Passing the Toll

Algebra Level 4

z 2 + z 3 2 + z 6 i 2 \large |z|^2 + |z-3|^2 + |z-6i|^2

If z z is a complex number, find one fifth the minimum value of the expression above.


The answer is 6.

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3 solutions

Take z = x + i y z=x+iy , then the expression becomes

f = x 2 + y 2 + ( x 3 ) 2 + y 2 + x 2 + ( y 6 ) 2 f=x^2+y^2+(x-3)^2+y^2+x^2+(y-6)^2 = 2 x 2 + 2 y 2 + ( x 3 ) 2 + ( y 6 ) 2 =2x^2+2y^2+(x-3)^2+(y-6)^2

To find the minimum, we equate the partial derivatives of f f w.r,t x x and y y to zero.

f x = 4 x + 2 ( x 3 ) = 0 x = 1 \frac{\partial f}{\partial x}=4x+2(x-3)=0 \implies x=1

and

f y = 4 y + 2 ( y 6 ) = 0 y = 2 \frac{\partial f}{\partial y}=4y+2(y-6)=0 \implies y=2

Thus, the minimum occurs at ( x , y ) = ( 1 , 2 ) (x,y)=(1,2)

Substituting for ( x , y ) (x,y) in f f , the minimum is 30. Hence, the required answer is 30 5 = 6 \frac{30}{5}=\boxed{6}

Moderator note:

Since this is strictly an algebraic problem, can you solve it without resorting to calculus?

I did by both methods

Aakash Khandelwal - 5 years, 10 months ago

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Can you post the algebraic approach please.

Syed Baqir - 5 years, 8 months ago
Chew-Seong Cheong
Apr 13, 2017

Let z = x + y i z=x+yi . Then

χ = z 2 + z 3 2 + z 6 i 2 = x + y i 2 + x 3 + y i 2 + x + ( y 6 ) i 2 = x 2 + y 2 + ( x 3 ) 2 + y 2 + x 2 + ( y 6 ) 2 = 3 x 2 + 3 y 2 6 x 12 y + 45 = 3 ( ( x 1 ) 2 + ( y 2 ) 2 + 10 ) \begin{aligned} \chi & = |z|^2 + |z-3|^2 + |z-6i|^2 \\ & = |x+yi|^2 + |x-3+yi|^2 + |x+(y-6)i|^2 \\ & = x^2+y^2 + (x-3)^2+y^2 + x^2+(y-6)^2 \\ & = 3x^2+3y^2 -6x - 12y + 45 \\ & = 3\left((x-1)^2+(y-2)^2+10\right) \end{aligned}

Note that χ > 0 \chi > 0 and it is minimum when x = 1 x=1 and y = 2 y=2 . χ m a x = 30 \implies \chi_{max} = 30 χ 5 = 6 \implies \dfrac \chi 5 = \boxed{6}

Spandan Senapati
Apr 14, 2017

A simple solution based on Centre of Mass.Convert the given complex nos into a Cartesian system.Now at the three vertices place 3 masses(equal).Clearly the given eq suggests us to find a sort of Moment of Inertia of the system about a given axis.And clearly it's minimum when we choose the axis to be passing through the centre of mass of the system.And clearly for three particles places at ( x 1 , y 1 ) , ( x 2 , y 2 ) , ( x 3 , y 3 ) (x1,y1),(x2,y2),(x3,y3) the centre of mass is ( x 1 + x 2 + x 3 / 3 , y 1 + y 2 + y 3 / 3 ) (x1+x2+x3/3,y1+y2+y3/3) ....And this is nothing but the Centroid of the Triangle.Hence here the Centroid is ( 1 , 2 ) (1,2) .Calculate the distances of the points ( 0 , 0 ) , ( 3 , 0 ) , ( 0 , 6 ) (0,0),(3,0),(0,6) .And 0.2 30 = 6 0.2*30=6 ....... A n s Ans ...

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