Complexing

Algebra Level 4

The complex number z z satisfies ( z ) > 0 \Im(z) > 0 and z + 1 z = 3 z+\dfrac 1z = \sqrt 3 . What positive integer n 12 n \leq 12 satisfies:

z n + 1 z n 1 = i cot ( 25 π 3 ) \large \frac {z^n + 1 }{z^n - 1 } = - i \cot \left(\frac{25π}{3}\right)

Notations:


The answer is 4.

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1 solution

z + 1 z = 3 Let z = e i x e i x + e i x = 3 1 2 ( e i x + e i x ) = 3 2 cos x = 3 2 x = π 6 \begin{aligned} z + \frac 1z & = \sqrt 3 & \small \color{#3D99F6} \text{Let }z = e^{ix} \\ e^{ix} + e^{-ix} & = \sqrt 3 \\ \frac 12 \left(e^{ix} + e^{-ix} \right) & = \frac {\sqrt 3}2 \\ \cos x & = \frac {\sqrt 3}2 \\ \implies x & = \frac \pi 6 \end{aligned}

Then, we have:

z n + 1 z n 1 = e n π 6 i + 1 e n π 6 i 1 Multiply up and down by e n π 12 i = e n π 12 i + e n π 12 i e n π 12 i e n π 12 i = i 1 2 ( e n π 12 i + e n π 12 i ) i 2 ( e n π 12 i e n π 12 i ) = i cos n π 12 sin n π 12 = i cot n π 12 \begin{aligned} \frac {z^n+1}{z^n-1} & = \frac {e^{\frac {n \pi}6i}+1}{e^{\frac {n \pi}6i}-1} & \small \color{#3D99F6} \text{Multiply up and down by }e^{-\frac {n \pi}{12}i} \\ & = \frac {e^{\frac {n \pi}{12}i}+e^{-\frac {n \pi}{12}i}}{e^{\frac {n \pi}{12}i}-e^{-\frac {n \pi}{12}i}} \\ & = {\color{#3D99F6}i} \frac {\frac 12 \left(e^{\frac {n \pi}{12}i}+e^{-\frac {n \pi}{12}i}\right)}{-\frac {\color{#3D99F6}i}2 \left(e^{-\frac {n \pi}{12}i}-e^{\frac {n \pi}{12}i}\right)} \\ & = - i \frac {\cos \frac {n \pi}{12}}{\sin \frac {n \pi}{12}} \\ & = - i \cot \frac {n \pi}{12} \end{aligned}

n π 12 = 25 π 3 = π 3 n = 4 \begin{aligned} \implies \frac {n \pi}{12} & = \frac {25 \pi}3 = \frac \pi 3 \\ \implies n & = \boxed{4} \end{aligned}

Wow, very good solution. I didn't think of that. You are undoubtedly very good. You'll probably want to make a few edits though. You unnecessarily switched the order of e n π 12 i e^{\frac{n\pi}{12}i} and e n π 12 i e^{-\frac{n\pi}{12}i} in the denominator. The negative sign comes from when i 2 \frac{i}{2} is changed to 1 2 i -\frac{1}{2i} . And I'm not sure if the question was edited or not, but the correct answer is now 4 4 .

James Wilson - 3 years, 3 months ago

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Thanks. There is no mistake in the solution. sin x = 1 2 i ( e x i e x i ) = i 2 ( e x i e x i ) \sin x = \frac 1{2i} \left(e^{xi} - e^{-xi}\right) = \frac i2 \left(e^{-xi}-e^{xi}\right) . Yes, the original problem was edited and I have amended my solution.

Chew-Seong Cheong - 3 years, 3 months ago

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Yes, that is true. Looking forward to encountering more of your brilliant solutions.

James Wilson - 3 years, 3 months ago

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@James Wilson You are welcome.

Chew-Seong Cheong - 3 years, 3 months ago

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