Created by T.

Madas

COMPLEX NUMBERS
(Exam Questions I)

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 1 (**)

−9 + 3i
w= .
1 − 2i

Find the modulus and the argument of the complex number w .

3π
FP1-M , w = 3 2 , arg w = −
4

Question 2 (**)
Solve the equation

2 z 2 − 2iz − 5 = 0 , z ∈ ℂ .

z = ± 3 + 1i
2 2

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 3 (**)
Find the value of x and the value of y in the following equation, given further that
x∈ℝ , y∈ℝ .

( x + iy )( 2 + i ) = 3 − i .

FP1-A , ( x, y ) = (1, −1)

Question 4 (**)

λ + 4i
z= , λ ∈ℝ.
1 + λi

Given that z is a real number, find the possible values of λ .

λ = ±2

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 5 (**)
Find the values of x and y in the equation

2 2
x (1 + i ) + y ( 2 − i ) = 3 + 10i , x ∈ ℝ , y ∈ ℝ .

x = 7 , y =1

Question 6 (**)
Find the value of x and the value of y in the following equation, given further that
x∈ℝ , y∈ℝ .

( x + iy )( 3 + 4i ) = 3 − 4i .

FP1-E , ( x, y ) = ( − 25 25 )
7 , − 24

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 7 (**)
The complex number z satisfies the equation

1 − 18i
4 z − 3z = ,
2−i

where z denotes the complex conjugate of z .

Solve the equation, giving the answer in the form x + iy , where x and y are real
numbers.

z = 4−i

Question 8 (**)

z = −3 + 4i and zw = −14 + 2i .

By showing clear workings, find …

a) … w in the form a + bi , where a and b are real numbers.

b) … the modulus and the argument of w .

π
w = 2 + 2i , w = 2 2 , arg w =
4

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 9 (**)

z
z = 22 + 4i and = 6 − 8i .
w

By showing clear workings, find …

a) … w in the form a + bi , where a and b are real numbers .

b) … the modulus and the argument of w .

w = 1 + 2i , w = 5 , arg w ≈ 1.11c

Question 10 (**)

2 7 − 4i
z = (2 − i) + −8.
2+i

Express z in the form x + iy , where x and y are real numbers.

−3 − 7i

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 11 (**)
The complex conjugate of z is denoted by z .

Solve the equation

−27 + 23i
2 z − 3z = ,
1+ i

giving the answer in the form x + iy , where x and y are real numbers.

z = 2 + 5i

Question 12 (**+)
Solve the following equation.

z 2 = 21 − 20i , z ∈ ℂ .

Give the answers in the form a + b i , where a ∈ ℝ and b ∈ ℝ .

FP1-K , z = ± ( 5 − 2i )

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Question 13 (**+)
The cubic equation

2 z 3 − 5 z 2 + cz − 5 = 0 , c ∈ ℝ ,

has a solution z = 1 − 2i .

Find in any order …

a) … the other two solutions of the equations.

b) … the value of c .

z2 = 1 + 2i , z3 = 1 , c = 12
2

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 14 (**+)

z − 8 = i (7 − 2z ) , z ∈ ℂ .

The complex conjugate of z is denoted by z .

Determine the value of z in the above equation, giving the answer in the form x + iy ,
where x and y are real numbers.

z = 2 + 3i

Question 15 (**+)

z 3 + Az 2 + Bz + 26 = 0 , where A∈ ℝ , B ∈ ℝ

One of the roots of the above cubic equation is 1 + i .

a) Find the real root of the equation.

b) Determine the values of A and B .

z = −13 , A = 11 , B = −24

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 16 (**+)
The complex conjugate of z is denoted by z .

Solve the equation

z − 12 = i ( 9 − 2 z ) ,

giving the answer in the form x + iy , where x and y are real numbers.

z = 2 + 5i

Question 17 (**+)
The complex number z satisfies the equation

2 z − iz = 3 ( 3 − 5i ) ,

where z denotes the complex conjugate of z .

