Homework #1 Solutions

Math 128, Fall 2013

Instructor: Dr. Doreen De Leon

1 p. 5: 2, 3, 8, 11

2. Show that

(a) Re (iz) = −Im z

(b) Im (iz) = Re z

Since z = x + iy, Re z = x and Im z = y.

Since iz = i(x + iy) = −y + ix, we know that Re (iz) = −y and Im (iz) = x.
Therefore, Re (iz) = −Im z and Im (iz) = Re z.

3. Show that (1 + z)2 = 1 + 2z + z 2 .

(1 + z)2 = (1 + z)(1 + z)
= 1(1 + z) + z(1 + z)
= 1 + z + z + z2
= 1 + 2z + z 2 .

8. (a) Write (x, y) + (u, v) = (x, y) and point out how it follows that the complex number (0, 0) is
unique as an additive identity.
(b) Likewise, write (x, y)(u, v) = (x, y) and show that the number 1 = (1, 0) is a unique multi-
plicative identity.

(a) Let z = (x, y) and w = (u, v).

z + w = z if, and only if, (x, y) + (u, v) = (x, y)

(x + u, y + v) = (x, y).

Since (x + u, y + v) = (x, y) if, and only if, x + u = x and y + v = y, we obtain u = 0 and

v = 0 as the only solution. Therefore, (0, 0) is the unique additive identity.
(b) Let z = (x, y) and w = (u, v).

zw = z if, and only if, (x, y)(u, v) = (x, y)

(xu − yv, xv + yu) = (x, y),

1
 which is true if, and only if u, v satisfy

xu − yv = x
xv + yu = y

or

(xu − yv = x)x
(yu + xv = y)y.

This gives

x2 u − xyv = x2 (1)
2 2
y u + xyv = y . (2)

If we add (1) and (2), we obtain

x2 u + y 2 u = x2 + y 2
(x2 + y 2 )u = x2 + y 2
u = 1.

Since xu − yv = x and u = 1,

xu − yv = x =⇒ −yv = 0
=⇒ v = 0.

Therefore, w = (1, 0) is the only solution.

11. Solve the equation z 2 + z + 1 = 0 for z = (x, y) by writing

(x, y)(x, y) + (x, y) + (1, 0) = (0, 0)

and then solving a pair of simultaneous equations in x and y.

(x, y)(x, y) + (x, y) + (1, 0) = (0, 0)

(x − y , xy + xy) + (x, y) + (1, 0) = (0, 0)
2 2

(x2 − y 2 + x + 1, 2xy + y) = (0, 0),

which is true if, and only if,

x2 − y 2 + x + 1 = 0 (3)
2xy + y = 0. (4)

The left-hand side of Equation (4) may be factored to give

y(2x + 1) = 0.
1
So, there are two possibilities: y = 0 or x = − , y ̸= 0.
2

2
 Case 1: y = 0
Then (3) gives x2 + x + 1 = 0, which has no real solution. This is not possible, since x is a
real number. Therefore, y ̸= 0.
1
Case 2: x = − , y ̸= 0
2
1
Plugging x = − into (3) gives
2
( )2 ( )
1 1
− −y + −
2
+1=0
2 2
3
− y2 = 0
4
3
y2 =
4√
3
y=± ,
2
So, there are two solutions:
( √ ) ( √ )
1 3 1 3
z= − ,− ,z= − , .
2 2 2 2

2 p. 8: 1, 6

1. Reduce each of these quantities to a real number.

1 + 2i 2 − i
(a) +
3 − 4i 5i
1 + 2i (1 + 2i)(3 + 4i)
=
3 − 4i (3 − 4i)(3 + 4i)
(3 − 8) + i(6 + 4)
=
9 + 16
−5 + 10i 1 2
= = − + i,
25 5 5
2−i (2 − i)(−i)
=
5i 5i(−i)
−1 − 2i
=
5
1 2
= − − i.
5 5
So,
( ) ( )
1 + 2i 2 − i 1 2 1 2 2
+ = − + + − − i = − .
3 − 4i 5i 5 5 5 5 5

