T HE U NIVERSITY OF S YDNEY

S CHOOL OF M ATHEMATICS AND S TATISTICS

Solutions to Tutorial 2
MATH1001: Differential Calculus Summer School, 2008
Web Page: http://www.maths.usyd.edu.au/u/UG/SS/SS1001/

Preparatory questions
1. Express the following complex numbers in Cartesian form:
(a) (2 − i) + (3 + 5i)
Solution: (2 − i) + (3 + 5i) = (2 + 3) + i(−1 + 5) = 5 + 4i.
(b) (2 − i) − (3 + 5i)
Solution: (2 − i) − (3 + 5i) = (2 − 3) + i(−1 − 5) = −1 − 6i.
(c) (2 − i)(3 + 5i)
Solution: (2 − i)(3 + 5i) = 6 + 10i − 3i − 5i2 = 11 + 7i.
2−i
(d)
3 + 5i
2−i (2 − i)(3 − 5i) 6 − 10i − 3i + 5i2 1 − 13i
Solution: = = = .
3 + 5i (3 + 5i)(3 − 5i) 32 + 52 34

2. Write down the modulus and principal argument of the following complex numbers:
(a) i
Solution: In the general case, z = x + iy = r(cos θ + i sin θ ), the modulus of z is |z| =
r = x2 + y2 and the arguments of z, denoted arg z, are θ + 2kπ , k ∈ Z, where one can
p

calculate θ from cos θ = x/r and sin θ = y/r, being careful with the choice of quadrant.
The principal argument, denoted Arg z, is the value of θ in the range, −π < θ ≤ π .
For the particular case z = i, we can read off r = 1 and θ = π /2 by inspection. Hence,
|i| = 1 and Arg i = π /2.
(b) 1 + i
√ √ √
Solution:√ Here, x = y = 1, so r = 12 + 12 = 2 and cos θ = sin θ = 1/ 2 . Hence,
|1 + i| = 2 and Arg(1 + i) = π /4.
(c) 1 − i
Solution: This is the complex conjugate of the previous√example. The modulus stays the
same while the argument changes sign. Hence, |1 − i| = 2 and Arg(1 − i) = −π /4.
(d) −6i
Solution: By inspection, | − 6i| = 6 and Arg(−6i) = −π /2.
√
(e) 1 + 3 i
√ √
Solution:
√ Here, x = 1√and y = 3 . Hence, r√= 1 + 3 = 2 and cos θ = 1/2 and sin θ =
3/2. This gives |1 + 3 i| = 2 and Arg(1 + 3 i) = π /3.
√
(f) − 3 − i
√ √ √
Solution: Here, x = − 3 and y = −1. Hence, r = 3 + 1 = 2 and cos √ θ = − 3/2
θ = −1/2. The argument θ lies in the third quadrant. We get | − 3 − i| = 2 and
and sin√
Arg(− 3 − i) = −5π /6.

Copyright
c 2008 The University of Sydney 1
 3. Find the exact complex solutions to the following equations:
(a) z2 + 4 = 0
Solution: z2 = −4 implies two roots, z = ±2i.
(b) z2 + z + 1 = 0
√ √
Solution: The quadratic formula gives z = (−1 ± 1 − 4 )/2 = (−1 ± i 3 )/2.
(c) z2 + 2z + 4 = 0
√ √ √
Solution: Similarly, z = (−2 ± 4 − 16 )/2 = (−2 ± 2i 3 )/2 = −1 ± i 3 .

Questions to do in class
4. Write down polar forms for the following complex numbers (using your answers to Problem 2 or
otherwise):
(a) i
Solution: i = cos(π /2) + i sin(π /2)
(b) 1 + i
√
2 cos(π /4) + i sin(π /4)


Solution: 1 + i =
(c) 1 − i
√
2 cos(−π /4) + i sin(−π /4) .


Solution: 1 − i =

5. Convert the following complex numbers into Cartesian form a + bi where a and b are real:
(a) 2 cos(π /4) + i sin(π /4)



√ √ √
Solution: 2 cos(π /4) + i sin(π /4) = 2 + 2 i = 2 (1 + i).
(b) −4 cos(π /3) + i sin(π /3)


√ √
Solution: −4 cos(π /3) + i sin(π /3) = −2 − 2 3 i = −2(1 + i 3 ).

