Chapter 8: Problem 87
Find the indicated roots, and graph the roots in the complex plane. The cube roots of \(i\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
The cube roots of \(i\) are \(\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} + i\frac{1}{2}\), \(-\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} + i\frac{1}{2}\), and \(-i\). They form an equilateral triangle on the complex plane.
Step by step solution
01
Express Complex Number in Polar Form
The first step in finding the cube roots of a complex number is to express the complex number in polar form. The complex number given is \(i\), which can be written as \(0 + i\). In polar form,\( i = e^{i\frac{\pi}{2}}\) because its modulus is 1 (distance from origin) and its argument is \(\frac{\pi}{2}\) (90 degrees above the real axis).
02
Apply De Moivre's Theorem for Cube Roots
De Moivre's Theorem states that if \(z = r e^{i\theta}\), then the \(n\)th roots are given by \(z_k = r^{1/n} e^{i(\theta + 2k\pi)/n}\) for \(k = 0, 1, ..., n-1\). For cube roots (=3), the roots of \(i = e^{i\frac{\pi}{2}}\) are \(z_k = 1 e^{i(\frac{\pi}{2} + 2k\pi)/3}\) for \(k = 0, 1, 2\).
03
Calculate Each Cube Root
Calculate the three roots one by one:- For \(k = 0\): \(z_0 = e^{i\frac{\pi}{6}} = \cos \frac{\pi}{6} + i \sin \frac{\pi}{6} = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} + i\frac{1}{2}\).- For \(k = 1\): \(z_1 = e^{i\frac{5\pi}{6}} = \cos \frac{5\pi}{6} + i\sin \frac{5\pi}{6} = -\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} + i\frac{1}{2}\).- For \(k = 2\): \(z_2 = e^{i\frac{3\pi}{2}} = \cos \frac{3\pi}{2} + i\sin \frac{3\pi}{2} = 0 - i\).
04
Graph the Roots on the Complex Plane
Now, plot the roots on the complex plane:- Root \(z_0\) at \(\left(\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}, \frac{1}{2}\right)\).- Root \(z_1\) at \(\left(-\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}, \frac{1}{2}\right)\).- Root \(z_2\) at \((0, -1)\). These three points should form an equilateral triangle centered at the origin on the complex plane.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Polar form
The polar form is a powerful way to represent complex numbers, making it easier to perform various operations like multiplication and finding roots. Each complex number can be represented in the form of \( r \times e^{i\theta} \), where \( r \) is the modulus and \( \theta \) is the argument (angle) of the complex number.
When you have a complex number like \( i \), it's initially written as \( 0 + i = i \). In polar form, this translates to \( i = e^{i\frac{\pi}{2}} \), because:
When you have a complex number like \( i \), it's initially written as \( 0 + i = i \). In polar form, this translates to \( i = e^{i\frac{\pi}{2}} \), because:
- The modulus \( r \) is 1, which is the distance from the origin to the point on the complex plane.
- The argument \( \theta \) is \( \frac{\pi}{2} \) radians, which equates to 90 degrees, indicating its position on the imaginary axis.
De Moivre's Theorem
De Moivre's Theorem is a crucial tool in complex number calculus. It relates complex numbers in polar form to exponentiation and makes finding roots manageable. According to this theorem, if you have a complex number \( z = r e^{i\theta} \), then its \( n \)th roots can be calculated as:
\[ z_k = 1^{1/3} e^{i(\frac{\pi}{2} + 2k\pi)/3} \]
You calculate the roots for \( k = 0, 1, \text{and} \, 2 \) as follows:
- \( z_k = r^{1/n} e^{i(\theta + 2k\pi)/n} \)
- Here, \( k = 0, 1, 2, \, ..., \, n-1 \)
\[ z_k = 1^{1/3} e^{i(\frac{\pi}{2} + 2k\pi)/3} \]
You calculate the roots for \( k = 0, 1, \text{and} \, 2 \) as follows:
- For \( k = 0 \), \( z_0 = e^{i\frac{\pi}{6}} \)
- For \( k = 1 \), \( z_1 = e^{i\frac{5\pi}{6}} \)
- For \( k = 2 \), \( z_2 = e^{i\frac{3\pi}{2}} \)
Complex plane graphing
Graphing complex numbers on the complex plane helps visualize solutions and provides insight into their geometric relationships. The complex plane, also known as the Argand plane, is a valuable tool in representing complex numbers where:
- The horizontal axis represents real numbers.
- The vertical axis represents imaginary numbers.
- Root \( z_0 \) at \( \left(\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}, \frac{1}{2}\right) \)
- Root \( z_1 \) at \( \left(-\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}, \frac{1}{2}\right) \)
- Root \( z_2 \) at \( (0, -1) \)