A-Level Further Maths Unit 21: Complex Numbers II Winstanley

College

Unit 21. Complex Numbers II

21.1De Moivre’s Theorem
B8: Understand De Moivre’s theorem and use it to find multiple angle formulae
and sums of series.

1.De Moivre’s theorem

(𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽 + 𝒊 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝛉)𝒏 = 𝐜𝐨𝐬 (𝒏𝜽) + 𝒊 𝐬𝐢𝐧 (𝒏𝜽)

This result is called De Moivre’s theorem.

Examples 1.1

1. Use De Moivre’s theorem to express the following complex numbers in the form
cos nθ + i sin nθ or cos nθ − i sin nθ.

π π
(a) (cos 𝜃 + 𝑖 sin 𝜃)7 (b) (cos + i sin 3 )−3
3

2. Use De Moivre’s theorem to express the following complex numbers in the form
(𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 + 𝑖 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃)𝑛

𝜃 𝜃
(a) cos 5𝜃 + 𝑖 sin 5𝜃 (b) cos − 𝑖 sin 2
2

3. Use De Moivre’s theorem to simplify the following expressions:

(a) (cos 2𝜃 + 𝑖 sin 2𝜃)(cos 5𝜃 + 𝑖 sin 5𝜃)

cos θ−i sin θ

(b) cos 4θ−i sin 4θ

Exercise 1.1

1. Use De Moivre’s theorem to express the following complex numbers

in the form cos n + i sin n or cos n − i sin n

(a)(cos θ + i sin θ )-3 (b)(cos θ + i sin θ)½

3 −2
(c) (cos 3 + i sin 3 ) (d) (cos 4 + i sin 4 )

2. Use De Moivre’s theorem to express the following complex numbers

in the form (cos  + i sin )
n

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A-Level Further Maths Unit 21: Complex Numbers II Winstanley
College

(a) cos (2θ) - i sin (2θ) (b) cos 3 + i sin 3 (c) cos 2 − i sin 2

3. Use De Moivre’s theorem to simplify the following expressions:

cos 7θ + i sin 7θ (cos 4θ + i sin 4θ)(cos 3θ + i sin 3θ)
(a) (b)
cos2θ - i sin2θ cos5θ - i sin5θ

(c) (cos 3 θ + i sin 3 θ )( cos 6 θ - i sin 6 θ )

(d) (cos 2 θ + i sin 2 θ )2(cos θ + i sin θ)3

(e) (cos   2
+ i sin 3 ) (cos 2
+ i sin ) (f)
2 4 (cos 
4
+ i sin 4 ) (cos
5 3
4
+ i sin 34 )
3

3 3 3
(cos 4
− i sin 4 )
2

4. All the complex numbers in Questions 1, 2 and 3 have a property in common.

What is it?

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A-Level Further Maths Unit 21: Complex Numbers II Winstanley
College

2.Multiple Angle Formulae

We can use De Moivre’s theorem to prove identities for cos 𝑛𝜃, sin 𝑛𝜃 and tan 𝑛𝜃

Method: Using De Moivre’s theorem cos 𝑛𝜃 + 𝑖sin 𝑛𝜃 = (cos𝜃 + 𝑖sin𝜃)𝑛

1. We expand the RHS using binomial expansion
2. Then equate real and imaginary parts
3. Simplify the result if required using sin2 𝜃 = 1 − cos 2 𝜃 etc

To obtain tan 𝑛𝜃 first obtain cos 𝑛𝜃 , sin 𝑛𝜃 and then divide these.

Examples 2.1
1. Express cos 6𝜃 in terms of powers of cos 𝜃.

