Math Is Fun Forum

Jai Ganesh

Administrator

Registered: 2005-06-28

Posts: 48,422

Complex Numbers

CN # 1

What is the value of

where i=√(-1)?

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It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.

Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.

Ricky

Moderator

Registered: 2005-12-04

Posts: 3,791

Re: Complex Numbers

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"In the real world, this would be a problem.  But in mathematics, we can just define a place where this problem doesn't exist.  So we'll go ahead and do that now..."

Jai Ganesh

Administrator

Registered: 2005-06-28

Posts: 48,422

Re: Complex Numbers

Well Ricky, that was a cryptic answer.
You got it right!

Well done !!!

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It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.

Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.

Ricky

Moderator

Registered: 2005-12-04

Posts: 3,791

Re: Complex Numbers

I thought we were doing complex numbers.

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"In the real world, this would be a problem.  But in mathematics, we can just define a place where this problem doesn't exist.  So we'll go ahead and do that now..."

Jai Ganesh

Administrator

Registered: 2005-06-28

Posts: 48,422

Re: Complex Numbers

Yes, we are, Ricky.
You gave Euler's identity as the solution, I was referring that.

CN # 2

Find the fifth roots of unity and their sum.

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It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.

Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.

Ricky

Moderator

Registered: 2005-12-04

Posts: 3,791

Re: Complex Numbers

Heh, yea, it was a bad pun.  I gave a complex solution...

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"In the real world, this would be a problem.  But in mathematics, we can just define a place where this problem doesn't exist.  So we'll go ahead and do that now..."

krassi_holmz

Real Member

Registered: 2005-12-02

Posts: 1,905

Re: Complex Numbers

You can express this so:

<==+1

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IPBLE:  Increasing Performance By Lowering Expectations.

namealreadychosen

Member

Registered: 2011-07-23

Posts: 16

Re: Complex Numbers

a^2+b^2=1
b/a=tan(n*360/5)

1, 0.31+0.95i, 0.81+0.59i, -0.31-0.95i, -0.81-0.59i
sum=1

Jai Ganesh

Administrator

Registered: 2005-06-28

Posts: 48,422

Re: Complex Numbers

Hi namealreadychosen,

In polar form, 1 = cos(2πk) + i sin(2πk) for any integer k.
==> The 5 fifth roots of unity are given by
cos(2πk/5) + i sin(2πk/5) for k = 0,1,2,3,4.
----------------------
If you want the answer not in trigonometric form, we need to be more crafty.

Since x^5 - 1 = 0 is the equation for the fifth roots of unity:
(x - 1)(x^4 + x^3 + x^2 + x + 1) = 0.

The first factor yields x = 1.

As for the second factor, rewrite it as
x^2 + x + 1 + 1/x + 1/x^2 = 0 (divide both sides by x^2)
==> (x^2 + 1/x^2) + (x + 1/x) + 1 = 0
==> [(x + 1/x)^2 - 2] + (x + 1/x) + 1 = 0.

Letting z = x + 1/x yields
z^2 + z - 1 = 0.

Now, we have a quadratic in z!
==> z = (-1 ± √5) / 2.

Now, we solve for x.
Since z = x + 1/x = (-1 ± √5) / 2,

2x^2 - x[-1 ± √5] + 2 = 0.

The plus sign yields
x = [(1 - √5) ± sqrt((6 - 2√5) - 16)] / 4
= [(1 - √5) ± i * sqrt(10 + 2√5)] / 4.

The negative sign yields
x = [(1 + √5) ± sqrt((6 + 2√5) - 16)] / 4
= [(1 + √5) ± i * sqrt(10 - 2√5)] / 4.

In summary, the five fifth roots of unity (in radical form) are
x = 1, [(1 - √5) ± i * sqrt(10 + 2√5)] / 4, [(1 + √5) ± i * sqrt(10 - 2√5)] / 4.

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It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.

Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: Complex Numbers

hi ganesh

why don't you continue posting problems here?

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“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

Jai Ganesh

Administrator

Registered: 2005-06-28

Posts: 48,422

Re: Complex Numbers

Hi anonimnystefy,

OK. I shall post problems here too.

CN#3.  If

, then what is b equal to?

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It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.

Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Complex Numbers

Hi ganesh;

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In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: Complex Numbers

hi ganesh

thanks

---

“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

Jai Ganesh

Administrator

Registered: 2005-06-28

Posts: 48,422

Re: Complex Numbers

Hi bobbym and anonimnystefy,

CN #4. The complex number

lies in which quadrant?

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It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.

Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Complex Numbers

Hi ganesh;

Yes, you are right, I had that and forgot about the root of 3! A really stupid mistake!

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: Complex Numbers

hi ganesh

---

“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

gAr

Member

Registered: 2011-01-09

Posts: 3,482

Re: Complex Numbers

Hi ganesh,

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"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense"  - Buddha?

"Data! Data! Data!" he cried impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay."

Jai Ganesh

Administrator

Registered: 2005-06-28

Posts: 48,422

Re: Complex Numbers

Hi bobbym, anonimnystefy, and gAr,

The solutions CN #3 and CN  #4 are correct. Brilliant!

I shall post more problems here soon!

---

It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.

Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.

Jai Ganesh

Administrator

Registered: 2005-06-28

Posts: 48,422

Re: Complex Numbers

CN #5. Find the real and imaginary parts of the complex number

.

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It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.

Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Complex Numbers

Hi ganesh;

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: Complex Numbers

hi ganesh

---

“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

Jai Ganesh

Administrator

Registered: 2005-06-28

Posts: 48,422

Re: Complex Numbers

Hi bobbym and anonimnystefy,

The solution CN#5 is correct. Neat job!

CN #6. If

is a cube root of unity, then what is the value of

?

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It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.

Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Complex Numbers

Hi ganesh;

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

zetafunc

Moderator

Registered: 2014-05-21

Posts: 2,436

Website

Re: Complex Numbers

Jai Ganesh

Administrator

Registered: 2005-06-28

Posts: 48,422

Re: Complex Numbers

Hi;

The solution CN#6 is correct. Excellent, bobbym and zetafunc!

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It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.

Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.