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Date May 2010 Marks available 7 Reference code 10M.2.hl.TZ1.4
Level HL only Paper 2 Time zone TZ1
Command term Hence, Show that, and Solve Question number 4 Adapted from N/A

Question

(a)     Solve the equation \({z^3} = - 2 + 2{\text{i}}\), giving your answers in modulus-argument form.

(b)     Hence show that one of the solutions is 1 + i when written in Cartesian form.

Markscheme

(a)     \({z^3} = 2\sqrt 2 {{\text{e}}^{\frac{{3\pi {\text{i}}}}{4}}}\)     (M1)(A1)

\({z_1} = \sqrt 2 {{\text{e}}^{\frac{{\pi {\text{i}}}}{4}}}\)     A1

adding or subtracting \(\frac{{2\pi {\text{i}}}}{3}\)     M1

\({z_2} = \sqrt 2 {{\text{e}}^{\frac{{\pi {\text{i}}}}{4} + \frac{{2\pi {\text{i}}}}{3}}} = \sqrt 2 {{\text{e}}^{\frac{{11\pi {\text{i}}}}{{12}}}}\)     A1

\({z_3} = \sqrt 2 {{\text{e}}^{\frac{{\pi {\text{i}}}}{4} - \frac{{2\pi {\text{i}}}}{3}}} = \sqrt 2 {{\text{e}}^{ - \frac{{5\pi {\text{i}}}}{{12}}}}\)     A1

Notes: Accept equivalent solutions e.g. \({z_3} = \sqrt 2 {{\text{e}}^{\frac{{19\pi {\text{i}}}}{{12}}}}\)

Award marks as appropriate for solving \({(a + b{\text{i}})^3} = - 2 + 2{\text{i}}\).

Accept answers in degrees.

 

(b)     \(\sqrt 2 {{\text{e}}^{\frac{{\pi {\text{i}}}}{4}}}{\text{ }}\left( { = \sqrt 2 \left( {\frac{1}{{\sqrt 2 }} + \frac{{\text{i}}}{{\sqrt 2 }}} \right)} \right)\)     A1

= 1 + i     AG

Note: Accept geometrical reasoning.

 

[7 marks]

Examiners report

Many students incorrectly found the argument of \({z^3}\) to be \(\arctan \left( {\frac{2}{{ - 2}}} \right) = - \frac{\pi }{4}\). Of those students correctly finding one solution, many were unable to use symmetry around the origin, to find the other two. In part (b) many students found the cube of 1 + i which could not be awarded marks as it was not “hence”.

Syllabus sections

Topic 1 - Core: Algebra » 1.5 » Complex numbers: the number \({\text{i}} = \sqrt { - 1} \) ; the terms real part, imaginary part, conjugate, modulus and argument.
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