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Algebra Level 4

x 5 = 1024 \boldsymbol {x^{5}=1024} What is the sum of all non real c o m p l e x {\color{darkred} {complex} } roots of x \boldsymbol{x} ?


The answer is -4.

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3 solutions

Md Omur Faruque
Aug 6, 2015

We can easily get the answer from the fact that sum of the n t h n^{th} root of unity is always equals to 0 , when n > 1 n>1 .

As the real root is 4 , sum of the complex roots will be, 0 4 = 4 \boldsymbol{0-4=}\color{#69047E}{\boxed{-4}}

Shashwat Avasthi
Aug 19, 2015

x^5=1024 x^5-1024=0 (x-4)(x^4+4x^3+16x^2+64x+256)=0 as is observed the only real root of the equation is 4 hence all the complex roots are solutions of x^4+4x^3+16x^2+64x+256=0 further we know that the sum of roots of an equation of any degree is -b/a hence sum of complex roots is-4

Ikkyu San
Aug 2, 2015

Let z = 1024 5 , z=\sqrt[5]{1024}, implying z z is a 5 t h 5^{th} root of unity

By the De Moivres Theorem, we have z n = ( r ( e i θ ) ) n = r n ( e 2 k π n i ) z^n=(r(e^{i\theta}))^n=r^n(e^{\frac{2k\pi}ni}) for k = 0 , 1 , 2 , , n 1 k=0,1,2,\ldots,n-1

The 5 t h 5^{th} roots of unity are 4 e 2 k π 5 i 4e^{\frac{2k\pi}5i} for k = 0 , 1 , 2 , 3 , 4. k=0,1,2,3,4.

This gives the roots of unity 4 , 4 e 2 π 5 i , 4 e 4 π 5 i , 4 e 6 π 5 i , 4 e 8 π 5 i 4,4e^{\frac{2\pi}5i},4e^{\frac{4\pi}5i},4e^{\frac{6\pi}5i},4e^{\frac{8\pi}5i}

Thus, the sum of all complex roots is

4 e 2 π 5 i + 4 e 4 π 5 i + 4 e 6 π 5 i + 4 e 8 π 5 i = 4 e 2 π 5 i [ ( e 2 π 5 i ) 4 1 ] e 2 π 5 i 1 = 4 e 2 π 5 i ( e 8 π 5 i ) 4 e 2 π 5 i e 2 π 5 i 1 = 4 e 2 π i 4 e 2 π 5 i e 2 π 5 i 1 = 4 ( 1 e 2 π 5 i ) e 2 π 5 i 1 = 4 ( e 2 π 5 i 1 ) e 2 π 5 i 1 = 4 \begin{aligned}4e^{\frac{2\pi}5i}+4e^{\frac{4\pi}5i}+4e^{\frac{6\pi}5i}+4e^{\frac{8\pi}5i}=&\ \dfrac{4e^{\frac{2\pi}5i}\left[\left(e^{\frac{2\pi}5i}\right)^4-1\right]}{e^{\frac{2\pi}5i}-1}\\=&\ \dfrac{4e^{\frac{2\pi}5i}(e^{\frac{8\pi}5i})-4e^{\frac{2\pi}5i}}{e^{\frac{2\pi}5i}-1}\\=&\ \dfrac{4e^{2\pi i}-4e^{\frac{2\pi}5i}}{e^{\frac{2\pi}5i}-1}\\=&\ \dfrac{4(1-e^{\frac{2\pi}5i})}{e^{\frac{2\pi}5i}-1}\\=&\ \dfrac{-4(e^{\frac{2\pi}5i}-1)}{e^{\frac{2\pi}5i}-1}\\=&\ \boxed{-4}\end{aligned}

Moderator note:

As pointed out, an easier approach would be to use Vieta's for the sum of roots, and then subtract off the real root contribution.

I've reposted my comment as a solution.

MD Omur Faruque - 5 years, 10 months ago

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