2. Express sin 6θ in terms of powers of sin θ and cos 𝜃.

3. Express tan6𝜃 in terms of powers of tan 𝜃.

Exercise 2.1

1. Establish identities for:

(a) cos 4 , in terms of powers of cos

(b) sin 5 , in terms of powers of sin only
(c) tan 3 , in terms of powers of tan

3.Identities for 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝒏 𝜽 and 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒏 𝜽

The method for deriving these identities has several initial steps:

Let 𝑧 = cos 𝜃 + 𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃

1 1
1. Show that 𝑧
= cos 𝜃 − 𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 and that 𝑧𝑛
= cos 𝑛𝜃 − 𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑛 𝜃

1
2. Hence find expressions for 𝑧 + 𝑧 =
1
𝑧− =
𝑧

1
𝑧 𝑛 + 𝑧𝑛 =

1
𝑧 𝑛 − 𝑧𝑛 =

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A-Level Further Maths Unit 21: Complex Numbers II Winstanley
College

Example 3.1:
1. Derive identities for

(a) sin5 𝜃 (b) cos 5 𝜃 (c) sin6 𝜃

𝜋
2. Evaluate (a) ∫ sin5 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 (b) ∫𝜋2 cos 4 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
6

Exercise 3.1

1. Establish identities for

(a) sin 3  (b) cos 3  (c) sin 4 


3

 cos xdx  sin xdx

3 4
2. Evaluate (a) (b)
− 3

4.Sum of series involving sin 𝜽 and cos 𝜽

Example 4.1

Find the sum of the first n terms of the following series to show:

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A-Level Further Maths Unit 21: Complex Numbers II Winstanley
College

1-tan2(θ)

21.1 Answers to Examples and Exercises

Examples 1.1:
1(a) cos 7 + i sin 7 (b) cos(−  ) + i sin(−  ) = cos  − i sin (= -1 )
1
2 (a) (cos  + i sin ) (b) (cos  + i sin )
5 −
2

3 (a) cos 7 + i sin 7 or (cos  + i sin ) (b) cos 3 + i sin 3 or (cos  + i sin )
7 3

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A-Level Further Maths Unit 21: Complex Numbers II Winstanley
College

Exercise 1.1

1.(a) cos 3 − i sin 3 (b) cos 12  + i sin 12 

(c) cos  + i sin  (=-1) (d) cos 12  − i sin 12  (=-i )

1 1
(a) (cos  + i sin ) (b) (cos  + i sin ) 3 (c) (cos  + i sin )
−2 −
2. 2

3. (a) cos 9 + i sin 9 (b) cos 12 + i sin12

(c) cos 3 − i sin 3 (d) cos 7 + i sin 7
(e) cos 23  − i sin 23  (f) 1

4. They all have modulus 1

Exercise 16.2A

√3 1 1 √3 √2 √2
a) 1 b)− + 2𝑖 c) 2 − 𝑖 d) – 𝑖 e) − 𝑖
2 2 2 2
2

81√3 81 1 √2 √2
a) + 𝑖 b) 729 ( 2 − 𝑖)
2 2 2
3

√3 1 1
a) 4√2 + 4√2𝑖 b) −8𝑖 c)64i d) 32 (1 − √3𝑖)
8
4
1 1
a)-16 b)64i c) 𝑖 d)
4 16

5
1 1 1
a)-2-2i b)8+8i c)− 8 − 8 𝑖 d) − 8 𝑖

6
1 1 1
a)-9 b) − 3 𝑖 c) 27 𝑖 d) 9 𝑖

1 1 √3 1
a)−8 − 8√3𝑖 b) − 𝑖 c) + 𝑖 d) −
8 8 8 8

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A-Level Further Maths Unit 21: Complex Numbers II Winstanley
College