Determine the value of z , giving the answer in the form x + iy , where x and y are
real numbers.

z = 1 − 7i

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 18 (**+)
The cubic equation

2z3 − z 2 + 4 z + p = 0 , p ∈ ℝ ,

is satisfied by z = 1 + 2i .

a) Find the other two roots of the equation.

b) Determine the value of p .

1 − 2i, − 3 , p = 15
2

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 19 (**+)
Solve the following equation.

w2 = 5 − 12i , w∈ ℂ .

Give the answers in the form a + b i , where a ∈ ℝ and b ∈ ℝ .

FP1-C , w = ± ( 3 − 2i )

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 20 (**+)

w
z = 1 + 3i and = 2 + 2i .
z

Find the exact value of the modulus of w and the exact value of the argument of w .

7π
w = 4 2 , arg w =
12

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 21 (**+)
The following cubic equation is given

z 3 + az 2 + bz − 5 = 0 ,

where a ∈ ℝ , b ∈ ℝ .

One of the roots of the above cubic equation is 2 + i .

a) Find the other two roots.

b) Determine the value of a and the value of b .

z2 = 2 − i , z3 = 1 , a = −5 , b = 9

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 22 (**+)
The following cubic equation is given

z 3 + pz 2 + 6 z + q = 0 ,

where p ∈ ℝ , q ∈ ℝ .

One of the three solutions of the above cubic equation is 5 − i .

a) Find the other two solutions of the equation.

b) Determine the value of p and the value of q .

z2 = 5 + i, z3 = 2 , p = −8 , q = 52

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 23 (***)

z = 3 + i and w = 3i .

a) Find, in exact form where appropriate, the modulus and argument of z and the
modulus and argument of w .

w
b) Determine simplified expressions for zw and , giving the answers in the
z
form x + iy , where x ∈ ℝ , y ∈ ℝ .

c) Find, in exact form where appropriate, the modulus and argument of zw and
w
the modulus and argument of .
z

π π w 3 3
z = 2, w = 3 , arg z = , arg w = , zw = −3 + 3 3i , = + 3i ,
6 2 z 4 4
w 3 2π  w π
zw = 6, = , arg ( zw ) = ,arg   =
z 2 3 z 3

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 24 (***)
Find the value of x and the value of y in the following equation, given further that
x∈ℝ , y∈ℝ .

1 1
− = 2 − 3i .
x + iy 1 + i

FP1-I , ( x, y ) = ( 37 37 )
5 , 7

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 25 (***)
Find the square roots of 1 + i 3 .

Give the answers in the form a + b i , where a ∈ ℝ and b ∈ ℝ .

FP1-G , ± 1
2 ( 6 +i 2 )

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 26 (***)
Solve the equation

13 z
= 11 − 3i , z ∈ ℂ ,
z +1

giving the answer in the form x + iy , where x and y are real numbers.

z = 1 − 3i

Question 27 (***)
The complex conjugate of w is denoted by w .

Given further that

25w
w = 1 + 2i and z = w − ,
w2

show clearly that z is a real number, stating its value.

12

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 28 (***)
The following cubic equation is given

z 3 + 2 z 2 + az + b = 0 ,

where a ∈ ℝ , b ∈ ℝ .

One of the roots of the above cubic equation is 1 + i .

a) Find the real root of the equation.

b) Find the value of a and the value of b .

z = −4 , a = −6 , b = 8

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 29 (***)
The following complex numbers are given.

z1 = 2 − 2i , z2 = 3 + i and z3 = a + bi where a ∈ ℝ , b ∈ ℝ .

a) If z1z3 = 16 , find the modulus z3 .

 z  7π
b) Given further that arg  3  = , determine the argument of z3 .
 z2  12

z3
c) Find the values of a and b , and hence show = −2 .
z1

3π
z3 = 4 2 , arg z3 = , a = −4 , b = 4
4

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 30 (***)
Solve the equation

2 z 4 − 14 z 3 + 33 z 2 − 26 z + 10 = 0 , z ∈ ℂ

given that one of its roots is 3 + i .

z = 3 + i, z = 3 − i, z = 1 + 1 i, z = 1 − 1 i
2 2 2 2

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 31 (***)

2 z 3 + pz 2 + qz + 16 = 0 , p ∈ ℝ , q ∈ ℝ .

