Loci Definitions using Arguments on the Complex Plane

Rays on the Complex Plane

A ray is a set of points that makes an angle of 𝜃 with the positive
real axis.

Arg(𝑧) = 𝜃, 𝑧 ∈ 𝐶, 𝜃 ∈ 𝑅

A ray is not defined for 𝑧 = 0 + 0𝑖 as there is no unique angle for

Arg(0 + 0𝑖), as every angle correctly defines the point 0 + 0𝑖.

Translated Rays
A ray can be translated from 𝑧 = 0 to the point 𝑧 = 𝑧 by
substituting 𝑧 with 𝑧 − 𝑧 as 𝑧 = 𝑧 + 𝑧 ⇒ 𝑧 = 𝑧 − 𝑧 .

Arg(𝑧 − 𝑧 ) = 𝜃, 𝑧, 𝑧 ∈ 𝐶, 𝜃 ∈ 𝑅

Example VCAA 2016 Exam 2 Question 2e Example

3𝜋 𝜋
Sketch the ray given by Arg(𝑧) = − ⎯⎯⎯ Sketch the ray given by Arg 𝑧 − (−1 + 3𝑖) = − ⎯⎯
4 4
on the Argand diagram. on the Argand diagram.

Example VCAA 2018 NHT Exam 2 Question 2d

In the complex plane, 𝐿 is the line given by
1
the cartesian equation 𝑦 = − ⎯⎯⎯𝑥.⎯⎯
√3

A graph of 𝐿 is shown on the Argand diagram.

The part of the line 𝐿 in the fourth quadrant can

be expressed in the form Arg(𝑧) = 𝛼.
State the value of 𝛼.

The angle the ray makes with the real axis is one-
third of the right-angle between the real and
imaginary axes.

𝜋 𝜋 𝜋 𝜋
⎯⎯÷ 3 = ⎯⎯, ∴ 𝛼 = − ⎯⎯ Arg(𝑧) = − ⎯⎯
2 6 6 6

Expressing Rays in Cartesian Form

Expressing Rays in Cartesian Form
In Cartesian form, the domain should be stated to correctly define in which direction the ray goes.
Remember, 𝑚 = tan(𝜃), where 𝜃 is the principal argument of the ray.

Example Example
⎯⎯ 𝜋 ⎯⎯ 2𝜋
Arg 𝑧 − √3 + 𝑖 = ⎯⎯ Arg 𝑧 − √3 + 𝑖 = − ⎯⎯⎯
3 3
𝜋 ⎯⎯ 𝜋 ⎯⎯
𝑚 = tan ⎯⎯ = √3 𝑚 = tan ⎯⎯ = √3
3 3
⎯⎯ ⎯⎯ ⎯⎯ ⎯⎯
𝑦 = √3 𝑥 − √3 + 1 𝑦 = √3 𝑥 − √3 + 1
⎯⎯ ⎯⎯ ⎯⎯ ⎯⎯
𝑦 = √3𝑥 − 2, 𝑥 > √3 𝑦 = √3𝑥 − 2, 𝑥 < √3

Example Example
⎯⎯ 2𝜋 ⎯⎯ 𝜋
Arg 𝑧 − √3 + 𝑖 = ⎯⎯⎯ Arg 𝑧 − √3 + 𝑖 = − ⎯⎯
3 3
𝜋 ⎯⎯ 𝜋 ⎯⎯
𝑚 = tan ⎯⎯ = −√3 𝑚 = tan ⎯⎯ = −√3
3 3
⎯⎯ ⎯⎯ ⎯⎯ ⎯⎯
𝑦 = −√3 𝑥 − √3 + 1 𝑦 = −√3 𝑥 − √3 + 1

⎯⎯ ⎯⎯ ⎯⎯ ⎯⎯
𝑦 = √3𝑥 + 5, 𝑥 < √3 𝑦 = √3𝑥 + 5, 𝑥 > √3

Intersections of Rays
The intersection point of two rays can be found using the Cartesian equations.
The angle that two rays intersect at can be found by
extending the rays to form a triangle between the lines
the rays lie on and the real axis. Since both arguments are
measured anticlockwise, one will always be an exterior
angle. Therefore, arg(𝑧 − 𝑧 ) = 𝜃 + arg(𝑧 − 𝑧 )
⇒ arg(𝑧 − 𝑧 ) − arg(𝑧 − 𝑧 ) = 𝜃

Example Modified VCAA 2019 Exam 2 Question 5

𝜋 5𝜋
Let 𝑧 = 𝑥 + 𝑦𝑖, where 𝑥, 𝑦 ∈ 𝑅. The rays Arg(𝑧 − 2) = ⎯⎯and Arg 𝑧 − (5 + 𝑖) = ⎯⎯⎯, where
4 6
𝑧 ∈ 𝐶, intersect on the complex plane at a point (𝑎, 𝑏). The value of 𝑏 is
𝜋
Arg(𝑧 − 2) = ⎯⎯ ⇒ 𝑦 = 𝑥 − 2, 𝑥 > 2
4
5𝜋 1
Arg 𝑧 − (5 + 𝑖) = ⎯⎯⎯ ⇒ 𝑦 = − ⎯⎯⎯(𝑥 ⎯⎯ − 5) + 1, 𝑥 < 5
6 √3

Since the rays intersect at (𝑎, 𝑏), we can solve the

following equations simultaneously
1
𝑏 = 𝑎 − 2 and 𝑏 = − ⎯⎯⎯(𝑎⎯⎯ − 5) + 1
√3
⎯⎯ ⎯⎯
∴ 𝑎 = √3 + 2, 𝑏 = √3

Determine the angle the two rays intersect at.

𝜋 5𝜋 5𝜋 𝜋 7𝜋
∴ 𝜃 + ⎯⎯= ⎯⎯⎯⇒ 𝜃 = ⎯⎯⎯− ⎯⎯= ⎯⎯⎯
4 6 6 4 12