# How can i express a quaternion in polar form?

Im trying to express the following quaternion in polar form (axis-angle)

$a=1+i-2j+k$

Would this be the resultant ?

$$\cos \frac{θ}{2} +\sin \frac{θ}{2} (i-2j+k)$$

To find the polar (exponential) form of a quaternion we have to start from the definition of the exponential of a quaternion. ( see :Exponential Function of Quaternion - Derivation)

For a quaternion $z=a+b\mathbf{i}+c\mathbf{j}+d\mathbf{k} = a+\mathbf{v}$ this is given by: $$e^z = e^{a+\mathbf{v}}=e^a \left( \cos |\mathbf{v}| +\dfrac{\mathbf{v}}{|\mathbf{v}|} \,\sin |\mathbf{v}| \right)$$

Now note that we have obviously: $$z=a+\mathbf{v}= |z| \left( \dfrac{a}{|z|}+\dfrac{|\mathbf{v}|}{|z|} \dfrac{\mathbf{v}}{|\mathbf{v}|} \right)$$

end, since: $$a^2+|\mathbf{v}|^2=|z|^2$$ we have: $$\left(\dfrac{a}{|z|}\right)^2+ \left( \dfrac{|\mathbf{v}|}{|z|}\right)^2 =1$$ so there exists $0\le\theta<2\pi$ such that: $$\dfrac{a}{|z|}=\cos \theta \qquad \dfrac{|\mathbf{v}|}{|z|}=\sin \theta$$ and every quaternion $z=a+ib+jc+kd=a+\mathbf{v}$ can be expressed in exponential (polar) form as: $$z = |z|\left(\cos \theta +\mathbf{n}\sin \theta \right)=|z| e^ {\mathbf{n} \theta}= e^{\ln |z| + \mathbf{n} \theta}$$ with: $$\begin{cases} & |z|= \sqrt{a^2+b^2+c^2+d^2}\\ & \cos \theta=\dfrac{a}{|z|} \qquad \sin \theta=\dfrac{|\mathbf{v}|}{|z|}\\ & \mathbf{n}=\dfrac{\mathbf{v}}{|z|\sin \theta}=\dfrac{\mathbf{v}}{|\mathbf v|} \end{cases}$$

Now you can apply this general result to your case (note that your answer is wrong and I don't see where it come from).

In general if you have a number $z=a+b_1i+b_2j+b_3k$, you can write it as $$z = A\cos\theta + A\sin\theta(\cos\varphi_1 i+\cos\varphi_2 j+\cos\varphi_3 k)$$ where $A = \sqrt{a^2+b_1^2+b_2^2+b_3^2}$, and $\cos\theta = a/A$. And if you define $B=\sqrt{A^2-a^2}$, then $\cos\varphi_i = b_i/B$. Clearly $\cos^2\varphi_1+\cos^2\varphi_2+\cos^2\varphi_3=1$. A quick calculation shows $$(\cos\varphi_1 i+\cos\varphi_2 j+\cos\varphi_3 k)^2 = -1$$ This means that in fact you can also write $$z = A\exp\Big[(\cos\varphi_1 i+\cos\varphi_2 j+\cos\varphi_3 k)\theta\Big]$$ This is one possibility of polar coordinates for quarternions. One can do other things too.

• So is my answer from above an acceptable answer. Or should i say the correct answer ? – JekasG Oct 25 '15 at 7:29
• I doubt it is correct but then again depends on what's you definition of $\theta$? – Hamed Oct 25 '15 at 7:34
• So how would i work out the answer ? And what is the correct answer ? – JekasG Oct 25 '15 at 8:19