The above cubic equation has roots α , β and γ , where γ is real.

(
It is given that α = 2 1 + i 3 .)
a) Find the other two roots, β and γ .

b) Determine the values of p and q .

( )
β = 2 1 − i 3 , γ = − 1 , p = −7 , q = 28
2

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 32 (***)
Find the value of x and the value of y in the following equation, given that x, y ∈ ℝ .

1 1
+ = 1.
x + iy 1 + 2i

FP1-O , ( x, y ) = (1, − 12 )

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 33 (***)
Consider the cubic equation

z 3 + z + 10 = 0 , z ∈ ℂ .

a) Verify that 1 + 2i is a root of this equation.

b) Find the other two roots.

z1 = 1 − 2i, z2 = −2

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 34 (***)
The complex conjugate of z is denoted by z .

Solve the equation

2 z + 3i ( z + 2 )
= 13 + 4i ,
1+ i

giving the answer in the form x + iy , where x and y are real numbers.

z = 3+i

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 35 (***)

z 4 − 8 z 3 + 33 z 2 − 68 z + 52 = 0 , z ∈ ℂ .

One of the roots of the above quartic equation is 2 + 3i .

Find the other roots of the equation.

FP1-O , z = 2 − 3i, z = 2

Question 36 (***)
Find the values of x and y in the equation

x iy 3
+ = , x∈ℝ, y∈ℝ .
2 + i 2 − i 1 − 2i

x=4 , y =5

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 37 (***)
The complex conjugate of z is denoted by z .

Find the two solutions of the equation

( z − i )( z − i ) = 6 z − 22i , z ∈ℂ ,

giving the answers in the form x + iy , where x and y are real numbers.

z1 = 2 + 3i , z2 = 28 + 9 i
5 5

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 38 (***)
Find the value of x and the value of y in the following equation, given further that
x∈ℝ , y∈ℝ .

x 1 − 5i y
= + .
1 + i 3 − 2i 2 − i

FP1-R , ( x, y ) = ( 2,0 )

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 39 (***)
Find the value of z and the value of w in the following simultaneous equations

2 z + 1 = −iw

z − 3 = w + 3i .

z = −1 + 2i, w = −4 − i

Question 40 (***)
It is given that

w
z + 2i = iz + k , k ∈ ℝ and = 2 + 2i , Im w = 8 .
z

Determine the value of k .

k =4

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 41 (***+)
Given that z and w are complex numbers prove that

2 2
z + w − z − w = 4 Re z Re w ,

where w denotes the complex conjugate of w .

FP1-M , proof

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 42 (***+)
Find the three solutions of the equation

4z2 + 4z +1 = 0 , z ∈ ℂ ,

where z denotes the complex conjugate of z .

z = 1 , 1 + i, 1 − i
2 2 2

Question 43 (***+)
The complex numbers z and w are defined as

z = 3+i and w = 1 + 2i .

Determine the possible values of the real constant λ if

z
+λ = λ +2.
w

FP1-N , λ = 0, λ = −1

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 44 (***+)
The complex number z satisfies the equation

z 2 = 3 + 4i .

a) Find the possible values of …

i. … z .

ii. … z 3 .

b) Hence, by showing detailed workings, find a solution of the equation

w6 − 4 w3 + 125 = 0 , w∈ ℂ ,

z = ± ( 2 + i ) , z 3 = 2 ± 11i , w = ± ( 2 + i )

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 45 (***+)
Solve teach of the following equations.

a) z 2 + 2iz + 8 = 0 , z ∈ ℂ .

b) w2 + 16 = 30i , w∈ ℂ .

z1 = 2i, z2 = −4i , w = ± ( 3 + 5i )

Question 46 (***+)
It is given that z = 2 and z = 1 + 2i are solutions of the equation

z 4 − 3 z 3 + az 2 + bz + c = 0 .

where a , b and c are real constants.

