Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 1 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge / 2024 / Paper 1 / 11 / b

The given complex numbers have positive real parts, so $\arg z_1=\arctan A$ and $\arg z_2=\arctan B$. Their product isBy the assumed complex argument ranges, this product also has positive real part, hence $1-AB>0$. Its complex argument is consequently $\arctan [(A+B)/(1-AB)]$, with no extra multiple of $\pi$. Since multiplication adds complex arguments,This proves the arctangent addition formula under the stated branch restriction. For arbitrary real $A,B$, the principal inverse tangent formula can require adding or subtracting $\pi$ when $AB>1$.