MA4410 Homework 1 (Due Jan 20)

Spring 2017 - Piret

1. Find the polar form of the following complex numbers

1
(a) (1−i)8
.Let’s first consider 1 − i. We compute the magnitude and the argument and obtain
√ √ 8
|1 − i| = 2 and arg(1 − i) = arctan(−1) = −π/4. Therefore |(1 − i)8 | = 2 = 16 and
 
1 1 1 1
arg(1 − i)8 = 8(−π/4) = −2π. Finally,  (1−i)8  = 16 and arg (1−i)8 = 0 − (−2π) = 2π. z = (1−i)8
 
1
is just another way to write 16 .
√ q
√ 
√ 1+i π

(b) √ . We easily find that |1+i| = 2 and arg 1+i = 4 . Similarly, we wish to find  1 + i 3

1+i 3
q √ √  √ 
and arg 1 + i 3. To do so, we need to solve w2 = 1 + i 3. We can find that 1 + i 3 = 2

√ q
√  √ q √
and arg 1 + i 3 = π3 . Thus  1 + i 3 = 2 and arg 1 + i 3 = π6 + kπ, where k = 0, 1.

 
√ √  = 1 and arg √ 1+i√ =
 1+i  π π π
Putting it all together,  1+i 3  4
− 6
− kπ = 12
+ kπ, where k = 0, 1.
1+i 3
 4
1+i 1+i
(c) 1−i
. Let’s start with 1−i
. Multiplying numerator and denominator by the denominator’s
2
 2
4 8
complex conjugate, we obtain 1+i
1−i
= (1+i)
2
. We’re thus wanting to compute (1+i) 2
= (1+i)
16
.
√
We remember from the former exercise, |1 + i| = 2 and arg 1 + i = π4 . Thus, |(1 + i)8 | = 16
 1+i 4   4
and arg(1 + i)8 = 8 π4 = 2π. Therefore,  1−i 
 = 1 and arg 1+i
1−i
= 2π
 i/2
(d) ii/2 = eiπ/2+i2kπ = e−π/4−kπ for k ∈ Z. There is an infinite number of solutions.
(e) The roots of z 7 − 128 = 0. We can find the solutions to z k − 1 = 0 by noting that z k = 1. We
can find a very general polar form for the number 1 as eik2π , where k is an integer. Say we want
to solve z 7 = 128eik2π . Notice that 128 = 27 . Thus, z = 2eik2π/7 . When k = 0, the solution is
z = 2ei0 , when k = 1, the solution is z = 2eiπ/7 , when k = 2, the solution is z = 2ei2π/7 , etc.
When k = 7, the solution is z = 2ei14π/7 but it is just equal to z = 2ei0 , so we disregard it.
There are thus 7 distinct solutions: the ones associated with n = 0, 1, 2, ..., 6.
√ √ iπ/3 √ iπ/12 √
(f) 1+i
1+i
3
. Let w = 1+i 3
1+i
= √2e
iπ/4
2e √
= 2e = 2(cos(π/12) + i sin(π/12)). Thus cos(π/12) =
√ 1+i 3
√
(1+i 3)(1−i)
√ √
(1+ 3)+i( 3−1)
√
1+ 3
Re (w)/ 2. Further, w = 1+i = 2
= 2
. So Re (w) = 2
. Therefore
√
1+√ 3
cos(π/12) = 2 2
.
2. Express each of the following numbers in the form a + bi, where a and b are real
kπi
(a) The roots of (z + 2i )4 = 16. Then (z + 2i )4 = 16ek2πi . Therefore z + 2i = 2e 2 , k = 0, 1, 2, 3. So,
z = 2 cos(kπ/2) + i(2 sin(kπ/2) − 1/2), k = 0, 1, 2, 3.
(b) The roots of z 2 + iz − i = 0. We’re thus looking for 2 roots. By the quadratic formula,
we know that z1,2 = −i+w 1,2
, where w1,2 are the solutions to w2 = −1 − 4i. We know that
√ 2
|−1 − 4i| = 17 and that arg −1 − 4i = arctan(4) + 2kπ, in the third quadrant and where k is
√
an integer. So,  −1 − 4i = 171/4 (note that 171/4 must be a positive real number and is thus

√
unique) and arg −1 − 4i = 12 arctan(4) + kπ, where arctan(4) is an angle in the 3rd quadrant 
and where k = 0, 1. This gives w1,2 = 171/4 cos( 21 arctan(4) + kπ) + i sin( 12 arctan(4) + kπ) ,
where k = 0, 1.
 4
1−i
(c) 1+i
. We use the procedure from Ex. 1(c) to find that z = 1.
(d) i1/2 . When computing roots, we always have 2 possible procedures. We can work in cartesian
coordinate system or in polar coordinate system. The former is easiest when computing a square
root, but get complicated to compute cube or higher roots. The latter is what we’ve used in
these solutions so far. So let’s use the former method as an example. We wish to solve w2 = i,
1
where w = a + ib. So w2 = (a2 − b2 ) + 2iab. Thus a2 − b2 √ = 0 and 2ab = 1. Then, a = 2b
and 4b12 − b2 = 0. Thus, 1 − 4b4 = 0, which leads to b = ± 22 . Notice that there are √only 2
solutions
√
here,√because

a and b are real number, and not complex. This leads to a = ± 22 and
z = ± 22 + i 22 .
√ 2  √ 2