Determine the values of a , b and c .

a = 5 , b = −1 , c = −10

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 47 (***+)
The following complex numbers are given

1+ i 2
z= and w = .
1− i 1− i

a) Calculate the modulus of z and the modulus of w .

b) Find the argument of z and the argument of w .

In a standard Argand diagram, the points A , B and C represent the numbers z ,

c) By considering the quadrilateral OABC and the argument of z + w , show that

 3π 
tan   = 1+ 2 .
 8 

π π
z = 1 , w = 1 arg z = , arg w =
2 4

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 48 (***+)
If 1 − 2i is a root of the quartic equation

z 4 − 6 z 3 + 18 z 2 − 30 z + 25 = 0

find the other three roots.

z2 = 1 + 2i, z3 = 2 − i, z4 = 2 + i

Question 49 (****)
The complex conjugate of z is denoted by z .

Solve the equation

z + 2z = z + 2 , z ∈ ℂ .

z =1

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 50 (****)
It is given that

z = cosθ + i sin θ , 0 ≤ z < 2π .

Show clearly that

2 θ 
= 1 − i tan   .
1+ z 2

proof

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 51 (****)

( 3 + 4i )(1 + 2i ) = q
(1 + i ) , q∈ℝ .
1 + 3i

a) Find the value of q .

b) Hence simplify

4
arctan + arctan 2 − arctan 3 ,
3

giving the answer in terms of π .

q = 5 , 1π
2 4

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 52 (****)
The complex conjugate of the complex number z is denoted by z .

Solve the equation

2 z (1 − 2i ) i 2 − 3i
+ = ,
5z 1+2i z

giving the answer in the form x + iy .

z = 5 + 2i

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 53 (****)
It is given that

z = −17 − 6i and w = 3+ i .

Find the value of u given further that

1 3 1
= + .
10u z 2 w

u = −9 − 7i

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 54 (****)
The complex number z is given by

a + bi
z= , a∈ℝ , b∈ℝ .
a − bi

Show clearly that

z 2 + 1 a 2 − b2
= 2 2.
2z a +b

proof

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 55 (****)
It is given that

1 + 8i
z= .
1 − 2i

a) Express z in the form x + iy , where x and y are real numbers.

b) Find the modulus and argument of z .

c) Show clearly that

2
arctan 8 + arctan 2 + arctan =π .
3

z = −3 + 2i , z = 13 , arg z ≈ 2.55c

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 56 (****+)
Solve each of the following equations.

a) z 3 − 27 = 0 .

b) w2 − i ( w − 2 ) = ( w − 2 ) .

z1 = 3, ( )
z2 = 3 −1 ± 3 , w1 = 2i, w2 = 1 − i
2

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 57 (****+)

4 n+ 2 4 n+ 2
z = ( 2 + 3i ) + ( 3 − 2i ) , n∈ℕ.

Show clearly that z = 0 for all n ∈ ℕ .

proof

Question 58 (****+)
The complex conjugate of z is denoted by z .

Show clearly that the equation

2z3 − z = z ,

is satisfied either by z = 0 or z = ±1 .

proof

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 59 (****+)

n n
z = ( 5 + 2i ) + ( 5 − 2i ) , n ∈ ℕ .

Show clearly that z is a real number.

proof

Question 60 (****+)
The complex number z satisfies the relationship

1
z+ = −1 , z ≠ 0 .
z

Show clearly that ….

a) … z 3 = 1 .

b) … z 8 + z 4 + 4 = 3 .

proof

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 61 (****+)

4n 4n
z = ( a + bi ) + ( b + ai ) , a∈ℝ , b∈ℝ , n∈ℕ.

