Checking the answer to complex number question

rock.freak667
Homework Helper
Messages
6,221
Reaction score
31

Homework Statement


Find an equation connecting x and y for which (z-1)/(z+1) has an argument \alpha


Homework Equations


z=x+iy

arg(z)=tan-1(y/x)


The Attempt at a Solution



\frac{z-1}{z+1}

Substituting z=x+iy

\Rightarrow \frac{z-1}{z+1}=\frac{(x-1)+iy}{(x+1)+iy}

Realizing

\frac{(x+1)(x-1)+iy(x+1)-iy(x-1)-i^2y^2}{(x+1)^2+y^2}

Re:i2=-1

= \frac{x^2+y^2-1}{(x+1)^2+y^2} +i \frac{2y}{(x+1)^2+y^2}

Thus

tan\alpha = \frac{2y}{x^2+y^2-1}

Is this correct? Or should I just put in the form of a circle?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
rock.freak667 said:
Find an equation connecting x and y for which (z-1)/(z+1) has an argument \alpha

Thus

tan\alpha = \frac{2y}{x^2+y^2-1}

Is this correct? Or should I just put in the form of a circle

Hi rock.freak667! :smile:

Yes, that's messy! :biggrin:

Definitely put it in the form of a nice circle (x² + (y-a)² = b²)! :wink:
 
There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...
Back
Top