(c) cos(π /2) + i sin(π /2) cos(π /3) + i sin(π /3) cos(π /6) + i sin(π /6)

Solution:

cos(π /2) + i sin(π /2) cos(π /3) + i sin(π /3) cos(π /6) + i sin(π /6)

= cos π /2 + π /3 + π /6 + i sin π /2 + π /3 + π /6 = cos π + i sin π = −1.

6. Find polar forms for zw, z/w and 1/z where

√ √
(a) z = 3 + i, w = 1 + 3 i
Solution: Multiplications and divisions of complex numbers are easily done by using the
polar forms. Multiplication is done by multiplying the moduli and adding the arguments,
and division is done by dividing the moduli and subtracting the arguments. For 1/z, take
the reciprocal of the modulus and minus the argument. The polar forms are
 π π  π π
z = 2 cos + i sin and w = 2 cos + i sin .
6 6 3 3
Hence,
 π π  π π
zw = 4 cos + i sin cos + i sin
6 6 3 3
 π π
= 4 cos + i sin ,
2 2

2
 2 cos(π /6) + i sin(π /6)


z
=
w 2 cos(π /3) + i sin(π /3)

= cos π /6 − π /3 + i sin π /6 − π /3

= cos(−π /6) + i sin(−π /6),

1 1
= cos(−π /6) + i sin(−π /6) .


z 2
√
(b) z = 4 3 − 4i, w = 8i
Solution: The polar forms are
z = 8 cos(−π /6) + i sin(−π /6) w = 8 cos(π /2) + i sin(π /2) .



and
Hence,
zw = 64 cos −π /6 + π /2 + i sin −π /6 + π /2


= 64 cos(π /3) + i sin(π /3) ,

8 cos(−π /6) + i sin(−π /6)

z
=
8 cos(π /2) + i sin(π /2)


w
= cos −π /6 − π /2 + i sin −π /6 − π /2

= cis −2π /3 ,

1 1 π π
= cos + i sin .
z 8 6 6

7. Find the indicated power, expressing your final answer in Cartesian form:
(a) (1 − i)24
Solution:
√
24
(1 − i)24 = 2 cos(−π /4) + i sin(−π /4)
= 212 cos(−6π ) + i sin(−6π )

= 212
= 4096.
√
(b) (1 + 3 i)7
Solution:
√

7
(1 + 3 i)7 = 2 cos(π /3) + i sin(π /3)
= 27 cos(7π /3) + i sin(7π /3)

= 27 cos(π /3) + i sin(π /3)

√
= 26 + 26 3 i
√
= 64(1 + i 3 ).
√
(c) (3 3 + 3i)3
Solution:
√

3
(3 3 + 3i)3 = 6 cos(π /6) + i sin(π /6)
= 63 cos(π /2) + i sin(π /2)

= 63 i
= 216i.

3
8. Solve the following equations (giving your answers in polar form, ‘cis’ notation recommended)
and sketch the solutions in the complex plane:
(a) z5 = 1
Solution: We use the shorthand notation cis θ = cos θ + i sin θ throughout this question.
z5 = 1 if and only if z = 1, cis(2π /5), cis(4π /5), cis(6π /5) or cis(8π /5). The solutions
lie equally spaced on the unit circle (regular pentagon).
i

Using the principal arguments, we have z = 1 = cis(0), cis(2π /5), cis(4π /5),
cis(−4π /5) and cis(−2π /5).
(b) z6 = −1
Solution: z6 = −1 = cis π if and only if z = cis(π /6), cis(π /2) = i, cis(5π /6),
cis(7π /6), cis(3π /2) = −i or cis(11π /6).
i

Using the principal arguments, we have z = cis(π /6), cis(π /2) = i, cis(5π /6),
cis(−5π /6), cis(−π /2) = −i and cis(−π /6).
√
(c) z3 = 4 − 4 3 i
√ √ √ √
Solution: |4 − 4 3 i| = 4 1 + 3 = 8 and arg(4 − 4 3 i) = −π /3. So if z3 = 4 − 4 3 i =
8 cis(−π /3), then we will have three solutions for z and
 −π /3 + 2π k 
z = 81/3 cis for k = 0, 1, 2
3
2 cis(−π /9), (k = 0),


= 2 cis(5π /9), (k = 1),
2 cis(11π /9), (k = 2).



