RAFFLES INSTITUTION

H2 Mathematics 9758
2022 Year 6 Term 3 Revision 5 (Group X)
Topic: Complex Numbers (Solutions)

Source of Question: TPJC Prelim 9758/2018/01/Q8

1 Do not use a calculator in answering this question.
The complex numbers z and w are given by 1 − i and −1 + i 3 respectively.

(i) Express each of z and w in polar form r ( cos θ + i sin θ ) , where r > 0 and
− π < θ ≤ π. Give r and θ in exact form. [2]
z
(ii) Find zw and in exact polar form. [2]
w
 5π  1 + 3
(iii) Hence, by finding zw in exact cartesian form x + iy, show that sin   = .
 12  2 2
[2]
z
(iv) Sketch the points A and B representing the complex numbers w and
w
respectively on an Argand diagram. You should identify the modulus and argument
of the points A and B. [2]

(v) Use part (iii) to find the exact area of triangle OAB, where O is the origin. [2]

Solutions:

(i) z = 1− i You are encouraged to

 π visualise the points on the
i − 
Argand diagram when
= 2e  4 
working out modulus and
  π  π  argument.
= 2 cos  −  + i sin  −  
  4  4  Im

w =−1 + i 3 •
 2π 
i  Re
= 2e  3 
•
  2π   2π  
= 2 cos   + i sin    z = 1− i w =−1 + i 3
  3   3 
2 2
z= 1 +1 = 2

( 3)
2
2
w =1 + 2
=

1 π
arg(z) = − tan −1   = −
1 4
 3  2π
arg(w) = π − tan −1   =
 1  3
Question asked for exact
form
1
 (ii)  π
i − 
 2π 
i
 π 2π 
i − + 
 5π 
i
 
zw= 4
2e   × 2e  3 = 2 2e  4 3 = 2 2e  12 
  5π   5π  
= 2 2 cos   + i sin   
  12   12  
 π
i −   π 2π   11π 
z 2e  4  2 i − 4 − 3  2 i − 
12 
= = e= e
w  2π  2 2
i  Take note
2e  3 
of exact
2   11π   11π   form
=  cos  −  + i sin  − 
2   12   12  

(iii) zw = (1 − i ) ( −1 + i 3 ) = ( −1 + 3 ) + i (1 + 3 )
  5π   5π    5π   5π 
From (ii), zw= 2 2 cos   + i sin   = 2 2 cos   + i2 2 sin  
  12   12    12   12 
Equating imaginary parts,
 5π 
1 + 3 = 2 2 si n  
 12 
 5π  1 + 3
⇒ sin   = . (shown)
 12  2 2

(iv) A little extension :

Let point C
represents the
complex number
 z
 w +  . State the
 w
geometrical shape
of OACB.

Answer :
Parallelogram
(v) 2π 11π 5π
∠AOB = 2π − − =
3 12 12
1
triangle OAB
area of= ( OA )( OB ) sin ∠AOB
2
1  2   5π 
= ( 2)   sin  
2  2   12 
2  1+ 3 
=  
2  2 2 
1+ 3
= units 2
4

2
 Source of Question: MI Prelim 9758/2018/02/Q3

2 (a) Given that a − i is a root of the equation z 3 + 4 (1 + i ) z 2 + ( −2 + 9i ) z − 5 + i =0 , where

3 2
( 2
) (
a is a real constant, show that a + 4a + 3a + a +a i = )
0 and find all the roots of
the equation. [4]

Deduce the roots of the equation z 3 + 8 (1 + i ) z 2 +4 ( −2 + 9i ) z + 8 ( −5 + i ) =0 . [2]

( )
4
(b) It is given that w= 1 − i 3 .

(i) Without using a graphing calculator, find the modulus and argument of w.

[2]

wn
(ii) Hence find the three smallest positive whole number values of n for which
w*
is a real number. [4]

Solutions:

(a) a − i is a root of z 3 + 4(1 + i) z 2 +(−2 + 9i) z − 5 + i =0

Recall that, by Binomial Theorem,
⇒ (a − i)3 + 4(1 + i)(a − i) 2 + (−2 + 9i)(a − i) − 5 + i =0
( x − y )3
⇒ (a 3 − 3a 2i − 3a + i) + 4(1 + i)(a 2 − 2ai − 1) =x 3 − 3 x 2 y + 3 xy 2 − y 3
−2a + 4 + (3 + 9a )i =0 Note that since the coefficients
of the equation are not real,
⇒ a 3 − 5a + 4 − 3a 2i+4i+9ai+4(a 2 − 2ai − 1 + a 2i+2a − i) =0 you should not assume that
⇒ (a 3 + 4a 2 + 3a) + (a 2 +a)i =
0 . (shown)
(a − i)
*
is also a root.

Comparing real and imaginary parts,

a(a + 1)(a + 3) =
0 (1)
⇒a=0 or a =−1 or a =−3

a(a + 1) =0 (2)
⇒a= 0 or a =−1
Since the values of a must satisfy both (1) and (2),
∴ a = 0 or a = −1 .

Let the third root be w.

3
 3 2
Then z + 4(1 + i) z +(−2 + 9i) z − 5 + i
= [ z − (−i)][ z − (−1 − i)][ z − ( w)]= ( z + i)( z + 1 + i)( z − w)

Comparing constant term,

i(1 + i)(− w) =−5 + i

−5 + i −5 + i 1 + i −5 + i − 5i − 1
⇒w= = × = =−3 − 2i.
−i(1 + i) 1 − i 1 + i 2

Hence, all the roots are −i, − 1 − i and − 3 − 2i.

z 3 + 8(1 + i) z 2 +4(−2 + 9i) z + 8(−5 + i) =0 To work out the relationship

between the 2 equations, you
1 3 1 should algebraically
z + (1 + i) z 2 + (−2 + 9i) z + (−5 + i) =
0
8 2 manipulate the given equation
to a similar form as the initial
1 
3
1 2 1  equation so that you can
 z  + 4(1 + i)  z  +(−2 + 9i)  z  + (−5 + i) =0 compare the 2 equations. In
2  2  2 
this case, (*) is divided by “8”
1 so that the constant terms are
⇒ z =−i or − 1 − i or − 3 − 2i (from first part) the same.
2
⇒ z =−2i or − 2 − 2i or − 6 − 4i

(b)
( ) Recall :
4

(1 − 3i )
4 4
2 2
= 1 − 3i = 1 + (− 3) = 24 = 16. n
zn = z
(i)

( ) ( )
4
arg 1 − 3i = 4 arg 1 − 3i + 2π arg( z n ) = n arg( z )
 π In this case, we need to convert
=4  −  + 2π
 3 argument to be in the range
4 (−π , π ] by adding 2π .
= − π + 2π
3
2π
=
3

4
(b)  wn  For such question, it is
arg=  arg ( w ) − arg ( w *)
n
 advisable to determine the
 w * 
(ii) argument first.
= arg ( wn ) −  − arg ( w ) 

= n arg ( w ) + arg ( w )

2π The other possible cases :

= (n + 1)
3 wn
s(a) is real and positive
w*
wn  wn   wn 
is real ⇒ arg  =kπ , where k ∈ 
w*  w* 
[ arg   = 2 kπ ]
 w* 

2π wn
kπ
⇒ (n + 1) = (b) is purely imaginary
3 w*
 wn  (2k + 1)π
3 [ arg  = ]
⇒ n= k −1  w*  2
2

Hence, the required values of n are 2, 5 and 8. Note: 3 smallest positive

values of n correspond to

k = 2, 4 and 6

 End of Paper 