Two of the roots of the equation z4−kz2+k3z−k4=0z^{4}-kz^{2}+k^{3}z-k^{4}=0, where kk is a positive real number, are z1=kz_{1}=k and z2=−kz_{2}=-k. The other two roots are denoted z3z_{3} and z4z_{4}, where Im(z3)>0\mathrm{Im}(z_{3})>0 and Im(z4)<0\mathrm{Im}(z_{4})<0.

  1. (i)

    Show that z3=k2+3k2 iz_{3}=\dfrac{k}{2}+\dfrac{\sqrt{3}k}{2}\,i.

  2. (ii)

    Find ∣z3∣|z_{3}| and arg⁡z3\arg z_{3}, giving your answer in terms of kk if necessary.

  3. (iii)

    Find the two smallest positive integer values of nn for which (z3‾−1+i)n\left(\dfrac{\overline{z_{3}}}{-1+i}\right)^{n} is purely imaginary.

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Worked solution

6(ii)

1. Calculate the modulus of $z_3$.

∣z3∣=(k2)2+(3k2)2|z_3| = \sqrt{\left(\frac{k}{2}\right)^2 + \left(\frac{\sqrt{3}k}{2}\right)^2}
∣z3∣=k24+3k24=k2|z_3| = \sqrt{\frac{k^2}{4} + \frac{3k^2}{4}} = \sqrt{k^2}
Since kk is a positive real number, ∣z3∣=k|z_3| = k.

2. Calculate the argument of $z_3$.

Since both the real and imaginary parts of z3z_3 are positive, it lies in the first quadrant in the Argand diagram.
arg⁡z3=tan⁡−1(3k2k2)\arg z_3 = \tan^{-1}\left(\frac{\frac{\sqrt{3}k}{2}}{\frac{k}{2}}\right)
arg⁡z3=tan⁡−1(3)=π3\arg z_3 = \tan^{-1}(\sqrt{3}) = \frac{\pi}{3}

Answer

∣z3∣=k|z_3| = k, arg⁡z3=π3\arg z_3 = \dfrac{\pi}{3}

6(iii)

1. Find the argument of $\overline{z_3}$ and $-1+i$.

From part (i), z3=k2+3k2i=k(cos⁡π3+isin⁡π3)z_3 = \frac{k}{2} + \frac{\sqrt{3}k}{2}i = k\left(\cos\frac{\pi}{3} + i\sin\frac{\pi}{3}\right).
The conjugate is z3‾=k(cos⁡(−π3)+isin⁡(−π3))\overline{z_3} = k\left(\cos\left(-\frac{\pi}{3}\right) + i\sin\left(-\frac{\pi}{3}\right)\right), so arg⁡(z3‾)=−π3\arg(\overline{z_3}) = -\frac{\pi}{3}.
For the denominator −1+i-1+i, its argument is π−tan⁡−1(1)=3π4\pi - \tan^{-1}(1) = \frac{3\pi}{4}.
Thus, arg⁡(z3‾−1+i)=arg⁡(z3‾)−arg⁡(−1+i)=−π3−3π4=−13π12\arg\left(\frac{\overline{z_3}}{-1+i}\right) = \arg(\overline{z_3}) - \arg(-1+i) = -\frac{\pi}{3} - \frac{3\pi}{4} = -\frac{13\pi}{12}.
This is equivalent to a principal argument of 11π12\frac{11\pi}{12}.

2. Formulate the condition for the expression to be purely imaginary.

Let w=z3‾−1+iw = \frac{\overline{z_3}}{-1+i}. For wnw^n to be purely imaginary, its real part must be zero, which means its argument must be an odd multiple of π2\frac{\pi}{2}.
arg⁡(wn)=narg⁡(w)=11nπ12\arg(w^n) = n\arg(w) = \frac{11n\pi}{12}.
We require 11nπ12=π2+mπ=(2m+1)π2\frac{11n\pi}{12} = \frac{\pi}{2} + m\pi = \frac{(2m+1)\pi}{2} for some integer mm.

3. Solve for the two smallest positive integer values of $n$.

Simplifying the equation gives:
11n=6(2m+1)11n = 6(2m+1)
This requires 11n11n to be an odd multiple of 66. Since gcd⁡(11,6)=1\gcd(11, 6) = 1, nn must be a multiple of 66.
Let n=6pn = 6p, where pp is an integer. Substituting this gives:
11(6p)=6(2m+1)  ⟹  11p=2m+111(6p) = 6(2m+1) \implies 11p = 2m+1
Since 2m+12m+1 represents an odd integer, 11p11p must be odd, which means pp must be an odd integer.
For nn to be the two smallest positive integers, we choose the two smallest positive odd integers for pp: p=1p = 1 and p=3p = 3.
For p=1p = 1: n=6(1)=6n = 6(1) = 6
For p=3p = 3: n=6(3)=18n = 6(3) = 18

Answer

n=6n = 6 and n=18n = 18

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