Using the principal arguments, we have z = 2 cis(−π /9), 2 cis(5π /9) and 2 cis(−7π /9).
In the complex plane the points are as follows:
2i

(d) z4 = 9i
Solution: |9i| = 9 and arg(9i) = π /2. So if z4 = 9i = 9 cis(π /2), then we will have four

4
 solutions for z4 = 9i and
 π /2 + 2π k 
z = 91/4 cis for k = 0, 1, 2, 3
√ 4
 3 cis(π /8), (k = 0),
√3 cis(5π /8),



(k = 1),
= √
 3 cis(9π /8), (k = 2),
√3 cis(13π /8), (k = 3).




√ √ √
√the principal arguments, we have z = 3 cis(π /8), 3 cis(5π /8), 3 cis(−7π /8)
Using
and 3 cis(−3π /8). In the complex plane
√ the points are as follows:
3i

√
3

Questions for further practice

9. Write down polar forms for the following complex numbers (using your answers to Problem 2 or
otherwise):
(a) −6i
Solution: −6i = 6 cos(−π /2) + i sin(−π /2) .


√
(b) 1 + 3 i
√
Solution: 1 + 3 i = 2 cos(π /3) + i sin(π /3) .


√
(c) − 3 − i
√
Solution: − 3 − i = 2 cos(−5π /6) + i sin(−5π /6) .

10. Solve the following equations (giving your answers in polar form, ‘cis’ notation recommended)
and sketch the solutions in the complex plane:
(a) z3 + i = 0
Solution: z3 = −i = cis(−π /2) if and only if z = cis(−π /6), cis(π /2) = i or
cis(−5π /6).
i

√ √
(b) z4 = 8 2 + 8 2 i
√ √
Solution: z4 = 8 2 + 8 2 i = 16 cis(π /4) if and only if z = 2 cis(π /16), 2 cis(9π /16),
2 cis(17π /16) or 2 cis(25π /16).

5
 2i

Using the principal arguments, we have z = 2 cis(π /16), 2 cis(9π /16), 2 cis(−15π /16)
and 2 cis(−7π /16).
(c) z5 + z3 − z2 − 1 = 0, given that z = i is a root.
Solution: z5 + z3 − z2 − 1 = 0 has the complex conjugate pair z = ±i as solutions, so
(z − i)(z + i) = z2 + 1 is a factor of the left-hand side, yielding

(z2 + 1)(z3 − 1) = 0.

Hence, the five solutions are ±i = cis(±π /2) and the cube roots of 1 which are cis(0) = 1
and cis(±2π /3).
i

11. Observe that

z3 − 1 = (z − 1)(z2 + z + 1) and z3 − 8 = (z − 2)(z2 + 2z + 4).

Now (using your answers to Problem 3) write down all complex cube roots of 1 and 8. If a is any
real number, can you write down easily all complex cube roots of a3 ?
√ √
Solution: The complex cube roots of 1 are 1, (−1 + i 3 )/2 and (−1 − i 3 )/2; the latter two
cis(2π /3) and
solutions follow by solving the quadratic equation z2 + z + 1 = 0 or√by evaluating√
cis(−2π /3). . Similarly, the complex cube roots of 8 are 2, −1√+ i 3 and −1 − i √ 3 . If a is any
3
real number then the complex cube roots of a are a, a(−1 + i 3 )/2 and a(−1 − i 3 )/2.

12. The square roots of a complex number can be calculated directly in the Cartesian representation.
√
Use the radical notation z to denote the principal value of the square root of z. Every complex
number, including zero, has a unique principal square root. In addition, all nonzero complex
numbers have a non-principal square root, which is the negative of the first. Suppose that z = x+iy
√
and z = w = u + iv. The principal square root can be identified by the property that u ≥ 0, and,
if u = 0, then v ≥ 0.
√
(a) Calculate 21 − 20i by equating real and imaginary parts in the expression (u + iv)2 =
21 − 20i and solving for u and v, with u > 0. Check your answer by squaring.
Solution: Start with (u + iv)2 = u2 − v2 + 2iuv = 21 − 20i. This gives two real-variable
equations, u2 − v2 = 21 and 2uv = −20. Thus v = −10/u. Substituting into the first

6
 equation gives
100
u2 − = 21,
u2
u4 − 21u2 − 100 = 0,
(u2 − 25)(u2 + 4) = 0,
u2 = 25 (since u2 cannot be −4),
u=5 (since u is nonnegative).

