Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2003 / ia / Paper 4 / 2C / ii

For nonzero complex numbers, $x\overline{y}=(x/y)|y{|}^2$. Since $|y{|}^2$ is positive real, the condition is equivalent to $x/y\in \mathbb{R}\setminus \{0\}$. This is an equivalence relation. The ratio $x/x=1$ gives reflexivity; the reciprocal of a nonzero real ratio shows that the relation is symmetric; and $(x/y)(y/z)=x/z$ gives transitivity. An equivalence class is a real line through zero with zero removed, or equivalently all nonzero complex numbers with the same argument modulo $\pi$.