Oh so close

Algebra Level 5

Let x , y x, y and z z be complex numbers such that

{ x = y = z , x y z = 64 , x y + y z + z x = 24. \begin{cases} |x|=|y|=|z|, \\ xyz=64, \\ xy+yz+zx=24.\\ \end{cases}

Find the value of x + y + z |x+y+z| .


The answer is 6.

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14 solutions

Edmund Heng
Dec 14, 2013

A product of 2 complex number will be a real number if and only if they are conjugates.

From x y + y z + z x = 24 xy+yz+zx=24 , the sum of all the products of two complex numbers is a real number. Let y y be a conjugate of x x , y = x y=x^* and x = a + i b x=a+ib where a a and b b are real numbers. x y + y z + z x = 24 xy+yz+zx=24 x x + z ( x + x ) = 24 xx^* +z(x+x^*)=24 ( a 2 + b 2 ) + z ( a + i b + a i b ) (a^2+b^2)+z(a+ib+a-ib) a 2 + b 2 + z ( 2 a ) = 24... ( 3 ) a^2+b^2+ z(2a)=24...(3) Since z ( 2 a ) z(2a) must be a real number, z z must be a real number too. From x = y = z |x|=|y|=|z| , x = x = z |x|=|x^*|=|z| a 2 + b 2 = z \sqrt{a^2+b^2}=z z 2 = a 2 + b 2 . . . ( 1 ) z^2=a^2+b^2 ...(1) From x y z = 64 xyz=64 , x x z = 64 xx^*z=64 z ( a 2 + b 2 ) = 64... ( 2 ) z(a^2+b^2)=64 ...(2) Substituting (1) into (2), z 3 = 64 z^3=64 z = 4 z=4 From (1), a 2 + b 2 = 4 2 a^2+b^2=4^2 Substitute z z and a 2 + b 2 a^2+b^2 into (3), 16 + 4 ( 2 a ) = 24 16+4(2a)=24 2 a = 2 2a=2 Thus, x + y + z = a + i b + a i b + z = 2 a + z = 6 |x+y+z|=a+ib+a-ib+z=2a+z=6

Here is how I solved it: First, notice that all the norms of x , y , z x, y, z are 4, so we can scale everything down by 4, and have the equation x = y = z = 1 , x y z = 1 , x y + y z + x z = 3 / 2 |x|=|y|=|z|=1, xyz=1, xy+yz+xz=3/2 . The last equation becomes 1 / x + 1 / y + 1 / z = 3 / 2 1/x + 1/y + 1/z = 3/2 . Since x , y , z x, y, z are on the unit circle, 1 / x = x ˉ , 1 / y = y ˉ , 1 / z = z ˉ 1/x=\bar{x}, 1/y=\bar{y}, 1/z=\bar{z} , we have x ˉ + y ˉ + z ˉ = 3 / 2 \bar{x} + \bar{y} + \bar{z}=3/2 , take conjugate on both sides, we get x + y + z = 3 / 2 x+y+z=3/2 , scale everything back by 4, we get the final answer is 6 \boxed{6} .

Tong Zou - 7 years, 4 months ago

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Thanks. Nice different method.

Niranjan Khanderia - 7 years, 2 months ago

Cool !This is awesome Tong Zou Sir , Thanks !

Deepanshu Gupta - 6 years, 4 months ago

We use x y z = x y z = x 3 = 64 x = 4 = y = z |xyz| = |x| |y| |z| = |x|^3 = 64 \Rightarrow |x| = 4 = |y|=|z|

So, we now have: x 2 = x x = 16 1 x = x 16 |x|^2 = x \overline{x} = 16 \Rightarrow \frac{1}{x} = \frac{\overline{x}}{16} . Same for complex numbers y y & z z .

Therefore, x y + y z + z x = x y z ( 1 x + 1 y + 1 z ) 64 ( x + y + z 16 ) = 24 xy + yz + zx = xyz (\frac{1}{x} + \frac{1}{y} + \frac{1}{z}) \Rightarrow 64 (\frac{\overline{x}+\overline{y}+\overline{z}}{16}) = 24

x + y + z = 6 = x + y + z \Rightarrow \overline{x}+\overline{y}+\overline{z} = 6 = \overline{x+y+z}

x + y + z = x + y + z = 6 \Rightarrow |x+y+z|=|\overline{x+y+z}| = \boxed{6} .

