www.mathspanda.
com
Roots of complex numbers
Starter
i 5π
1. (Review of last lesson) (a) Convert 2e 6 to the a + ib form.
(b) Convert −4 to the reiθ form.
2. (Review of previous material) Find the square root of 3 − 4i.
Hint: let (a + ib)2 = 3 − 4i
3. (a) By expressing the complex number 2 + 2i in rcisθ form, use De Moivre’s theorem
to nd the cube root of 2 + 2i.
When square rooting a complex number, there are two answers. Therefore, when
cube rooting a complex number, three answers would be expected.
(b) By nding two other rcisθ forms of 2 + 2i, nd the other two cube roots of 2 + 2i.
(c) Plot the cube roots of 2 + 2i on an Argand diagram. What do you notice?
(d) Calculate the difference in the arguments between the cube roots of 2 + 2i.
(e) Calculate the sum of the cube roots of 2 + 2i.
Notes
Square root of a complex number (from AS level)
Let (a + ib)2 = the complex number, expand and equate real and imaginary parts. Form a
disguised quadratic and solve.
n-th roots of a complex number
When nding the n− th roots of a complex number where n ≥ 3, use De Moivre’s theorem.
On an Argand diagram, the roots of a complex number:
lie on the circumference of a circle centre on the origin, whose radius is the n− th root
of the magnitude of the complex number.
2π
are equally spaced around the circle, apart.
n
Formula method
The formula method is rather ugly but adds/subtracts multiples of 2π to the argument of the
complex number before the root is taken.
1 1
[r (cos θ + i sin θ )] = [r (cos(θ ± 2k π) + i sin(θ ± 2k π)]
n n
[ )]
θ ± 2k π θ ± 2k π
= r n cos( ) (
1
+ i sin
n n
n−1 θ + 2k π
where k = 0, 1, 2, 3,…, so that −π < ≤π
2 n
p p
[r (cos θ + i sin θ )] = [r (cos(θ ± 2k π) + i sin(θ ± 2k π)]
q q
[ )]
p(θ ± 2k π) p(θ ± 2k π)
= r q cos( ) (
p
+ i sin
q q
p(θ + 2k π)
where k = 0, 1, 2, 3,…, q − 1 so that −π < ≤π
q
Page 1 of 3
fi
fi
fi
fi
www.mathspanda.com
Alternatively
Better than using the formula is the method that relies on the fact that the roots are spaced at
2π
equal intervals around a circle centred on the origin.
n
Success criteria — nding the n− th roots of a complex number
1. Express the complex number to be rooted in rcisθ.
2. Find the required root, using the principal argument as the angle.
2π
3. Add/subtract multiples of to the argument of the root found in step 2 until all the
n
roots are found.
N.B. Roots do not appear as conjugate pairs when nding roots of a + ib.
E.g. 1 Find the 5th roots of −1 + i, giving your answers in the form reiθ, where 0 ≤ θ < 2π
E.g. 2 Solve the equation z 3 − 4 3 − 4i = 0 giving your solutions in the form
r (cos θ + i sin θ ), where −π < θ ≤ π.
π
Working: z 3 − 4 3 − 4i = 0 ⇒ z 3 = 4 3 + 4i = 8cis
1
6
π 3 π
1st root: z = (8cis ) = 2cis
6 18
2π 2π
Find :
n 3
π 2π 13π
Other arguments are: + =
18 3 18
3π 2π 11π
− =−
20 5 18
( 18 ) ( 18 )
π π 13π 13π
The solutions are 2 cos + i sin , 2 cos + i sin
18 18
( ( 18 )).
11π 11π
and 2 cos( −
18 )
+ i sin −
Sum of the n− th roots of a complex number
E.g. 3 (a) For the cubic equation a z 3 + bz 2 + cz + d = 0, write down the value of the sum
of the roots.
(b) Write the polynomial equation in terms of z, which could be solved in order to nd
the cube roots of the complex number z1.
(c) Hence explain why the sum of the n− th roots of a complex numbers is always
zero.
3π π 1
E.g. 4 Find the 5th roots of −1 and hence prove that cos + cos =
5 5 2
Video: n-th roots of a complex number (2nd video)
Page 2 of 3
fi
fi
fi
www.mathspanda.com
Exam questions: Roots of a complex number
Solutions to Starter and E.g.s
Exercise
p37 2C Qu 1i, 2i, 3-9, 11
Summary
When nding the n− th roots of a complex number where n ≥ 3, use De Moivre’s theorem.
On an Argand diagram, the roots of a complex number:
lie on the circumference of a circle centre on the origin, whose radius is the n− th root
of the magnitude of the complex number.
2π
are equally spaced around the circle, apart.
n
Success criteria — nding the n− th roots of a complex number:
1. Express the complex number to be rooted in rcisθ.
2. Find the required root, using the principal argument as the angle.
2π
3. Add/subtract multiples of to the argument of the root found in step 2 until all the
n
roots are found.
N.B. The sum of the roots of a complex number is zero.
Page 3 of 3
fi
fi
