[Cambridge/9709/2009] The complex number −2+i-2 + i is denoted by uu.

  1. (i)

    Given that uu is a root of the equation x3−11x−k=0x^3 - 11x - k = 0, where kk is real, find the value of kk.

  2. (ii)

    Write down the other complex root of this equation.

  3. (iii)

    Find the modulus and argument of uu.

Work through it with AI →

It won't just hand you the answer — it asks where you're stuck.How the checker works

Worked solution

Q5(i)

1. Substitute the root $u = -2 + i$ into the polynomial equation.

Since u=−2+iu = -2 + i is a root of x3−11x−k=0x^3 - 11x - k = 0, it must satisfy the equation:
(−2+i)3−11(−2+i)−k=0(-2 + i)^3 - 11(-2 + i) - k = 0

2. Expand the cubic term $(-2 + i)^3$ and simplify the equation.

Expanding using the binomial theorem (or by repeated multiplication):
[(−2)3+3(−2)2(i)+3(−2)(i)2+i3]−11(−2+i)−k=0[(-2)^3 + 3(-2)^2(i) + 3(-2)(i)^2 + i^3] - 11(-2 + i) - k = 0
[−8+12i−6(−1)−i]+22−11i−k=0[-8 + 12i - 6(-1) - i] + 22 - 11i - k = 0
(−8+12i+6−i)+22−11i−k=0(-8 + 12i + 6 - i) + 22 - 11i - k = 0
(−2+11i)+22−11i−k=0(-2 + 11i) + 22 - 11i - k = 0

3. Group the real and imaginary parts to solve for $k$.

Combining the real and imaginary terms:
(−2+22−k)+(11i−11i)=0(-2 + 22 - k) + (11i - 11i) = 0
(20−k)+0i=0(20 - k) + 0i = 0

Equating the real parts to zero:
20−k=020 - k = 0
k=20k = 20

Answer

k=20k = 20

Q5(ii)

1. Apply the conjugate root theorem to find the other complex root

Since the equation x3−11x−k=0x^3 - 11x - k = 0 has real coefficients (kk is real), its complex roots must occur in conjugate pairs.

The given root is u=−2+iu = -2 + i.

The other complex root is its conjugate: u∗=−2−iu^* = -2 - i.

Answer

−2−i-2 - i

Q5(iii)

1. Calculate the modulus of the complex number $u$.

∣u∣=(−2)2+12|u| = \sqrt{(-2)^2 + 1^2}
∣u∣=4+1=5|u| = \sqrt{4 + 1} = \sqrt{5}

2. Calculate the argument of the complex number $u$.

Since the real part is negative and the imaginary part is positive, uu lies in the second quadrant.
The basic angle α=tan⁡−1(12)≈0.4636\alpha = \tan^{-1}\left(\frac{1}{2}\right) \approx 0.4636 rad.
arg⁡(u)=π−0.4636≈2.68\arg(u) = \pi - 0.4636 \approx 2.68 rad (or 153.4∘153.4^\circ)

Answer

∣u∣=5|u| = \sqrt{5}, arg⁡(u)=2.68\arg(u) = 2.68 rad (or 153.4∘153.4^\circ)

AI analysis — may contain mistakes.

Worked this one out on paper? Snap your steps and Gigle's AI math checker will circle the step where it went wrong.

More questions on this topic

  1. 1Given that z=2−iz = 2 - \text{i} is a root of the equation 4z4−12z3+17z2+pz+q=04z^4 - 12z^3 + 17z^2 + pz + q = 0, where pp and qq are real,…
  2. 2已知复数z=x+yi(x,y∈R)z=x+yi(x,y\in R),则()(\quad) A. z2⩾0z^{2}\geqslant 0 B. zz的虚部是yiyi C. 若z=1+2iz=1+2i,则x=1x=1,y=2y=2 D. ∣z∣=x2+y2|z|=\sqrt{x^{2}+y^{2}}…
  3. 3[Cambridge/H2 Maths 2007] The complex number ww is such that ww∗+2w=3+4iww^* + 2w = 3 + 4i, where w∗w^* is the complex conju…
  4. 4One of the roots of the equation 2z4−14z3+33z2−26z+p=0, where p is a constant2z^4 - 14z^3 + 33z^2 - 26z + p = 0\text{, where } p \text{ is a constant} is 3+i3 + \mathrm{i}…
  5. 5The complex number zz satisfies the equation f(z)=0\mathrm{f}(z) = 0, where f(z)=(1−ai)z2−2iz−10−20i\mathrm{f}(z) = (1 - a\mathrm{i})z^2 - 2\mathrm{i}z - 10 - 20\mathrm{i}…