Write down, in any form, the five complex numbers which satisfy the equation z 5 1 = 0 .

Hence show that the five complex numbers which satisfy the equation
k
(1 + z )5 (1 z )5 = 0 are i tan , where k = 0,1, 2, 3, 4 .
5

z5 1 = 0 z5 = 1
z=

2 k
i
e 5 ,k

= 0,1, 2, 3, 4

To solve (1 + z ) (1 z ) = 0 , we take the following steps.

5

Steps 1 & 2:
5

1+ z
1+ z

1 = 0
=1
1 z
1 z

Step 3:
5

1+ z
We use the substitution
to replace z.
1 z
So

1+ z
=e
1 z

2 k
i
5 ,k

= 0,1, 2, 3, 4

Step 4:
(a) Make z the subject.
1 + z = (1 z )

2 k
i
e 5

2 k
2 k

i
i
5
= e 5 1
z 1 + e

z=

(b)

2 k
i
e 5

2 k
i
1+ e 5

Use the polar form representation of complex numbers, i.e. ei = cos + i sin .

2k
2 k
+ i sin
1
5
5
z=
2 k
2 k
+ i sin
1 + cos
5
5
cos

(c)

Use trigonometric identities to simplify further.

Recall: cos 2 = 2 cos 2 1 = 1 2sin 2 and sin 2 = 2sin cos

k
k

2 k
cos
1 2sin
+ i 2 sin
1
5
5
5

z=
k
k
k

1 + 2 cos 2
cos
1 + i 2sin

5
5
5

k
k
k
2sin 2
+ i 2 sin
cos

5
5
5

z=
k
k
k
2 cos 2
+ i 2sin
cos

5
5
5

k
k
k
2sin
+ i cos
sin

5
5
5 i
z=

k
k
k i
2 cos
+ i sin
cos

5
5
5
[ Introduce i, since the final expression has it. ]
k
k

sin
+ i cos

k
5
5
z = i tan

k
k
5

sin
i cos

5
5

k
z = i tan
, k = 0,1, 2, 3, 4 (shown)

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