Examples 2.1

(a) cos 6 = 32 cos 6  − 48 cos 4  + 18 cos 2  − 1

(b) sin 6 = 6 cos5  sin  − 20 cos3  sin 3  + 6 cos sin 5 

6 tan  − 20 tan 3  + 6 tan 5 

(c) tan 6 =
1 − 15 tan 2  + 15 tan 4  − tan 6 

Exercise 2.1

(a) cos 4 = 8 cos  − 8 cos  + 1

4 2

(b) sin 5 = 16 sin  − 20 sin  + 5 sin 

5 3

3 tan  − tan 3 
tan 3 =
(c) 1 − 3 tan 2 

Examples 3.1

1
1 (i) sin5  = (sin 5 − 5 sin 3 + 10 sin )
16

1
(ii) cos 5  = (cos 5 + 5 cos 3 + 10 cos  )
16

1
(iii) sin 6  = (− cos 6 + 6 cos 4 − 15 cos 2 + 10)
32

1 5 5  9 3
2 (a) − cos 5x + cos 3x − cos x + c (b) −
80 48 8 8 64

Exercise 3.1

1
1. (a) sin3  = (− sin 3 + 3 sin )
4

1
cos 3  = (cos 3 + 3 cos  )
(b) 4
1
sin 4  = (cos 4 − 4 cos 2 + 3)
(c) 8

1 3  9 3
2. (a) sin 3x + sin x + c (b) −
12 4 4 32

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A-Level Further Maths Unit 21: Complex Numbers II Winstanley
College

Unit 21.1 Complex Numbers Homework 1

1. (a) Given that z = –2 + 23 i, show that z2 + 4z is real. [3]

(b) Find the modulus and argument of the complex number –2 + 23 i, giving the
argument in terms of . [4]
(Total 7 marks)

 2 
2. (a) A complex number has polar form 4,  , Find its real part. [2]
 3

1 – 3i
(b) (i) Show that the real part of the complex number is – 1 . [3]
–2+i

1 – 3i
(ii) Find the modulus and argument of the complex number , giving the
–2+i
argument in terms of  
(Total 8 marks)

3. The complex number z is 5 + 10i .

3 – 4i

(a) Express z in the form a +bi, where a and b are integers. [3]

(b) Hence:

(i) find the modulus of z; [1]

(ii) find the argument of z in radians.[2]

(Total 6 marks)

4. (a) Use mathematical induction to prove that (cos  + i sin )n = cos n + i sin n for
all positive integers n.(Hint: at some point we must use addition trig formulae)
(4)

(b) (i) Express (– 3 + i)n in the form 2n(cos n + i sin n), giving the value of 
in terms of .
(3)

(ii) Hence find the least positive integer value of n for which (– 3 + i)n is a
positive real number.
(2)
(Total 9 marks)

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A-Level Further Maths Unit 21: Complex Numbers II Winstanley
College

5. The complex numbers z1 and z2 are given by

1+ i 1 3
z1 = and z2 = + i
1– i 2 2

(a) Show that z1 = i. [2]

(b) Show that | z1 | = | z2 |. [2]

(c) Express both z1 and z2 in the form (r, θ), where r > 0 and –π < θ ≤ π. [3]

(d) Draw an Argand diagram to show the points representing z1, z2, and z1+ z2. [2]

(e) Use your Argand diagram to show that

5
tan π=2+ 3 [3]
12
(Total 12 marks)
6. (a) (i) Use de Moivre’s theorem to show that if z = cos  + i sin , then

1
zn + = 2 cos n 
zn

1
(ii) Write down the corresponding result for zn – . [1]
zn

(b) (i) Show that

3 3
 1  1  6 1   2 1 
z +  z –  = A z – 6  + B z – 2 
 z  z  z   z 

where A and B are numbers to be determined. [4]

(ii) By substituting z = cos  + i sin  in the above identity, deduce that

1
cos 3 sin 3 = (3sin2 – sin6). [4]
32

(c)*** By using the identity in part (b)(ii), show that the general term in the expansion
of
cos 3  sin 3  in ascending powers of  is
3 2𝑟 (−1)𝑟
(2 − 62𝑟 ) 𝜃 2𝑟+1
16 (2𝑟 + 1)!
for r = 0, 1, 2, ... [3] (Total 15 marks)

(Hint for c: The general term 𝑢𝑟 for the McLaurin expansion of sin(x)

𝑥3 𝑥5 (−1)𝑟
sin(𝑥) = ∑∞
𝑟=0 𝑢𝑟 = 𝑥 − 3! + 5! − ⋯ is (2𝑟+1)!
𝑥 2𝑟+1 )

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A-Level Further Maths Unit 21: Complex Numbers II Winstanley
College

21.2 Exponential Form

B9: Know and use the definition 𝐞𝐢𝛉 = 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝛉 + 𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝛉 and the form 𝐳 = 𝐫𝐞𝐢𝛉

The Maclaurin’s series for the functions 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 and 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 express these functions as infinite
series (provided 𝜃 is in radians):

𝜃3 𝜃5 𝜃7 𝜃2 𝜃4 𝜃6
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 = 𝜃 − + − +⋯ 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 1 − + − +⋯
3! 5! 7! 2! 4! 6!

