Argument (complex analysis)

An argument of a nonzero complex number $z$ is any angle $\theta$ for which $z=|z|e^{i\theta }$. All arguments are $\theta +2\pi k$, with $k$ an integer. Zero has no argument: it has no distinguished direction. A commonly chosen representative, the principal argument $\mathrm{Arg}z$, lies in $(-\pi ,\pi ]$. Choosing representatives is part of specifying a branch of a multivalued function. These conventions are described in Jeremy Orloff, MIT 18.04, topic 1, sections 1.5 and 1.14.

For $3+4i$, the principal argument is $\arctan (4/3)\approx 0.927295$ radians, computed with the inverse tangent. But the coordinate ratio alone loses the quadrant: $-3-4i$ has the same ratio $4/3$, yet its principal argument is $\arctan (4/3)-\pi \approx -2.214297$ radians.

For nonzero $z,w$, the correct rule isOrdinary equality can fail. With $z=w=e^{3\pi i/4}$, their principal arguments sum to $3\pi /2$, but $zw=-i$ has principal argument $-\pi /2$. They differ by one full turn. As a point crosses the negative horizontal axis, the principal argument jumps by $2\pi$. A continuous choice on a suitable region therefore requires a branch cut; the jump belongs to the choice of representative, although the point moves smoothly.