1−i 3 (1−i 3)(2−2i)
(e) 2+2i
. The easiest way to compute this number is to rewrite it as 8
. Now,
 √  √  √  √ √
1 − i 3 = 2 and |2 − 2i| = 2 2, so (1 − i 3)(2 − 2i) = 4 2. Also, arg 1 − i 3 =
  

√  1−i√3 2 (2−2i)2 
 
( )
− π3 π 7π
and arg 2 − 2i = − 4 , so arg(1 − i 3)(2 − 2i) = − 12 . Thus   = 12 and

64 
√ 2 √ 2 √
(1−i 3) (2−2i)2 
arg 64
= − 7π
6
. So 1−i 3
2+2i
=− 4
3
+ i 41 .

3. Draw the set of points that satisfy

(a) Im (z + 2) = 3
(b) |z − i| < 2
(c) |z − i + 2| = |z + 2i − 1|
(d) |z − 1| + |z + 1| = 3
 Im(z)

3i
Re(z)

Figure 1: Line y = 3

Im(z)

Re(z)

Figure 2: Disk centered at i with radius 2

(e) |z − 1| − |z + 1| = 2

4. Let z and w be any two complex numbers. Prove the relations

(a) z − z̄ = 2 i Im (z). Let z = x + iy. z − z̄ = (x + iy) − (x − iy) = 2iy = 2iIm (z).

√
(b) Re (z) ≤ |z|. Let z = x + iy. Then, x ≤ |x| ≤ x2 + y 2 = |z|
(c) |wz̄ + w̄z| ≤ 2 |z w|. |wz̄ + w̄z| ≤ |wz̄| + |w̄z|. Note that |wz̄| = |wz| = |w̄z|. Thus,
|wz̄ + w̄z| ≤ 2 |z w|.

5. Show that, for the stereographic projection, a circle in the z-plane corresponds to a circle on the
sphere. Hint:
 Im(z)

−2 + i
Re(z)

1 − 2i

Figure 3: Line y = x

Im(z)

Re(z)

4x2 4x2
Figure 4: Ellipse with focal points 1 and −1. The equation of the ellipse is 9
+ 5
=1

Im(z)

Re(z)
−1 1

Figure 5: All points on the real axis that satisfy z ≤ −1

 4x 2X
X= x2 +y 2 +4
x= 2−Z
4y 2Y
Y = x2 +y 2 +4 y= 2−Z
2(x2 +y 2 )
Z= x2 +y 2 +4

Furthermore, a circle on the spheres given by the intersection of the sphere with a plane

AX + BY + CZ − D = 0

First solution:
Assume that the points (X, Y, Z) belong to a circle on the surface of the sphere. They then satisfy
both the sphere equation X 2 +Y 2 +(Z −1)2 = 1 and the equation of the plane AX +BY +CZ −D = 0.
4x 4y 2(x2 +y 2 )
Mapping these points to the complex plane gives A x2 +y 2 +4 + B x2 +y 2 +4 + C x2 +y 2 +4 − D = 0. As we

rearrange the terms, we obtain (2C − D)x2 + 4Ax + (2C − D)y 2 + 4By = 4D. Completing the square
2 +B 2 )
2A
and simplifying leads to (x + 2C−D 2B
)2 + (y + 2C−D 4D
)2 = 2C−D + 4(A
(2C−D)2
. This is the equation of a circle
r
2A 2B 4D 4(A2 +B 2 )
on the complex plane |z − z0 | = R, where z0 = − 2C−D − i 2C−D and where R = 2C−D
+ (2C−D)2
.
4D 4(A2 +B 2 )
If 2C−D
+ (2C−D)2
is positive, we obtain a circle.

Second solution:
Assume that the complex numbers z = x + iy satisfy the equation of a circle in the complex plane
|z − z0 | = R, where z0 = x0 + iy0 is the circle center and where R is its radius. Then, x and y satisfy
2X 2Y
(x−x0 )2 +(y −y0 )2 = R2 . Mapping onto the sphere gives ( 2−Z −x0 )2 +( 2−Z −y0 )2 = R2 . Simplifying
2 2
leads to 4(X2−Z
+Y )
− 4x0 X − 4y0 Y = (R2 − x20 − y02 )(2 − Z) (*). Now, we know that the points (X, Y, Z)
must belong to the sphere X 2 + Y 2 + (Z − 1)2 = 1. Therefore, X 2 + Y 2 = (Z − 1)2 − 1 = (Z − 2)Z
(**). Plugging (**) into (*), we obtain 4Z − 4x0 X − 4y0 Y = (R2 − x20 − y02 )(2 − Z). After simplifying,
we finally obtain −4x0 X − 4y0 Y + (R2 − x20 − y02 + 4)Y − 2(R2 − x20 − y02 ) = 0, which is the equation
of a plane.