Hello,
The e is the same, it is the exponential. According to Euler's relation
e^(i theta) = cos(theta) + i sin(theta), where
i is the imaginary unit.
When represented on the complex plane (x,iy) the point (cos(theta), sin(theta)) is at the extremity of a vector of length 1 and making an angle theta with the real axis.
In (plane) polar coordinates, a point is defined by the radius r, and the angle, theta, it makes with the x axis, measured in the trigonometric (counterclockwise) direction. It is structurally equaivalent to representing it in the complex plane as r*e^(i*theta). Since r is the measure ot is radius, and the theta is it argument (angle). The complex notation is used for its convenience when adding vectors (as is AC circuits)
That is the theory.
I am inserting a clipping from the book to show you how to convert between polar and rectangular coordinates.
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