3
 5i
(b)
(1 − i)(2 − i)(3 − i)
(1 − i)(2 − i)(3 − i) = (1 − i)[(6 − 1) + i(−3 − 2)]
= (1 − i)(5 − 5i)
= (5 − 5) + i(−5 − 5)
= −10i.
So,
5i 5i 1
= = − .
(1 − i)(2 − i)(3 − i) −10i 2
(c) (1 − i)4
(1 − i)4 = (1 − i)2 (1 − i)2
(1 − i)2 = (1 − i)(1 − i)
= (1 − 1) + i(−1 − 1) = −2i.
So,
(1 − i)4 = (−2i)(−2i) = −4.
6. With the aid of relations (10) and (11) in Section 3, derive the identity
( )( )
z1 z2 z1 z2
= (z3 ̸= 0, z4 ̸= 0).
z3 z4 z3 z4
( ) ( )
z1 1 z2 1
= z1 and = z2 .
z2 z3 z4 z4
So,
( )( ) ( ( )) ( ( ))
z1 z2 1 1
= z1 z2
z3 z4 z3 z4
( )( )
1 1
= z1 z2
z3 z4
( )
1
= (z1 z2 )
z3 z4
z1 z2
= .
z3 z4

3 p. 12: 2, 3
2. Verify inequalities (4), Section 4, involving Re z, Im z, and |z|.
(i) Re z ≤ |Rz| ≤ |z|
Let z = x + iy. Then Re z = x. Since x is a real number, we know that x ≤ |x|. So,
Re z ≤ |Re z|.
√ √
Then, |z| = x2 + y 2 , and x ≤ x2 + y 2 . So,
x ≤ |z| =⇒ |Re z| ≤ |z|.
Therefore, Re z ≤ |Re z| ≤ |z|,

4
 (ii) Im z ≤ |Im z| ≤ |z|
Let z = x + iy. Then Im z = y. Since y is a real number, we know that y ≤ |y|. So,
Im z ≤ |Im z|.
√ √
Then, |z| = x2 + y 2 , and y ≤ x2 + y 2 . So,

y ≤ |z| =⇒ |Im z| ≤ |z|.

Therefore, Im z ≤ |Im z| ≤ |z|,

3. Use established properties of moduli to show that when |z3 | ̸= |z4 |,
Re (z1 + z2 ) |z1 | + |z2 |
≤ .
|z3 + z4 | ||z3 | − |z4 ||
To do this problem, we must show two things,
(i) Re (z1 + z2 ) ≤ |z1 | + |z2 |, and
(ii) |z3 + z4 | ≥ ||z3 | − |z4 ||.

(i)

Re (z1 + z2 ) ≤ |Re (z1 + z2 )|

≤ |z1 + z2 |
≤ |z1 | + |z2 |.

(ii) |z3 + z4 | ≥ ||z3 | − |z4 || was demonstrated in class.

Re (z1 + z2 ) |z1 | + |z2 |

Therefore, ≤ .
|z3 + z4 | ||z3 | − |z4 ||

4 p. 14-15: 1, 9
1. Use properties of conjugates and moduli established in Section 5 to show that
(a) z + 3i = z − 3i

z + 3i = z + 3i
= z − 3i.X

(b) iz = −iz

iz = iz
= −iz.X

(c) (2 + i)2 = 3 − 4i

(2 + i)2 = (2 + i)2
= (2 − i)2
= (4 − 1) + i(−2 − 2)
= 3 − 4i.

5
 Alternately,

(2 + i)2 = (4 − 1) + i(2 + 2)
= 3 + 4i
= 3 − 4i.
 √  √
 
(d) (2z + 5)( 2 − i) = 3|2z + 5|
 √  √
 
(2z + 5)( 2 − i) = |2z + 5|| 2 − i|
|2z + 5|2 = (2z + 5)(2z + 5)
= (2z + 5)(2z + 5)
= (2z + 5)(2z + 5)
= (2z + 5)(2z + 5)
= (2z + 5)(2z + 5)
= |2z + 5|2
=⇒ |2z + 5| = |2z + 5|.
√ √√ √
| 2 − i| = ( 2)2 + (−1)2 = 3.
 √  √
 
So, (2z + 5)( 2 − i) = 3|2z + 5|. X

9. By factoring z 4 − 4z 2 + 3 into two quadratic factors and using inequality (8), Section 4, show that
if z lies on the circle |z| = 2, then  
 1  1
 
 z 4 − 4z 2 + 3  ≤ 3 .
 
 1  1
Since  4 = , we need to show that |z 4 − 4z 2 + 3| ≥ 3.
z − 4z + 3  |z 4 − 4z 2 + 3|
2

z 4 − 4z 2 + 3 = (z 2 − 1)(z 2 − 3).
So, |z 4 − 4z 2 + 3| = |(z 2 − 1)(z 2 − 3)|
= |z 2 − 1| · |z 2 − 3|.
Now, |z 2 − 1| ≥ ||z 2 | − |1||
= ||z|2 − 1|
and |z 2 − 3| ≥ ||z 2 | − |3||
= ||z|2 − 3|.
So, |z 2 − 1| · |z 2 − 3| ≥ ||z|2 − 1| · ||z|2 − 3|.