Hi paramjit, nicely done, i did in similar way.

Also, please tell how to write a bar over x + y + z x+y+z when i command \bar{x+y+z}, i end up with x + y + z ˉ \bar{x+y+z}

jatin yadav - 7 years, 6 months ago

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Hi Jatin!

You need to use \overline{} for the bar to appear on the complete text.

And nice solution Paramjit, did exactly the same way. ;)

Pranav Arora - 7 years, 6 months ago

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x + y + z \overline{x+y+z} , thanks :D

jatin yadav - 7 years, 6 months ago

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@Jatin Yadav Your welcome. :)

Pranav Arora - 7 years, 6 months ago
Jatin Yadav
Dec 9, 2013

For a complex number w w ,

1 w = w ˉ w w ˉ = w ˉ w 2 \frac{1}{w} = \frac{\bar{w}}{w \bar{w}} = \frac{\bar{w}}{|w|^2}

Let x = y = z = a |x| = |y| = |z| = a

x y z = 64 = 64 a = 4 |xyz| = |64| = 64 \Rightarrow a = 4

x y + y z + z x = x y z ( 1 x + 1 y + 1 z ) = x y z ( x ˉ + y ˉ + z ˉ 16 ) = 24 xy + yz + zx = xyz(\frac{1}{x} + \frac{1}{y} + \frac{1}{z}) = xyz(\frac{\bar{x} + \bar{y} + \bar{z}}{16}) = 24

x ˉ + y ˉ + z ˉ = 6 x + y + z = x ˉ + y ˉ + z ˉ = 6 \Rightarrow \bar{x} + \bar{y} + \bar{z} = 6 \Rightarrow |x+y+z| = |\bar{x} + \bar{y}+\bar{z}| = \fbox{6}

Can you guess why was it named "Oh So Close", i can't.

jatin yadav - 7 years, 6 months ago

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From the first 2 conditions, people might guess that x = y = z = 4 x = y = z = 4 , but substituting it into the third equation doesn't work. "Oh, so close to the answer ...."

Calvin Lin Staff - 7 years, 6 months ago
Cody Johnson
Dec 8, 2013

We know that all cubics have one real root and two complex roots which are complex conjugates of each other. That being said, letting x = a + b i x=a+bi and y = a b i y=a-bi , x y = a 2 + b 2 = x 2 = z 2 xy=a^2+b^2=|x|^2=z^2 . Hence, x y z = z 3 = 64 z = 4 xyz=z^3=64\Rightarrow z=4 . By the third condition, we have x y + y z + z x = z 2 + z ( x + y ) = z ( x + y + z ) = 4 ( x + y + z ) = 24 xy+yz+zx=z^2+z(x+y)=z(x+y+z)=4(x+y+z)=24 , hence x + y + z = x + y + z = 24 4 = 6 |x+y+z|=x+y+z=\frac{24}{4}=\boxed{6} .

Moderator note:

As pointed out by Marek and Paramjit, the initial application of the complex conjugate root theorem is invalid as the conditions are not satisfied.

Why is z z a real root? x x , y y & z z may not be roots to any real polynomial (ie one having real coefficients).

A Brilliant Member - 7 years, 6 months ago

As Paramjit says, not every cubic has one real root. Only cubics with real coefficients. Here we have two coefficients (24 and 64) real but it doesn't follow from anything that the remaining coefficient should be real as well.

Marek Bernat - 7 years, 6 months ago

JUST FOR FUN:

The polynomial whose roots are x,y,z is k^3-6k^2+24k-64.

It's roots are 4 and 1+-isqrt(15)

bobby jim - 7 years, 6 months ago

New solution: notice that ( x , y , z ) = ( 4 , 1 + i 15 , 1 i 15 ) (x,y,z)=(4,1+i\sqrt{15},1-i\sqrt{15}) satisfies all of these conditions. Hence, x + y + z = 4 + 1 + 1 = 6 x+y+z=4+1+1=\boxed{6} .

