We need to show that
$$ |z_{1}+z_{2}+\cdots+z_{n}|=|z_{1}|+|z_{2}|+\cdots+|z_{n}|$$
if and only if $z_{1},z_{2},\dots,z_{n}$ have the same argument (i.e. $z_{j}=r_{j}e^{i\theta}$ for $j=1,\dots,n$).
This way [$\Longleftarrow$] is easy, but for the other way around, I get stuck proving it for the sum of two complex numbers, even though the induction itself isn't that big a problem.
Does anyone happen to know how to prove this for two complex numbers?
Best Answer
Let $z_1=a_1+ib_1$ and $z_2=a_2+ib_2$ for $a_1,a_2,b_1,b_2\in\mathbb{R}$. By simplification the equation $$\sqrt{(a_1+a_2)^2+(b_1+b_2)^2}=\sqrt{a_1^2+b_1^2}+\sqrt{a_2^2+b_2^2},$$ you will get $$\frac{a_1}{a_2}=\frac{b_1}{b_2}.$$ What does it tell about arguments?