Roots of complex numbers (1 Viewer)

Dumsum

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Q: By expressing -2 - 2i in mod/arg form, and using De Moivre's Theorem, find the cube roots of -2 - 2i.

So far I have:

-2 - 2i = sqrt(8) cis (-3pi/4)

cubert(-2 - 2i) = [sqrt(8) cis (-3pi/4)]^(1/3)
= sqrt(2) cis (-pi/4)

Now I assume there's more than one answer. Is this where all the roots lie equally spaced around the argand diagram or is that just for the roots of unity? Or have I missed something else out already?
 

KFunk

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Let the cube roots of -2 - 2i = z such that z<sup>3</sup> = &radic;8cis(-3&pi;/4) and z = rcis&theta;

then

z<sup>3</sup> = r<sup>3</sup>cis(3&theta; ) = &radic;8cis(-3&pi;/4)

hence r = cuberoot(&radic;8) = &radic;2

3&theta;= (-3&pi;/4) +2k&pi; where k = 0, &plusmn;1, &plusmn;2 etc...

therefore &theta; = -3&pi;/12 + 2k&pi;/3

Using the above will generate your various values of z. I'll leave it to you to work out which ones are unique :).
 

Slidey

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Dumsum said:
Q: By expressing -2 - 2i in mod/arg form, and using De Moivre's Theorem, find the cube roots of -2 - 2i.

So far I have:

-2 - 2i = sqrt(8) cis (-3pi/4)

cubert(-2 - 2i) = [sqrt(8) cis (-3pi/4)]^(1/3)
= sqrt(2) cis (-pi/4)

Now I assume there's more than one answer. Is this where all the roots lie equally spaced around the argand diagram or is that just for the roots of unity? Or have I missed something else out already?
KFunk is correct. I'm doing this for practice.

Roots of numbers is an entire sub-topic.
-2-2i=8<sup>1/2</sup>.cis(-3pi/4)
z^3=-2-2i=8<sup>1/2</sup>.cis(-3pi/4)
.'. z=8<sup>1/6</sup>.cis([-3pi/4 + 2k.pi]/3)
z=sqrt2.cis(2kpi/3 - pi/4)
Let k=0, z<sub>1</sub>=sqrt2.cis(-45)=sqrt2(1/sqrt2 - i/sqrt2)=1-i
Let k=1, z<sub>2</sub>=sqrt2.cis(75)
Let k=2, z<sub>3</sub>=sqrt2.cis(195)

To figure those out, note that:
75=30+45
cos75=cos30.cos45-sin30.sin45
=sqrt3/2 * 1/sqrt2 - 1/2.1/sqrt2=(sqrt3-1)/2sqrt2
sin75=sin30cos45+sin45cos30
=(1+sqrt3)/2sqrt2
195=225-30
cos195=cos225cos30+sin225sin30
=-(sqrt3+1)/2sqrt2
sin195=sin225cos30-sin30cos225
=-(sqrt3-1)/2sqrt2

.'.
z<sub>1</sub>=sqrt2.cis(-45)=1-i
z<sub>2</sub>=sqrt2.cis(75)=(sqrt3-1)/2 + (sqrt3+1)i/2
z<sub>3</sub>=sqrt2.cis(195)=-(sqrt3-1)/2 - (sqrt3+1)i/2
 
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KFunk

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To be fair our names and avatars are quite alike.
 

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