Cody Johnson - 7 years, 6 months ago
Sujoy Roy
Dec 8, 2013

x = y = z x 2 = y 2 = z 2 x x = y y = z z = k ( s a y ) |x|=|y|=|z| \Rightarrow |x|^2=|y|^2=|z|^2 \Rightarrow x\overline{x}=y\overline{y}=z\overline{z}=k(say)

x y z = 64 x y z = 64 xyz=64 \Rightarrow \overline{x}\overline{y}\overline{z}=64

Now, k 3 = ( x x ) ( y y ) ( z z ) = 64 × 64 k = 16 k^3=(x\overline{x})(y\overline{y})(z\overline{z})=64\times 64 \Rightarrow k=16

Again, x y + y z + z x x y z = 24 64 1 x + 1 y + 1 z = 3 8 x + y + z k = 3 8 x + y + z = 3 k 8 = 3 × 16 8 = 6 x + y + z = 6 \frac{xy+yz+zx}{xyz}=\frac{24}{64} \\ \Rightarrow \frac{1}{x}+\frac{1}{y}+\frac{1}{z}=\frac{3}{8}\\ \Rightarrow \frac{\overline{x}+\overline{y}+\overline{z}}{k}=\frac{3}{8} \\ \Rightarrow \overline{x+y+z}=\frac{3k}{8}=\frac{3\times 16}{8}=6 \\ \Rightarrow |x+y+z|=6

I did exactly the way u did :)

Adeeb Zaman - 7 years, 6 months ago
Sajan Kapil
Feb 10, 2014

let x = r 1 exp i θ 1 x=r_{1}\exp{i\theta_{1}} , y = r 2 exp i θ 2 y=r_{2}\exp{i\theta_{2}} , z = r 3 exp i θ 3 z=r_{3}\exp{i\theta_{3}} .... hence from first condition r 1 = r 2 = r 3 r_{1}=r_{2}=r_{3} , now by 2nd r 3 ( exp ( θ 1 + θ 2 + θ 3 ) ) = 64......1 r^{3}(\exp{(\theta_{1}+\theta_{2}+\theta_{3})})=64......1 , from here by comparing real and imaginary part one can get r = 4 r=4 by 3rd condition, r 2 ( exp i ( θ 1 + θ 2 ) + exp i ( θ 2 + θ 3 ) + exp i ( θ 3 + θ 1 ) ) = 24........2 r^{2}(\exp{i(\theta_{1}+\theta_{2})}+\exp{i(\theta_{2}+\theta_{3})}+\exp{i(\theta_{3}+\theta_{1})} )=24........2 now equation(2/1): exp ( i θ 3 ) + exp ( i θ 1 ) + exp ( i θ 1 ) = 24 r 64 = 3 2 \exp{-(i\theta_{3})}+\exp{-(i\theta_{1})}+\exp{-(i\theta_{1})}=\frac{24r}{64}=\frac{3}{2} comparing real and imaginary part of above equation: cos ( θ 1 ) + cos ( θ 2 ) + cos ( θ 3 ) = 3 2 \cos(\theta_{1})+\cos(\theta_{2})+\cos(\theta_{3})=\frac{3}{2} and sin ( θ 1 ) + sin ( θ 2 ) + sin ( θ 3 ) = 0 \sin(\theta_{1})+\sin(\theta_{2})+\sin(\theta_{3})=0 hence: x + y + z = r ( ( cos ( θ 1 ) + cos ( θ 2 ) + cos ( θ 3 ) ) + i ( sin ( θ 1 ) + sin ( θ 2 ) + sin ( θ 3 ) ) ) x+y+z =r\Big((\cos(\theta_{1})+\cos(\theta_{2})+\cos(\theta_{3})) +i (\sin(\theta_{1})+\sin(\theta_{2})+\sin(\theta_{3}))\Big) so the ans is = 4 × 3 2 = 6 = \frac{4\times3}{2}=\boxed{6}

Thanks . This too a different nice method.

