Mathematics Applications and Interpretations HL

The use of GDC is allowed and encouraged for all problems

Assignment #19: Complex numbers
Problem 1

Let 𝑧 = 5 − 12𝑖. Find the following numbers by hand (fine to check your answers with the calculator).
a. The complex conjugate, 𝑧 ∗
b. The square, 𝑧 2
𝑧
c. A nasty fraction, 3+2𝑖

d. The square root (optional challenge), √𝑧

Problem 2

Consider the quadratic equation 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 5 = 0

a. Show that the equation has no real solutions. [Use the discriminant]
b. Find the complex solutions to the equation. Give the answers exactly. [Use the quadratic
formula]
c. Find out whether the two solutions you found are each other’s complex conjugates.
d. Find out whether it is still true – as for quadratic equations with real roots – that the sum of the roots is
equal to the coefficient in front of the linear term of the equation and that the product of the two
solutions is equal to the constant term.

Problem 3

The square root of 𝑧 = 5 − 12𝑖 is √𝑧 = 3 − 2𝑖 (you can check this using the calculator)

a. Find the exact values of the modulus of 𝑧 and of √𝑧

b. Find the argument of 𝑧 and of √𝑧. Give the answer in radians with 3 significant figures.
1
c. Find out whether Arg(√𝑧) = Arg(𝑧) and |√𝑧| = √|𝑧|
2

Problem 4
𝜋
a. Write the complex number 𝑧 = 3 𝑐𝑖𝑠 4 in exponential form and cartesian form and show 𝑧 in an Argand
diagram.
b. Write the complex number 𝑤 = √3 − 𝑖 in polar form (cis-form) and in exponential form and show 𝑧 in
an Argand diagram.
Problem 5

A nasty question from the November 21 exam, paper 2

But very interesting and relevant for electric engineers to be…