 𝑧 = ln|𝑧| + 𝑖(arg 𝑧)

From the previous discussion we have introduced the exponential form of a complex
number, 𝑧 = 𝑟𝑒 A) , substituting this from the equation and by using the property of natural
logarithm

lnB𝑟𝑒 A) C = ln 𝑟 + ln 𝑒 A)

lnB𝑟𝑒 A) C = ln 𝑟 + 𝜃𝑖
Technological Institute of the Philippines - Manila Course: MATH 024
Math & Physics Department ONLINE LECTURE

Example 1: Evaluate the natural logarithm of 𝑖

(
ln 𝑧 = ln 𝑖 = ln(1𝑒 ' ) )
(
= ln 1 + ln 𝑒 ' )

𝜋
=0+ 𝑖
2
𝜋
= 𝑖
2

Example 2: find the principal value of ln(−5)

ln 𝑧 = ln(−5) = ln(5𝑒 () )

= ln 5 + 𝑙𝑛𝑒 ()

= ln 5 + 𝜋𝑖

Example 3: Evaluate 𝑙𝑜𝑔) 𝑒

In this type of problems we will be using change of base formula,

Let 𝑁 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔) 𝑒

𝑖 J = 𝑖 KLMN O

𝑖J = 𝑒

𝑁 ln 𝑖 = ln 𝑒 , ln both sides

ln 𝑒 1 𝜋
𝑁= = 𝜋 , 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑒𝑥𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 ln 𝑖 = 𝑖
ln 𝑖 2
2𝑖
−2𝑖
𝑁= , 𝑠𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑦
𝜋
Technological Institute of the Philippines - Manila Course: MATH 024
Math & Physics Department ONLINE LECTURE

Example 4: find the principal value of 𝑁 = (√3 − 𝑖)')

Find the natural logarithm of both side,

ln 𝑁 = ln(√3 − 𝑖)')

ln 𝑁 = 2𝑖 ln(√3 − 𝑖)
](
)
𝑙𝑛 𝑁 = 2𝑖 \ln(2𝑒 ^ )_

𝜋
ln 𝑁 = 2𝑖 \ln 2 − 𝑖_
6
𝜋 '
ln 𝑁 = (2𝑙𝑛2)𝑖 − 𝑖
3
(
𝑙𝑛 𝑁 = a + (2 ln 2)𝑖, base e both sides

d
𝑒 bc J = 𝑒 e &(' bc ')) , simplify
(
𝑁 = 𝑒 a ∙ 𝑒 (' bc '))

𝑁 = 2.85𝑒 (' bc '))

Technological Institute of the Philippines - Manila Course: MATH 024
Math & Physics Department ONLINE LECTURE

Some properties of Complex Logarithms

Reference:
http://www.suitcaseofdreams.net/Logarithm_Function.htm
Technological Institute of the Philippines - Manila Course: MATH 024
Math & Physics Department ONLINE LECTURE

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