Niranjan Khanderia - 7 years, 2 months ago
Muhammad Shariq
Jan 27, 2014

After some contemplation, we notice that since x y z = 64 xyz=64 , either all of x , y , z x,y,z are purely real (i.e. I m ( x ) = I m ( y ) = I m ( z ) = 0 Im(x)=Im(y)=Im(z)=0 ) or one of them is purely real and two are complex-conjugates (i.e. WLOG I m ( x ) = I m ( y ) 0 Im(x)=-Im(y) \ne 0 and I m ( z ) = 0 Im(z) = 0 ).

Note: For a complex number w w , here we use purely real to denote I m ( w ) = 0 Im(w)=0 and purely complex to denote I m ( w ) 0 Im(w) \ne 0 .

*Case 1: Each of x , y , z x,y,z is *purely real **

We have that x = y = z |x|=|y|=|z| . Since in this case the imaginary part is 0, we are dealing with plain old real numbers. This must mean that x = y = z x=y=z . We are also given that x y z = 64 x = y = z = 4 xyz=64 \implies x=y=z=4 . Plugging these values in to the third given equation we find: x y + y z + z x = 3 ( 4 2 ) = 48 24 xy+yz+zx=3(4^2)=48 \ne 24 . This is a contradiction and so we move on to our last case.

*Case 2: Two of the numbers are complex-conjugates while the other is *purely real **

To give you a better understanding as to why this must be the only other case ( Proof ): Since we have x y z = 64 = 64 + ( 0 ) i xyz=64=64+(0)i , and not all of x , y , z x,y,z are purely real , in order for the product of 3 complex numbers to turn out to be purely real , I m ( x y z ) = 0 Im(xyz)=0 . If we have that each of x , y , z x,y,z has a non-zero imaginary part, then the imaginary part of the product will also be non-zero (this can be easily confirmed through multiplication and checking the coefficient of i i ). If one of x , y , z x,y,z is purely complex and two are purely real , then once again we (obviously) have that I m ( x y z ) 0 Im(xyz) \ne 0 . From Case 1 , we already know that if none of x , y , z x,y,z is purely complex then the given conditions are not satisfied. Hence the only case we are left with is if two of x , y , z x,y,z are purely complex while the other is purely real . Now in this situation, the only way I m ( x y z ) = 0 Im(xyz)=0 is if the two purely complex numbers (WLOG, assume that x x and y y are purely complex ), when multiplied, have that I m ( x y ) = 0 Im(xy)=0 . This is only going to happen if l m ( x ) = l m ( y ) y = x lm(x)=-lm(y) \implies y = \overline{x} because otherwise, we will once again have that I m ( x y ) 0 Im(xy) \ne 0 (This too, can be confirmed by letting x x and y y be complex numbers and then multiplying them and checking I m ( x y ) Im(xy) ).

Now let x = a + b i x=a+bi , y = x = a b i y=\overline{x}=a-bi and z = c c R z=c \ | c \in \mathbb{R} . But we know that x = y = a 2 + b 2 = z c = a 2 + b 2 |x|=|y|=\sqrt{a^2+b^2}=|z| \implies c = \sqrt{a^2+b^2} . Then:

x y z = c ( a + b i ) ( a b i ) = a 2 + b 2 ( a 2 + b 2 ) = 64 xyz=c(a+bi)(a-bi)=\sqrt{a^2+b^2}(a^2+b^2)=64 . Now let u = a 2 + b 2 u=\sqrt{a^2+b^2} , then we have:

u 3 = 64 u = a 2 + b 2 = 4 u^3=64 \implies u = \sqrt{a^2+b^2}=4 .