The Maclaurin’s series for 𝑒 𝑥 is given by:

𝑥2 𝑥3 𝑥4
𝑒𝑥 = 1 + 𝑥 + + + + ⋯…
2! 3! 4!

In the examples below you will show that 𝒆𝒊𝜽 = 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽 + 𝒊𝐬𝐢𝐧𝜽.

The exponential form for a complex number is 𝒛 = 𝒓𝒆𝒊𝜽

Therefore an equivalent definition is 𝒛 = 𝒓(𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽 + 𝒊𝐬𝐢𝐧𝜽)

….with modulus r and argument 𝜃 radians.

Examples 1:

1. Using the substitution 𝑥 = 𝑖𝜃 in the series for 𝑒 𝑥 , show that

𝑒 𝑖𝜃 = cos 𝜃 + 𝑖sin𝜃.
3𝜋 3𝜋
2. Write in the form 𝒓𝒆𝒊𝜽 (a) 8 − 6𝑖 (b) 5(sin 8
− 𝑖cos 8
)
2𝜋 2𝜋
(c) −3 − 7𝑖 (d) 4(cos 3
− 𝑖sin 3
)
𝒊𝜽 ∗
3. Show that (𝒓𝒆 ) = 𝒓𝒆−𝒊𝜽

Example 2

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A-Level Further Maths Unit 21: Complex Numbers II Winstanley
College

In the following examples you may refer to earlier rules when multiplying and dividing the
modulus argument form of complex numbers:

𝑖𝜃1 𝑖𝜃2 𝑖(𝜃1 +𝜃2 ) (𝑟1 𝑒 𝑖𝜃1 ) 𝑟

(𝑟1 𝑒 )(𝑟2 𝑒 ) = 𝑟1 𝑟2 𝑒 and = 𝑟1 𝑒 𝑖(𝜃1 −𝜃2 )
(𝑟2 𝑒 𝑖𝜃2 ) 2
Use of technology:
Recall from AS that we can use the Class Wizz/Graphical calculator to convert between
mod/arg and Cartesian form using →a+bi, →r<θ [In Complex mode, OPTN and scroll
2𝜋
down (just make sure to use brackets when writing the argument, i.e, 2<( 3 ))

Example 3. Simplify the following (using 𝑥 + 𝑖𝑦 where appropriate). Then state the
modulus and argument of each number.

*
i i
 i5   − 34i  − 23i 
(b) 4e 2e (d)  3e  (e)  4e  3e 
i
(a) e 2
(c) 4
  
    

2 3 −1
 i5   i6   1 38i 
(f)  3e 
 (g)  2e 
 (h)  2 e 

     

Exercise 1

Simplify, stating the modulus and argument of each answer:

3 i
 3 i
 − i2  i

(a) − 6e 2
(b) (1
2
e −2i )
*
(c)  23 e 5  6e


 (d) − 2ie 3

  

2 4 −1
 − i   3 i   i 
(e)  2e 4 
 (f)  23 e 8 
 (g)  3e 3 

     

Exercise 2
*
i
−
2 i
 − i5 
1.Express in the form x + iy (a) 3e 6
(b) 4e 3
(c)  e 

 

, where r > 0 and -    

i
2. Express the following in the form re

(a) -3 (b) -2i (c) 3 – i (d) 2(cos 43 + i sin 43 )

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A-Level Further Maths Unit 21: Complex Numbers II Winstanley
College

(e) 5(cos 25 − i sin 25 ) (f) (cos 23 − i sin 23 )
2

* − 2 i
 i  4e 3

(g)  2e 4 
 (h) 2 i
  3e 5

Does this look familiar?