Thence, v = −10/u = −2. This completes the proof that

√
21 − 20i = 5 − 2i.

Check: (5 − 2i)2 = 25 − 20i − 4 = 21 − 20i, as required.

√ √ √
(b) Similarly, calculate −i , − 5 − 12i and 1 + i .
√
Solution: To find −i , solve (u + iv)2 = −i. Then u2 − v2 = √
0 and 2uv = −1. Since
uv < 0, we must have v = −u. Then 2u2 = 1 and so u = −v = 1/ 2 . Thus
√ 1−i
−i = √ .
2
√
To find − 5 − 12i , solve (u + iv)2 = − 5 − 12i. Then u2 − v2 = −5 and 2uv = −12. Thus
v = −6/u. Substituting into the first equation gives
36
u2 − = −5,
u2
u4 + 5u2 − 36 = 0,
(u2 − 4)(u2 + 9) = 0,
u2 = 4 (since u2 cannot be −9),
u=2 (since u ≥ 0).

Thence, v = −6/u = −3. Hence,

√
− 5 − 12i = 2 − 3i.
√
To find 1 + i , solve (u + iv)2 = 1 + i. Then u2 − v2 = 1 and 2uv = 1. So v = 1/(2u).
Substituting into the first equation gives
1
u2 − = 1,
4u2
u4 − u2 − 14 = 0,

2
u2 − 12 = 21 ,
1 1
u2 = + √ (plus sign only),
2 2
p√
2+1
u= √ (plus sign only).
2
√ p√ p√ √
Then v = 1/(2u) = 1/ 2 2+1 = 2 − 1/ 2 . Hence,
p√ p√
√ 2+1 + i 2−1
1+i = √ .
2

7
(c) Find the two roots of the quadratic equation,

z2 + (3 + 4i)z − 7 + 11i = 0.

2
Solution: The two solutions of any quadratic equation √ az + bz
+ c = 0 with real or
2
complex coefficients and a 6= 0 is given by z = − b ± b − 4ac /(2a). Here, a = 1,
b = 3 + 4i and c = − 7 + 11i. Hence, the roots of the given quadratic equation are
p
− 3 − 4i ± (3 + 4i)2 − 4(− 7 + 11i)
z=
√ 2
− 3 − 4i ± 9 + 24i − 16 + 28 − 44i
=
√ 2
− 3 − 4i ± 21 − 20i
=
2
− 3 − 4i ± (5 − 2i)
= (from the result of part (a))
2
= 1 − 3i and − (4 + i).

(d) Prove the general formula,

q q
+ iε (y) 12 (r − x) ,
p 1
x + iy = 2 (r + x)

x2 + y2 and ε (y) denotes +1 when y ≥ 0 and −1 when y < 0.

p
where r =
Solution: Of course, we can derive this result by following the procedure in the previous
examples. Alternatively, the interested student can deduce it from the polar form of a
complex number and use the trigonometric half-angle formulae. However, because the
answer is given, we can prove it by just squaring the right-hand side. Let
q q
u = 12 (r + x) , v = ε (y) 12 (r − x) .

We want u2 − v2 = x and 2uv = y. Let us see if these identities hold.

u2 − v2 = 21 (r + x) − 21 (r − x)
= x,

as required. Also,
q q
2uv = 2ε (y) 2 (r + x) 12 (r − x)
1
q
= 2ε (y) 14 (r2 − x2 )
q
= ε (y) (x2 + y2 ) − x2
= ε (y) y2
p

= ε (y)|y|
=y (from the definition of ε (y)),

as required. This completes the proof that u + iv is one of the square roots of x + iy. To
conclude, we need to show that it is the principal square root. Observe that u ≥ 0 because
it is the nonnegative square root of a nonnegative real number. The only way that u can be
zero is if x ≤ 0 and y = 0. But, in that case, v ≥ 0 because we defined ε (0) = +1. Hence,
the given square root is indeed the principal square root in all cases.