38 CHAPTER 3 COMPLEX NUMBERS

b Im
1 3
z2 = – +i
2 2 __
√3"
Plot the points __ z1 = 1, z2 = − __12 + i___ and
√3" 2
z3 = − __12 − i___ on an Argand diagram:
2
2π
2π 3 z1 = 1 The points z1, z2 and z3 lie on a circle of radius
3 2π Re 1 unit.
3
The angles between each of the vectors z1, z2 and
2π
z3 are ___ , as shown on the Argand diagram.
3
1 3
z3 = – –i
2 2
__
1 √3" ___
c Let ω = z2 = − __ + i___ = e 3
2πi

2 2
Then, ω 2 = (e 3 ) = e 3
2πi 2
___ ___
4πi

__
− ___
2πi
1
__ √3"
___
=e 3
=− −i
2 2
= z3 Notice that ω* = ω2.

1 + ω + ω2 =
__ __

1 + (− + i ) + (− − i ) = 0
1
__ √3
___ 1
__ √3
___ Notation It can be proved that the sum of the
2 2 2 2 nth roots of unity is zero, for any positive integer
n > 2.
Sample material. Not for resale, circulation or distribution in whole or in part. © Pearson 2020.

■ In general, the solutions to z n = 1 are z = cos (____

n ) + i sin( n ) = e for k = 1, 2, … , n and are
2πk 2πk
____ ____ 2πik
n

known as the nth roots of unity.

If n is a positive integer, then there is an nth root of unity ω = e n such that:

__
2πi

• the nth roots of unity are 1, ω, ω 2, … , ω n−1

• 1, ω, ω 2, … , ω n−1 form the vertices of a regular n-gon

• 1 + ω + ω 2 + … + ω n−1 = 0

M03_IAL_FP2_44655_U03_022-045.indd 38 25/04/2019 08:56

 COMPLEX NUMBERS CHAPTER 3 39

Example 14
__
Solve the equation z4 = 2 + 2i√3"

Im
2 + 2i 3

2 3

θ
O 2 Re
To solve an equation of the form
___________
__ _______
modulus = √ 22 + (2√3 )2 = √4 + 12 = 4 zn = w, start by writing w in
__ modulus−argument form.
argument = arctan (____) = __
2√ 3 π
2 3
Now let z = r(cos θ + i sin θ), and
π π
So z4 = 4(cos __ + i sin __) write the general form of the
3 3
argument on the RHS by adding
(r(cos θ + i sin θ))4 integer multiples of 2π.
π π
= 4(cos (__ + 2kπ) + i sin (__ + 2kπ)), k ∈ ℤ
3 3 Apply de Moivre’s theorem to the
LHS.
r4(cos 4θ+ i sin 4θ)
Sample material. Not for resale, circulation or distribution in whole or in part. © Pearson 2020.

π π
= 4(cos (__ + 2kπ) + i sin (__ + 2kπ)), k ∈ ℤ Compare the modulus on both
3 3 __
4
__ __ sides to get r = √2" .
So r4 = 4 ⇒ r = √ 4 = √2
"
π
4θ = __ + 2kπ Compare the arguments on both
3 sides.
π __
π π
k = 0 ⇒ θ = ___, so z1 = √2 (cos ___ + i sin ___)
12 12 12 π
When k = 1, 4θ = __ + 2π
3
so z2 = √2 (cos ___ + i sin ___)
__
7π 7π 7π
k = 1 ⇒ θ = ___, π 2π 7π
⇒ θ = ___ + ___ = ___
12 12 12
12 4 12
k = −1 ⇒ θ = − ___, so z3 = √2 (cos (− ___) + i sin (− ___))
__
5π 5π 5π
12 12 12 Watch out Make sure you choose
, so z4 = √2 (cos (−
12 ) 12 ))
+ i sin (−
__
11π
___ 11π
___ 11π
___ n consecutive values of k to get n
k = −2 ⇒ θ = −
12 distinct roots. If an argument is not
__ __
πi __ ___
7πi __ ___
5πi __ ___
11πi in the interval [−π, π] you can add
or z = √2 e 12, z = √2 e 12 , z = √2 e − 12 or z = √2 e − 12 or subtract a multiple of 2π.

These are the solutions in the form

reiθ.

M03_IAL_FP2_44655_U03_022-045.indd 39 25/04/2019 08:56