𝜋 𝜋
𝑤 = 6 (cos (− ) + 𝑖 cos (− )) show that
3 3
𝜋
+ 𝑖 cos (− ))
3

21.2 Answers to Examples and Exercises

Examples 1:
i
−
(a) 10e −0.6435 i (b) 5e 8
(careful! Note that sin and cos are reversed!) (c) 58e −1.976i
2 i
−
(d) 4e 3

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A-Level Further Maths Unit 21: Complex Numbers II Winstanley
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Solutions to Example 3 Solutions to Exercise 1

Value Modulus argument Value Modulus argument

(a) -1 1  (a) 6i 6 
2

(b) 4i 4 
2 (b) 1
2
e 2i 1
2
2

(c) 1 + i 
2 4 i 4 
10
(c) 4e 10
−
i 3 - 5
(d) 3e 5
−
i 2 − 
6
(d) 2e 6

7 i 12 7
12
(e) 12e 12
(e) –4i 4 − 2
2 i 9 2

(f) 9e 5 5 (f) − 16
81
i 16
81
− 2

(g) 8i 8  −
i 1
− 3
2
(g) e 1
3
3 3

−
3 i 2 − 3
8
(h) 2e 8

Exercise 2

1. (a) 3 3
2
+ 3i
2
(b) − 2 − 2 3i (c) 0.809 + 0.588i (3 s.f.)

i 2 i
− −
i
2. (a) 3e (b) 2e 2
(c) 10e −0.322 i
(d) 2e 3

2 i 2 i i 14 i
− −
(e) 5e 5
(f) e 3
(g) 2e 4
(h) 4
3
e 15

Exercise 16.1B

z k z 
, arg   =  +
𝜋
a) |zw|= 2 , arg(zw)= 𝜃 − 4 b) =
w 2  w 4

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A-Level Further Maths Unit 21: Complex Numbers II Winstanley
College

Unit 21.2 Complex Numbers Homework 2 Total :53

1. Use de Moivre’s Theorem to show that

    
7 5

 cos + i sin   cos – i sin  = − i .
 6 6  3 3
(Total 6 marks)

2. (a) Find the constants A and B in the identity

3
 2 1   2 1   6 1 
 z – 2   A z – 2  + B z – 6  . [3]
 z   z   z 

1
(b) (i) Use the result zn = = 2i sin n, where z = cos + i sin, to show that
zn

3 1
sin3 2 = sin 2 – sin 6. [4]
4 4

(ii) Hence, or otherwise, show that

1
 1
 sin 3 2 d =
4
. [3]
0 3
(Total 10 marks)

3. (a) Write down the expansion of (a + b)5. [1]

(b) Use de Moivre’s theorem to show that

cos 5  16 cos5 –20 cos3 + 5 cos 

(c) (i) By considering the equation cos 5θ = 0 , show that

π 3π 7π 9π 5
cos cos cos cos =
10 10 10 10 16 [3]

(ii) Hence find the exact value of

π 3π
cos cos . [3]
10 10

(Total 12 marks)

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A-Level Further Maths Unit 21: Complex Numbers II Winstanley
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4. (a) Use de Moivre’s theorem to show that if z = cos  + i sin , then

1
zn + = 2 cos n . [3]
zn

1 4
(b) (i) Write down the expansion of (z – ) in terms of z. [2]
z

(ii) Hence, or otherwise, show that

8 sin4 = cos 4 – 4 cos 2 + 3. [5]

(c) Solve the equation

8 sin4  = cos 4 + 1

in the interval –  <   , giving your answers in terms of . [3]

(Total 13 marks)

5. (a) (i) Use de Moivre’s theorem to show that

(cos  + i sin )4 + (cos  – i sin )4 = 2 cos 4. [2]