Considering the last given equation, we have:

x y + y z + x z = x y + z ( x + y ) = ( a + b i ) ( a b i ) + a 2 + b 2 ( a + b i + a b i ) = a 2 + b 2 + 2 a a 2 + b 2 = 24 xy+yz+xz=xy+z(x+y)=(a+bi)(a-bi)+\sqrt{a^2+b^2}(a+bi + a - bi)=a^2+b^2+2a \sqrt{a^2+b^2} = 24

We know that a 2 + b 2 = 4 a 2 + b 2 = 16 \sqrt{a^2+b^2} = 4 \implies a^2+b^2=16 . Making these substitutions yields:

( 16 ) + 2 a ( 4 ) = 16 + 8 a = 24 a = 1 \implies (16)+2a(4)=16+8a=24 \implies a = 1 . Now we are asked to find x + y + z = ( a + b i ) + ( a b i ) + a 2 + b 2 = 2 a + a 2 + b 2 = 2 a + a 2 + b 2 |x+y+z|=|(a+bi)+(a-bi)+ \sqrt{a^2+b^2}|=|2a+\sqrt{a^2+b^2}|=2a+\sqrt{a^2+b^2} . Substituting for a a and a 2 + b 2 \sqrt{a^2+b^2} gives us:

x + y + z = 2 ( 1 ) + 4 = 6 \implies |x+y+z|=2(1)+4=\boxed{6} . And we are done.

Very systematic detailed explanation.

Niranjan Khanderia - 7 years, 2 months ago
Christian Mann
Dec 10, 2013

From (1) and (2), we get that x = y = z = 4 |x| = |y| = |z| = 4

Since the product is real, I suspected that this was composed of a pair of complex conjugates and a real number. Thus, suppose x = 4 x = 4 . Then y z = 16 yz = 16 and 4 ( y + z ) + 16 = 24 4(y+z) + 16 = 24 4 ( y + z ) = 8 4(y+z) = 8 y + z = 2 y+z = 2

We must show that such a y y and z z exist before using the above result.

Since y z R yz \in \mathbb{R} , we choose y y and z z as complex conjugates whose sum is 2 2 : y = 1 + 15 i y = 1 + \sqrt{15}i z = 1 15 i z = 1 - \sqrt{15}i

Therefore y + z = 2 y + z = 2 and x + y + z = 6 x + y + z = \boxed{6}

Yash Mittal
Dec 9, 2013

let the three complex no. be:

x= r e^{i a1}, y=re^{i a2}, z=re{i a3} (because |x|=|y|=|z|)

now, xyz= 64 i.e r^{3} e^{i(a1+a2+a3)}=64

this implies, r^{3}=64, i.e r=4 & sin(a1+a2+a3)=0

hence, a1+a2+a3=0 -..1

xy+yz+xz=24 i.e r^{2}( cos(a1+a2)+cos(a2+a3)+cos(a1+a3) +i(sin(a1+a2)+sin(a2+a3)+sin(a3+a1)) )=24

this implies, ( cos(a1+a2)+cos(a2+a3)+cos(a1+a3) +i(sin(a1+a2)+sin(a2+a3)+sin(a3+a1)) )=3/2

this implies, cos(a1+a2)+cos(a2+a3)+cos(a1+a3)=3/2 & sin(a1+a2)+sin(a2+a3)+sin(a3+a1)=0

Applying result 1 in above 2 eq,

Cos(a1)+cos(a2)+cos(a3)=3/2

& sina1+sina2+sina3=0

We have to find |x+y+z|, which is nothing but,

|r( (cosa1+cosa2+cosa3) + i(sina1+sina2+sina3))|=|4*3/2|

= 6

applied this one. :)

Prashant Upadhyay - 7 years, 6 months ago
Shubham Kumar
Dec 8, 2013

As given,

IxI = IyI = IzI, ......................(i)

xyz = 64 , .......................(ii)

xy + yz + xz = 24. .........................(iii)

We have to find Ix + y + zI = k(say).

From (i), we can see that their modular value is same and from (ii), it is observed that one parameter let x is real and other two y & z are complex conjugates.

Then, x * (IyI^2) = 64,

x * (IxI^2) = 64 .............from(i)

Now we can say that x = 4 and IyI = IzI = 4. .................(iv)

Now from (iii), we have xy + yz + xz = 24

x(y+z) + IyI^2 = 24

4 * (2Re(y)) = 8

Re(y) = 1

So, Re(z) = 1, Im(y) = sqrt(15)i , Im(z) = -sqrt(15)i

Therefore, x = 4, y = 1 + sqrt(15)i, z = 1 - sqrt(15)i.