If z lies on the circle |z| = 2, then

||z|2 − 1| · ||z|2 − 3| = |22 − 1| · |22 − 3| = 3.

Therefore,  
 1  1

|z − 4z + 3| ≥ 3 =⇒  4
4 2  ≤ .X
z − 4z + 3  3
2

6
5 p. 22-23: 1, 5

1. Find the principal argument Arg z when

i
(a) z =
−2 − 2i
i z1
z= = =⇒ arg z = arg z1 − arg z2 .
−2 − 2i z2
π
z1 = i =⇒ arg z1 = .
2 ( )
−1 −2 3π
z2 = −2 − 2i =⇒ arg z2 = tan =− (since the angle is in the third quadrant
−2 4
( )
π 3π
So, arg z = − −
2 4
5π
= .
4

5π 5π 3π
Since π < , Arg z = − 2π =⇒ Arg z = − .
4 4 4
√
(b) z = ( 3 − i)6
√
arg z = 6(arg( 3 − i)).
( )
√ −1 −1 π
arg( 3 − i) = tan √ = − (since the angle is in the fourth quadrant).
3 6
( π)
So, arg z = 6 − = −π.
6

Since −π ∈
/ (−π, π], Arg z = −π + 2π =⇒ Arg z = π.

5. By writing the individual factors on the left in exponential form, performing the needed operations,
and finally changing back to rectangular coordinates, show that
√ √ √
(a) i(1 − 3i)( 3 + i) = 2(1 + 3i)
π π
i = 1ei 2 = ei 2 .
√ √ √
1− 3i : r = 12 + (− 3)2 = 2
( √ )
− 3 π
θ = tan−1 =−
1 3
√
3 = 2ei(− 3 )
π
=⇒ 1 −
√ √√
3+i: r = ( 3)2 + 12 = 2
( )
1 π
θ = tan−1 √ =
3 6
√ i π6
=⇒ 3 + i = 2e .

7
 Therefore,
√ √
3i)( 3 + i) = ei 2 · 2ei(− 3 ) · 2ei 6
π π π
i(1 −
= 4ei( 2 − 3 + 6 )
π π π

π
= 4ei 3
( (π ) ( π ))
= 4 cos + i sin
√ 3 3
= 2 + 2 3i
√
= 2(1 + 3i).X

5i
(b) = 1 + 2i
2+i
π
5i = 5ei 2 .
√ √
2 + i : r = 22 + 1 2 = 5
( )
−1 1
θ = tan .
2
π
5i 5ei 2
So, =√ −1 1
2+i 5ei(tan ( 2 ))
( ( ( )) ( ( )))
√ π −1 1 π −1 1
= 5 cos − tan + i sin − tan
2 2 2 2
( ( ( )) ( ( )))
√ 1 1
= 5 sin tan−1 + i cos tan−1
2 2
( )
√ 1 2
= 5 √ + i√
5 5
= 1 + 2i.X
( ( )) ( ( ))
−1 1 −1 1
The values for sin tan and cos tan come from the right triangle below
2 2
and trigonometric properties.

√
5
1

θ
2

8
(c) (−1 + i)7 = −8(1 + i)
√ √
−1 + i : r= (−1)2 + 12 = 2
( )
−1 1 3π
θ = tan = (since θ is in the second quadrant).
−1 4
√ 3π
=⇒ −1 + i = 2ei 4 .
(√ 3π
)7
So, (−1 + i)7 = 2ei( 4 )
√ 21π
= ( 2)7 ei 4
√
= 8 2ei(− 4 )
3π

( ( ) ( ))
√ 3π 3π
= 8 2 cos − + i sin −
4 4
( )
√ 1 1
= 8 2 −√ − i√
2 2
= −8(1 + i).X
√ −10 √
(d) (1 + 3i) = 2−11 (−1 + 3i)
√ √ √
1 + 3i : r= 12 + ( 3)2 = 2
(√ )
−1 3 π
θ = tan =
1 3
√ π
=⇒ 1 + 3i = 2ei 3 .
√ ( π )−10
So, (1 + 3)−10 = 2ei 3

= 2−10 e−i
10π
3

10π 2π
= 2−10 ei 3 (since −
2π
+ 4π = )
( ( ) 3 ( ))3
2π 2π
= 2−10 cos + i sin
3 3
( √ )
1 3
= 2−10 − + i
2 2
√
= 2−11 (−1 + 3i).X