(ii) Deduce that

2 cos 4
(cot  + i)4 + (cot  – i)4 = ,   r. [1]
sin 4 

1
(b) Verify that cot  is a root of
8

(z + i)4 + (z – 1)4 = 0

and find the three other roots of this equation giving each answer in the form
π
+ cot  or – cot , where 0 <   . [4]
2

(c) Express the equation in part (b) in the form

z4 + bz2 + c = 0,

where b and c are real numbers to be determined, [2]

π
(d) Hence, or otherwise, find in surd form the value of cot2 . [3]
8
(Total 12 marks)

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A-Level Further Maths Unit 21: Complex Numbers II Winstanley
College

21.3 nth roots of 𝒓𝒆𝒊𝜽

B10: Find the n distinct roots of 𝐫𝐞𝐢𝛉 for 𝐫 ≠ 𝟎 and know that they form the
vertices of a regular n-gon in the argand diagram.

Example 1: Find all of the solutions to the equation 𝑧 4 = 16𝑖 in the form 𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝜃 .
Sketch the solutions in an argand diagram.

We can solve 𝑧 𝑛 = 𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝜃 in a two stage process:

𝑛 𝜃
▪ The first solution has modulus √𝑟 and argument
𝑛
.

𝑛
▪ The remaining ‘𝑛 − 1’ solutions also have modulus √𝑟
𝜃 2𝜋𝑚
and argument ±
𝑛 𝑛
(𝑚 ∈ 𝑍, 𝑛 = 𝑛𝑜. 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠)

Note: The n solutions will form the corners of a regular n-gon in the Argand plane.

Example 2
Find all of the solutions to the equation 𝑧 5 = −4 + 4𝑖 in the form 𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝜃 .
Use both the method used in example 1 and the shorter method described above.
Sketch the solutions in an argand diagram.

Example 3

Solve the equation (z+1)5=z5, giving your answers in the form a+ib

Exercise 1
i
1. Find the roots of the following equations in the form re , where r > 0 and −     

(b) z = −9
4
(a) z = 1
3

(c) z = 8i (d) z = −16 − 16i

3 3

(e) z = 16 − 16i 3 (f) z = 4(cos 3 + i sin 3 )

5 4  

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A-Level Further Maths Unit 21: Complex Numbers II Winstanley
College

(g) z =
6 8
125
(cos 3
4
− i sin 34 ) (h) z = −64(cos 4 + i sin 4 )
−3  

2. Illustrate the solutions of 1 (a), (b), (e) and (g) in separate Argand diagrams.

3. Express the solutions of 1 (a), (b) and (c) in the form x + iy

21.3 Answers to Examples and Exercises

Example 1
i 5i 3i 7 i
− −
z = 2e , 2e 8 8
,2e 8
,2e 8

Example 2
3i 11i i 19i
− −
z = 2e 20 , 2e 20
, 2e 4
, 2e 20

Example 3
1 1 𝑘𝜋
𝑧 = − 2 − 2 cot ( 5 )

Exercise 1

1.

2i 2i i 3i

−  
(a) z = 1, e 3
, e 3
(b) z = 3e 4
, z = 3e 4

i 5i i 5i 11i

− −
(c) z = 2e , 2e
6 6
,−2i (d) z = 2 2e 4
, 2 2e 12 , 2 2e 12

i 7i 13i i 11i

− − −
(e) z = 2e 15
, 2e 15
, 2e 15
, 2e 3 , 2e 15

i 7i 5 i 11i
− −
(f) z = 2e 12 , 2e 12 , 2e 12
, 2e 12

i 11i 19i 5i 13i 7 i

− − −
(g) z = 2
5
e 8
, 2
5
e 24
, 2
5
e 24
, 2
5
e 24
, 2
5
e 24
, 2
5
e 8

i 5i 11i
1 1 − 1
(h) z = e 4 , e 12 , e 12
4 4 4

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A-Level Further Maths Unit 21: Complex Numbers II Winstanley
College

2.

(a) (b)

(e) (g)

3.