So, k = 6 (Ans.)

Note: This is my second solution. I didn't post the first because it was too long and tedious. I posted my second as a comment because this solution is valid only because Brilliant.org answers are real numbers.

bobby jim - 7 years, 6 months ago

Can you explain why one parameter is real and the other two are complex conjugates?

Jorge Tipe - 7 years, 6 months ago

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Yes, as multiplication of 3 complex numbers or roots of a cubic equation are one real and other two complex. Eg., x^3 =1 has 1, w, w^2 as its roots.

SHUBHAM KUMAR - 7 years, 6 months ago

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This result works when the coefficients of the cubic equation are real, why x , y , z x, y, z are roots of a cubic equation with real coefficients?

Jorge Tipe - 7 years, 6 months ago

THIS SOLUTION IS VALID ONLY BECAUSE BRILLIANT.ORG ANSWERS ARE REAL NUMBERS

Because |x|=|y|=|z| and xyz=64, |x|=|y|=|z|=4. Because I know xyz and xy+yz+xz and want to find |x+y+z|, let x,y,z be the roots of a cubic polynomial.

The polynomial is a^3-ta^2+24a-64, where t is our sought-after value. Any cubic with real coefficients has one real root and two other roots that sum to a real number (the two other roots can be real themselves) so the one real root must be 4.

Synthetic division yields a remainder of 96-16t when divided by a-4. Since the remainder equals zero,96-16t=0,t=6

bobby jim - 7 years, 6 months ago

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This is incorrect, as a + b + c a+b+c is not necessarily real. If a + b + c a+b+c is imaginary, a + b + c |a+b+c| is real, so can be an answer.

Daniel Chiu - 7 years, 6 months ago

Thanks buddy!!

SHUBHAM KUMAR - 7 years, 6 months ago

a+b+c itself is necessarily real because if it isn't,the imaginary parts doesn't "balance out." Then the imaginary parts of ab+bc+ca doesn't "balance out" either and the second condition cannot be satisfied.

More precisely,let arg(a)=A and arg(b)=B and arg(c)=C. Then arg(ab)=A+B,arg(ac)=A+C,and arg(bc)=B+C. If a+b+c isn't real,A+B+C does not equal a multiple of 180. Then A+B+A+C+B+C=2(A+B+C) does not equal a multiple of 180,so ab+bc+ac is not real. Therefore a+b+c must be real.

Combining this with my "bogus solution" makes a straightforward and beautiful solution.

bobby jim - 7 years, 6 months ago

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Uh, say a = b = c = i a=b=c=i . Then, a b + a c + b c = 3 ab+ac+bc=-3 which is real, and a + b + c a+b+c is not real.

Daniel Chiu - 7 years, 6 months ago
Aditya Raj
Mar 3, 2014

Here is how I solved it: First, notice that all the norms of x,y,z are 4, so we can scale everything down by 4, and have the equation .|X| |Y||Z|=1 xy+yz+xz=3/2 The last equation becomes 1/x+1/y+1/2=3/2. Since x,y,z are on the unit circle 1/x=x,1/y=y,1/z=z, , we have x|+Y|+Z|=3/2, take conjugate on both sides, we get x+Y+Z=3/2 , scale everything back by 4, we get the final answer is .6

Tong Zou, two month back , has given this method already.

