Churchill Complex Variables 8e: Section 10 - Exercise 3 Page 1 of 2

Exercise 3
In each case, find all the roots in rectangular coordinates, exhibit them as vertices of certain
regular polygons, and identify the principal root:

(a) (−1)1/3 ; (b) 81/6 .

√ √
√ 1 + 3i 1 − 3i
Ans. (b) ± 2, ± √ , ± √ .
2 2

Solution

Part (a)

For a nonzero complex number z = rei(Θ+2πk) , its third roots are

 
1/3
h
i(Θ+2πk)
i1/3
1/3 Θ + 2πk
z = re = r exp i , k = 0, 1, 2.
3

The magnitude and principal argument of −1 are respectively r = 1 and Θ = π.

 
1/3 1/3 π + 2πk
(−1) = 1 exp i , k = 0, 1, 2
3

The first, or principal, root (k = 0) is

√
1/3 1/3 iπ/3
 π π 1 3 1 √
(−1) =1 e = 1 cos + i sin = +i = (1 + 3i),
3 3 2 2 2
the second root (k = 1) is

(−1)1/3 = 11/3 eiπ = 1 (cos π + i sin π) = −1 + i(0) = −1,

and the third root (k = 2) is

√
√
 
1/3 1/3 i5π/3 5π 5π 1 3 1
(−1) =1 e = 1 cos + i sin = −i = (1 − 3i).
3 3 2 2 2

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Churchill Complex Variables 8e: Section 10 - Exercise 3 Page 2 of 2

Part (b)

For a nonzero complex number z = rei(Θ+2πk) , its sixth roots are

 
1/6
h
i(Θ+2πk)
i1/6
1/6 Θ + 2πk
z = re = r exp i , k = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
6
The magnitude and principal argument of 8 are respectively r = 8 and Θ = 0.
 
1/6 1/6 iπk
8 = 8 exp , k = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
3

The first, or principal, root (k = 0) is

√
81/6 = 81/6 e0 = 2,

the second root (k = 1) is

√ !
1/6 1/6 iπ/3
√  π π √ 1 3 1 √
8 =8 e = 2 cos + i sin = 2 +i = √ (1 + 3i),
3 3 2 2 2

the third root (k = 2) is

√ !
√ √ √
 
2π 2π 1 3 1
81/6 = 81/6 ei2π/3 = 2 cos + i sin = 2 − +i = √ (−1 + 3i),
3 3 2 2 2

the fourth root (k = 3) is

√ √ √
81/6 = 81/6 eiπ = 2 (cos π + i sin π) = 2(−1 + i0) = − 2,

the fifth root (k = 4) is

√ !
√ √ √
 
1/6 1/6 i4π/3 4π 4π 1 3 1
8 =8 e = 2 cos + i sin = 2 − −i = − √ (1 + 3i),
3 3 2 2 2

and the sixth root (k = 5) is

√ !
√ √ √
 
5π 5π 1 3 1
81/6 = 81/6 ei5π/3 = 2 cos + i sin = 2 −i = √ (1 − 3i).
3 3 2 2 2

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