(a) 1, − 12 + 2
3
i , − 12 − 2
3
i

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
(b) + i, − i, - + i, - − i,
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

(c) 3 + i , - 3 + i , - 2i

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A-Level Further Maths Unit 21: Complex Numbers II Winstanley
College

21.4 Roots of unity

B11: Use complex roots of unity to solve geometric problems
We can use the method introduced in Chapter 2 to solve the equation z n = 1

Example 1

Solve z 5 = 1

Properties of the nth roots of unity

For n  2 the nth roots of unity satisfy the following:

• There are n of them

• They are located at the vertices of a regular n-gon
• They all lie on the unit circle, i.e. they have modulus 1
• They always include 1 (since 1n =1)
• The complex roots occur in conjugate pairs.
• The sum of the nth roots of 1 is 0

In general, the nth roots of unity are:

2i 4i 6i ni 
   
1, e n
, e n
, e n
,... etc. If n is even, the pattern finishes with e n
= e  i = −1

If we use the symbol  to mean the nth root with the least positive argument,
2 i

i.e.  = e n
, it turns out that:

The nth roots of unity can be written as:  ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,…  n −1 , 1 (note that 1=  n )

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A-Level Further Maths Unit 21: Complex Numbers II Winstanley
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Hence,

 +  2 +  3 +  4 + ... +  n −1 + 1 = 0

Example 2

If  is a cube root of unity and   1 , simplify (1 +  2 )(1 +  )

Example 3

Let  be the fifth root of unity with the smallest positive argument and let

u =  +4, v = 2 + 3

Prove that u + v = −1 and u − v = 5

Example 4

By considering the fifth roots of unity, show that cos 72  + cos 144  = − 12

Example 5
The points A,B and C represent the solutions to the equation z3=8i. Calculate the exact
area and the perimeter of triangle ABC

Exercise 1

1. If  is a cube root of unity and   1 , simplify (1 + 6 2 )(1 + 6 )

2. If  is the fifth root of unity with least positive argument, show that
(1 +  4 )(1 +  2 ) = − 3

3. By considering the 9th roots of unity, prove that

cos 40 + cos 80 + cos160 = 0

4. Show the positions of the sixth roots of unity on an Argand diagram.

Find the product of these roots.

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A-Level Further Maths Unit 21: Complex Numbers II Winstanley
College

Exercise 2 (Revision of roots of polynomials AS Unit 7.1)

1. The equation 4 x 3 − 3x − 12 = 0 has roots  ,  and  . Find a cubic equation whose

roots are  2 ,  2 and  2

2. The equation z 3 − 5z 2 + 7z + 13 = 0 has a root 3 − 2i .

Solve the equation.

3. Let  be the cube root of unity with least positive argument.

(a) Express  and  2 in the form x + iy

(b) Illustrate 1,  and  2 on an Argand Diagram
(c) Evaluate (1 +  )(1 +  2 ) and (1 +  2 ) 3

4. If  is a complex fourth root of unity, simplify (1 +  )(1 +  3 )

5. By considering the roots of z 15 − 1 = 0 , establish an exact value for

cos 24  + cos 48  + cos 72  + cos 96  + cos 144  + cos 168

6. It is given that − 2 + 3i is a root of the equation

3z 4 + az 3 + bz 2 + 30z + 13 = 0 , where a and b are real numbers.

(a) Find the values of a and b

(b) Find the other three roots of the equation.

7. The equation 6x 3 + 7x 2 + kx − 6 = 0 has roots in geometric progression.


By denoting the roots by ,  and p :
p
(a) Find the value of 
(b) Show that 6 p 2 + 13p + 6 = 0
(c) Hence solve the equation and find k

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A-Level Further Maths Unit 21: Complex Numbers II Winstanley
College

21.4 Answers to Examples and Exercises

Example 1
2𝜋 2𝜋 4𝜋 4𝜋
z=1, 𝑒 5 𝑖 , 𝑒 − 5 𝑖 , 𝑒 5 𝑖 , 𝑒 − 5 𝑖
Example 2 1

Example 5
Area=3√3, Perimeter =6√3

Exercise 1
1. 31

4.