Niranjan Khanderia - 7 years, 2 months ago
Ananay Agarwal
Dec 12, 2013

The first thing to notice is that we are concerned with the absolute value of the complex numbers. Therefore, rather than writing them in the usual form ( a + b i a + bi ), it will be helpful to write them in polar form, as it will give us cleaner products. So, we define:

x = r ( cos α + i sin α ) x = r(\cos\alpha + i\sin\alpha)

y = r ( cos β + i sin β ) y = r(\cos\beta + i\sin\beta)

z = r ( cos γ + i sin γ ) z = r(\cos\gamma + i\sin\gamma)

x y z = r 3 [ cos ( α + β + γ ) + i sin ( α + β + γ ) ] = 64 xyz = r^3[\cos(\alpha + \beta + \gamma) + i\sin(\alpha + \beta + \gamma)] = 64

As 64 64 has no complex part, sin ( α + β + γ ) = 0 α + β + γ = 0 \sin(\alpha + \beta + \gamma) = 0 \implies \alpha + \beta + \gamma = 0 This means, cos ( α + β + γ ) = 1 \cos(\alpha + \beta + \gamma) = 1 . Therefore, r = 4 r = 4 .

Now, we expand out the second equation to obtain:

x y + y z + z x = r 2 [ cos ( α + β ) + cos ( β + γ ) + cos ( γ + α ) ] + r 2 i [ sin ( α + β ) + sin ( γ + α ) + sin ( β + γ ) ] = 24 xy + yz + zx = r^2[\cos(\alpha + \beta) + \cos(\beta + \gamma) + \cos(\gamma + \alpha)] + r^2i[\sin(\alpha + \beta) + \sin(\gamma + \alpha) + \sin(\beta + \gamma)] = 24

As α + β + γ = 0 \alpha + \beta + \gamma = 0 , we make the following substitutions:

α + β = γ \alpha + \beta = -\gamma

β + γ = α \beta + \gamma = -\alpha

γ + α = β \gamma + \alpha = -\beta

r 2 = 16 r^2 = 16

Upon substituting and simplifying, we get:

16 ( cos α + cos β + cos γ ) 16 i ( sin α + sin β + sin γ ) = 24 16(\cos\alpha + \cos\beta + \cos\gamma) -16i(\sin\alpha + \sin\beta + \sin\gamma) = 24

As 24 24 has no imaginary part,

\sin\alpha + \sin\beta + \sin\gamma = 0\tag1

We can simplify the rest of the equation and get,

\cos\alpha + \cos\beta + \cos\gamma = 1.5 \tag2

Multiplying ( 1 ) (1) by i i and adding to 2 2 , we get:

cos α + cos β + cos γ + i ( sin α + sin β + sin γ ) = 1.5 \cos\alpha + \cos\beta + \cos\gamma + i(\sin\alpha + \sin\beta + \sin\gamma) = 1.5

Multiplying both sides by r = 4 r = 4 , and manipulating gives:

r ( cos α + i sin α ) + r ( cos β + i sin β ) + r ( cos γ + i sin γ ) = x + y + z = 6 r(\cos\alpha + i\sin\alpha) + r(\cos\beta + i\sin\beta) + r(\cos\gamma + i\sin\gamma) = x + y + z = 6

6 = 6 |6| = \boxed{6} .

Let x = r ( cos α + i sin α ) x=r(\cos \alpha+i\sin \alpha) , y = r ( cos β + i sin β ) y=r(\cos \beta+i\sin \beta) , z = r ( cos γ + i sin γ ) z=r(\cos \gamma +i\sin \gamma) where 0 α , β , γ < 2 π 0\leq \alpha, \beta, \gamma < 2\pi and r r is positive . Thus if you have sin ( α + β + γ ) = 0 \sin (\alpha+\beta+\gamma)=0 then α + β + γ = n π \alpha+\beta+\gamma=n\pi where n { 0 , 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 } n\in \{ 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 \} .

Jorge Tipe - 7 years, 6 months ago

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Yes. That was a slight mistake. But cos ( n π ) = ± 1 \cos(n\pi) = \pm1 in any case. So, r r would have been equal to ± 4 \pm4 . Working through the solution, and making the necessary corrections, the answer would have been 6 6 regardless. Thanks for pointing out the mistake, by the way.

