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Worked solution

Distinguish a modulus square from a complex square

(a) The complex numbers z,wz,w satisfy z+w∗+5i=10z+w^*+5i=10 and ∣w∣2=z+18+i|w|^2=z+18+i. Find zz and ww. marks

(b)(i) Given that 2+i2+i is a root of z2−5z+7+i=0z^2-5z+7+i=0, find the second root in Cartesian form, showing your working. marks

(b)(ii) Hence find the roots of −iw2+5w+7i−1=0-iw^2+5w+7i-1=0. marks

[2017/CJC/II/4(a),(b)]

CJC · Review problems · Question 9

Answer

(a) (z,w)=(7−i,3+4i)(z,w)=(7-i,3+4i) or (14−i,−4+4i)(14-i,-4+4i). (b)(i) 3−i3-i. (ii) 1−2i,−1−3i1-2i,-1-3i.

(a) Substitute and compare real coordinates

From the first equation, z=10−w∗−5iz=10-w^*-5i. Substitution into the second gives ∣w∣2+w∗=28−4i|w|^2+w^*=28-4i. Put w=a+biw=a+bi, where a,ba,b are real. Then ∣w∣2=a2+b2|w|^2=a^2+b^2, w∗=a−biw^*=a-bi, so a2+b2+a−bi=28−4ia^2+b^2+a-bi=28-4i. Comparing imaginary parts gives b=4b=4; real parts give a2+16+a=28a^2+16+a=28, hence (a+4)(a−3)=0(a+4)(a-3)=0.

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(a) Pair each w with its corresponding z

If a=3a=3, w=3+4iw=3+4i and z=10−(3−4i)−5i=7−iz=10-(3-4i)-5i=7-i. If a=−4a=-4, w=−4+4iw=-4+4i and z=10−(−4−4i)−5i=14−iz=10-(-4-4i)-5i=14-i. These are paired solutions, not four independent combinations. Their squared moduli are 25 and 32, matching z+18+iz+18+i respectively.

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(b)(i) Find the second root

Factor z2−5z+7+i=[z−(2+i)](z−k)z^2-5z+7+i=[z-(2+i)](z-k). Comparing the coefficient of zz gives −5=−k−(2+i)-5=-k-(2+i), so k=3−ik=3-i. Its product with 2+i2+i is 7+i7+i, confirming the constant term.

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(b)(ii) Reuse the roots with z=iw

Multiply the equation by −i-i: −w2−5iw+7+i=0-w^2-5iw+7+i=0, which is (iw)2−5(iw)+7+i=0(iw)^2-5(iw)+7+i=0. Hence iw=2+iiw=2+i or iw=3−iiw=3-i. Divide by ii to obtain w=1−2iw=1-2i or w=−1−3iw=-1-3i.

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Common mistakes

|w|² is a real nonnegative number and generally differs from w². Keep the pairing of z and w when listing solutions.

Solution notes

Source filename says 2026; printed header says 2025/JC2. Rendered pages determine notation; the original extraction is retained unchanged.

The page image confirms modulus bars in |w|² throughout the prompt and working; the plain extraction loses them.

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