Product=-1

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A-Level Further Maths Unit 21: Complex Numbers II Winstanley
College

Exercise 2

1. 16𝑥 3 − 24𝑥 2 + 9x − 144 = 0

2. z=3-2i, 3+2i, -1
3. a) − 12 + 23 i , − 12 − 23 i
b) Triangle with vertices at (1,0), (− 12 , 2
3
) , (− 12 ,− 2
3
)

c) 1, -1

4. 1- 
2

5. 0

6. (a)a=14, b=48 (b) z=-2-3i, − 13 − 3

2
i , − 13 + 3
2
i

7. a)  = 1 b)Use the fact that sum of roots =-7/6 c) x=1,-3/2,-2/3 k=-7

Exercise 16.3B

1b)i) 0 ii) 1 iii) -1 iv) 0

2 b) i) -1 ii) 0 iii) -1

3 a) 3i, 3 3
2 − 32 i ,- 3 2 3 − 32 i

27 3
b) Area 4
u2, Perimeter= 9 3

4 a) k=75/4 b) Perimeter= 15 3

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A-Level Further Maths Unit 21: Complex Numbers II Winstanley
College

Unit 21.3/4 Complex Numbers Homework 3

1. (a) Express the complex number 2 + 2i in the form rei, where r> 0 and –  <  . [2]

(b) Show that one of the roots of the equation

z3 = 2 + 2i

i
is 2e 12 , and find the other two roots giving your answer in the form rei, where r is a
surd and –    . [5]

(c) Indicate on an Argand diagram points A, B and C corresponding to the three roots found
in part (b). [1]

(d) Find the area of the triangle ABC, giving your answer in surd form. [3]

(e) The point P lies on the circle through A, B and C. Denoting by w, ,  and  the complex
numbers represented by P, A, B and C, respectively, show that

(w – )2 +(w – )2 + (w – )2= 6 [6]

[Total 17 marks]

2. (a) Show that any non-real n-th root of unity satisfies the equation

1 + z + z2 + . . . + zn–1 = 0 [2]

(b) Let z1 denote the non-real n-th root of unity which has the smallest positive argument.

(i) Derive an expression for z1 in the form cos + isin. [3]

(3)

(ii) By substituting z = z1 in the equation in part (a), find the sum of each of the series.

2 4 2(n – 1)
cos + cos + ... + cos
n n n

2 4 2(n – 1)
and sin + sin + ... + sin .
n n n [5]
[Total 10 marks]

2 i
3. (a) (i) Show that w = e 5
is one of the fifth roots of unity [1]

(ii) Show that the other fifth roots of unity are 1, w2, w3 and w4. [3]
2 i
(b) Let p = w +w4 and q = w2 + w3, where w = e 5
.

(i) Show that p + q = –1 and pq = –1. [6]

(ii) Write down a quadratic equation, with integer coefficients, whose roots are p and
q. [1]
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A-Level Further Maths Unit 21: Complex Numbers II Winstanley
College

3 b) cont.

2 4
(iii) Express p and q as integer multiples of cos and cos , respectively. [4]
5 5

2 4
(iv) Hence obtain the values of cos and cos in surd form. [2]
5 5
(Total 17 marks)

i – i 
4. (a) (i) Express e 2 – e 2 in terms of sin . [1]
2
(ii) Hence, or otherwise, show that

i
1 1 i 
= − − cot , e i  1 ( )
e −1 2 2 2 [3]

(b) Derive expressions, in the form e i where −      , for the four non-real roots of the
equation z6 = 1. [4]

(c) The equation

6
 w + 1
  =1 ()
 w 

has one real root and four non-real roots.

(i) Explain why the equation has only five roots in all. [1]

(ii) Find the real root. [2]

(iii) Show that the non-real roots are

1 1 1 1
, , , ,
z1 − 1 z 2 − 1 z 3 − 1 z 4 − 1

where z1, z2, z3 and z4 are the non-real roots of the equation z6 = 1 [3]

(iv) Deduce that the points in an Argand diagram which represent the roots of equation
(*) lie on a straight line. [3]
(Total 17 marks)

25