Ananay Agarwal - 7 years, 6 months ago
Atul Anand Sinha
Dec 9, 2013

Let |x|= |y|= |z| = r. Also let x = re^iα, y = re^iβ and z = re^iγ. Given xyz = 64 gives 64 = re^i(α+β+γ) or r = 4 ------------- (1) and (α+β+γ) = 2π-------------------------------(2) Also it is given that xy+yz+xz= 24; which gives using (1), 16 {e^i(α+β) +e^i(β+γ) +e^i(α+γ)} = 24 or {e^i(α+β) +e^i(β+γ) +e^i(α+γ)} = (3/2) or, equating real and imaginary parts we get cos(α+β) + cos(β+γ)+cos(α+γ) = 3/2 ---------------------- (3), and sin(α+β) + sin(β+γ)+sin(α+γ) = 0 -----------------------------(4) or using(2), (3) becomes) cos{(2π)-γ} +cos{(2π)-α} +cos{(2π)-β} = 3/2 ------------ (5) or cos α +cos β + cos γ= 3/2 and similarly (4) becomes sin α +sin β + sin γ= 0 ----------------------------------------... (6) so x+y+z= 4 {(cos α +cos β + cos γ)+i (sin α +sin β + sin γ)} or using (5) and (6) we get x+y+z = 4 {(3/2) + i*0} or x+y+z = 6 or |x+y+z| = 6

Jit Ganguly
Dec 9, 2013

Firstly note that guys, the first job is to get out as much information as possible out of the given. x , y , z x,y,z are complex nos, and further x = y = z |x|=|y|=|z| , so taking modulus on both sides of the second condition gives x y z = 64 |xyz|=|64| .......and using the fact that for complex nos a , b a,b taking modulus a b = a × b |ab|=|a|\times|b| gives x × y × z = 64 |x|\times|y|\times|z|=64 , using x = y = z |x|=|y|=|z| , gives x 3 = 64 , x = 4 |x|^{3} =64, |x|=4 .

So first condition gives x = y = z = 4 |x|=|y|=|z|=4 . Now the job is to find x + y + z |x+y+z| . Call it t t , a positive real number. So x + y + z = t |x+y+z|=t . Squaring both sides and using the fact that for a complex number z z , z 2 = z × z ˉ |z|^{2}=z\times \bar z , so x + y + z 2 = t 2 |x+y+z|^{2}=t^{2} , where z ˉ \bar z denotes complex conjugate, giving ( x + y + z ) ( x ˉ + y ˉ + z ˉ ) = t 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 (x+y+z)(\bar x+\bar y+\bar z)=t^{2}...............2 . Expanding it and using the facts that x x ˉ = 4 2 = 16 x \bar x=4^{2}=16 gives 16 + 16 + 16 + ( x y ˉ + x z ˉ + y x ˉ + y z ˉ + z y ˉ + z x ˉ ) = t 2 16+16+16+(x\bar y+x\bar z+y\bar x+y\bar z+z\bar y+z\bar x)=t^{2} . Now the problem reduces down to finding value of ( x y ˉ + x z ˉ + y x ˉ + y z ˉ + z y ˉ + z x ˉ ) = p ( s a y ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 (x\bar y+x\bar z+y\bar x+y\bar z+z\bar y+z\bar x)=p(say)......................1 Now look, p p has to be found from the given conditions here lies the essence. Taking the conjugate on both sides of the third equation gives x ˉ y ˉ + y ˉ z ˉ + z ˉ x ˉ = 24...................... a \bar x\bar y+\bar y\bar z+\bar z\bar x=24......................a . Call the 3rd one b. x y + y z + z x = 24.................. b xy+yz+zx=24..................b .Multiplying a and b, note that terms like x y × x ˉ y ˉ = ( x y ) 2 = 256 xy \times \bar x\bar y =(|x||y|)^{2}=256 and terms like x y × z ˉ y ˉ = y 2 x ˉ z ˉ = 16 x ˉ z ˉ xy \times \bar z\bar y =|y|^{2} \bar x\bar z=16\bar x\bar z . So writing the entire thing after doing all multiplication and using the above results for other terms its got that 3 × 256 + 16 p = 576 , p = 12 3\times 256+16p=576, p= -12 . This step requires only algebraic manipulation. Plugging this into 2 gives 48 12 = t 2 , t = 6 48-12=t^{2},t=6 since t t is positive. So the answer is 6 6 .

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