DISCUSSION

1. Give a geometrical description of the loci of z satisfying the following equations and sketch the
loci.
z  z −3+i π
(a) 2 − iz = 2 (b) =1 (c) arg  = (d) cos [arg( z − 2 − 3i)] = 1
z + 1 − 4i  1+ i 3  2

(a)
| 2 − iz |= 2
2
⇒| −i || z − |= 2
i
⇒| z + 2i |= 2
so it is a circle with centre (0, -2) and radius 2.

(b)
|z|
=1
| z + 1 − 4i |
⇒| z |=| z + 1 − 4i |
perpendicular bisector between (0, 0) and (-1, 4).

(c)
z −3+i π
arg =
1+ i 3 2
π π5π
⇒ arg[ z − (3 − i)] = + =
2 3 6
5π
half-line from (3, -1) with angle
6

(d)
cos[arg( z − 2 − 3i)] = 1
⇒ arg( z − 2 − 3i) = 0
half-line from (2, 3) with angle 0.
2. Find the maximum and minimum values of z − 1 if z + 3 − i = 2
| z + 3 − i |= 2 i.e. circle, centre (-3, 1), radius 2
max and min of | z − 1 | means max and min distance of any point on this circle from (1, 0).

so max and min | z − 1 |= 17 ± 2 .

3. [N06/I/5]
The complex number z satisfies z + 4 − 4i = 3 .
(i) Describe, with the aid of a sketch, the locus of the point which represents z in an
Argand diagram.
(ii) Find the least possible value of z − i .

| z + 4 − 4i |= 3 ⇒| z − (−4 + 4i) |= 3
circle, centre (-4, 4), radius 3.

(ii) min = 5 – 3 = 2
4. [2009/NYJC/II/1(a)]
 z −2
On a single Argand diagram, shade the region satisfied by z − 3 − 2i ≤ 2 and arg  ≥ 0.
 1+ i 
Find the range of | z − 5 | .

| z − 3 − 2i |≤ 2 i.e. circle, centre (3, 2), radius 2

 z −2 π
arg  ≥ 0 ⇒ arg( z − 2) ≥
 1 + i  4

9 3
min | z − 5 |= = , max | z − 5 |= 2 2 + 2
2 2
5. [N03/I/7]
Given that z − 2i ≤ 4 , illustrate the locus of the point representing the complex number z in an
Argand diagram.
Hence find the greatest and least possible values of z − 3 + 4i , given that z − 2i ≤ 4 .

max and min | z − 3 + 4i |= 3 5 ± 4

6. [N08/II/3(b)]
The complex number z satisfies the relations z ≤ 6 and z = z − 8 − 6i .
(i) Illustrate both of these relations on a single Argand diagram.
(ii) Find the greatest and least possible values of arg z, giving your answers in radians correct to
3 decimal places.

(i)

(ii)

5 3
α 1 = cos −1 and α 2 = tan −1
6 4
−1 3 −1 5
max arg z = tan + cos
4 6
 3 5
min arg z = tan −1 − cos −1
4 6

Alternatively,
|| ≤ 6 is a circle with radius 6 and center at 0,0

The Cartesian equation is

+ 
+ 6

|| = | − 8 − 6i| is the perpendicular bisector of 0,0 and 8,6

The line will pass through the point 4,3.

 
The gradient of the line = −1 ÷  = − 

The Cartesian equation of the line is

−3 4
=−
−4 3
4
− 3 = −  − 4
3
4 25
=− +
3 3

Using the GC to find the points of intersection

$.$
&&
The greatest arg  = tan#
.#
$# = 1.23 rad

.)#)
The least arg  = tan# = 0.058 rad
$.&&&)&
7. [N07/II/5]
Illustrate, on an Argand diagram, the locus of a point P representing the complex number z,
1
where arg( z − 2i) = π .
3
Illustrate, using the same Argand diagram, the locus of a point Q representing the complex
number z, where z − 4 = z + 2 .
1
Hence find the exact value of z such that arg( z − 2i) = π and z − 4 = z + 2 , giving your
3
answer in the form a + ib .
Show that, in this case, zz* = 8 + 4 3 .

π π
arg( z − 2i) = i.e. half-line from (0, 2) angle
3 3
| z − 4 |=| z + 2 | i.e. perpendicular bisector between (4,0) and ( -2,0), i.e. x = 1

From diagram, a = 1, b = 2 + y1 = 2 + 3
So z = 1 + (2 + 3 ) i
Hence zz* =| z | 2 = 12 + (2 + 3 ) 2 = 1 + 4 + 4 3 + 3 = 8 + 4 3
8. [2009/PJC/II/4]
Sketch, on an Argand diagram, the locus of z which satisfies | z − 4 − 3i |= 1 and Re( z ) ≥ 4 .
Hence find
(i) the values of a and b such that a ≤| z |≤ b ,
(ii) the maximum and minimum values of arg( z − 2i) .

(i)
a = 42 + 22 = 2 5
b = 4 2 + 32 + 1 = 5 + 1 = 6

(ii)
2 1
max( z − 2i) = tan −1 = tan −1 , min( z − 2i) = 0
4 2
9. [2009/CJC/II/3(b)]
π
The fixed complex number w is such that 0 < arg( w) < . In an Argand diagram, w is
2
represented by the point W, and the complex number – iw is represented by V. The variable
point z is represented by P. Sketch in a single diagram showing W, V and the locus P in each of
the following cases:
(i) | z – w | = | z + iw|
(ii) arg (z – w) = arg (–iw)
(iii) Find in terms of w, the complex number representing the point at which the loci intersect.
(iv) If Q is the point of intersection, describe the geometric shape of OWQV.

(iii) Q = w + (−iw) = (1 − i) w
(iv) Since OW=WQ=OV and WQ//OV, we can conclude OW ⊥ WQ hence OWQV is a square.