Show that z is a real number.

proof

Question 62 (****+)

z 3 − ( 4 + 2i ) z 2 + ( 4 + 5i ) z − (1 + 3i ) = 0 , z ∈ ℂ .

Given that one of the solutions of the above cubic equation is z = 2 + i , find the other
two solutions.

z = 1 , z = 1+ i

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 63 (*****)
Find the solutions of the equation

4
w4 = 16 (1 − w ) ,

giving the answers in the form x + iy , where x ∈ ℝ , y ∈ ℝ .

SPX-A , z1 = 2, z2 = 2 , z3 = 4 + i 2 , z4 = 4 − i 2
3 5 5 5 5

Question 64 (*****)
Solve the quadratic equation

z 2 − 7 z + 16 = i ( z − 11) , z ∈ ℂ .

FP1-T , z = 2 + 3i, z = 5 − 2i

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 65 (*****)

2 z 2 − ( 3 + 8i ) z − ( m + 4i ) = 0 , z ∈ ℂ .

Given that m is a real constant, find the two solutions of the above equation given
further that one of these solutions is real.

SPX-T , z = 1 , z = 2 + 4i
2

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 66 (*****)
Solve the quadratic equation

z 2 − 4 zi + 4i = 7 , z ∈ ℂ .

SPX-J , z = −2 + 3i, z = 2 + i

Question 67 (*****)

z 4 − 2 z 3 − 2 z 2 + 3z − 4 = 0 , z ∈ ℂ .

By using the substitution w = z 2 − z , or otherwise, find in exact form the four solutions
of the above equation.

1 ± 17 1 ± i 3
SPX-V , z = ,
2 2

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 68 (*****)
Show that if n and m are natural numbers, then the equations

zn = 1+ i

zm = 2 − i ,

have no common solution for z ∈ ℂ .

SPX-I , proof

Question 69 (*****)

z 4 − 2 z 3 + z − 20 = 0 , z ∈ ℂ .

By using the substitution w = z 2 − z , or otherwise, find in exact form the four solutions
of the above equation.

1 ± 21 1 ± i 15
SPX-H , z = ,
2 2

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 70 (*****)
Two distinct complex numbers z1 and z2 are such so that z1 = z2 = r ≠ 0 .

z1 + z2
Show clearly that is purely imaginary.
z1 − z2

2
You may find the result zz = z = r 2 useful.

SPX-G , proof

Question 71 (*****)
The complex number z satisfies the relationship

n n
5 ( z + i ) = ( 4 + 3i )(1 + iz ) , n ∈ ℝ .

Show that z is a real number.

SPX-F , proof

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 72 (*****)
The complex numbers z and w are such so that z = w = 1 .

z+w
Show clearly that is real.
1 + zw

SPX-D , proof

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 73 (*****)

z 3 − 2 ( 2 − i ) z 2 + ( 8 − 3i ) z − 5 + i = 0 , z ∈ ℂ .

Find the three solutions of the above equation given that one of these solutions is real.

SPX-Q , z = 1 , z = 2 − 3i , z = 2 + i

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 74 (*****)
Solve the quadratic equation

i z2 − 2 2 z − 2 3 = 0 , z ∈ ℂ .

Give the answers in the form x + iy , where x and y are exact real constants.

SPX-C , z = −1 + i ( )
3 − 2 , z = 1− i ( 3+ 2 )

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 75 (*****)
The complex number z satisfies the equation

z + 1 + 8i = z (1 + i ) .

Show clearly that

2
z − 18 z + 65 = 0 ,

and hence find the possible values of z .

SPX-B , z = 4 − 3i , z = 12 + 5i

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 76 (*****)

z 3 − ( 2 + 4i ) z 2 − 3 (1 − 3i ) z + 14 − 2i = 0 , z ∈ ℂ .

Find the three solutions of the above equation given that one of these solutions is
purely imaginary.

SPX-E , z = 2i , z = 2 − i , z = −1 + 3i

Created by T. Madas