Complex imaginary Number Problem

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a problem involving complex numbers, specifically the expression w = (z + 8i) / (z - 6), where z is defined as x + yi. Participants are tasked with showing that if w is totally imaginary, then x² + y² + 2x - 48 = 0.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss substituting z into the expression for w and express difficulties in eliminating the imaginary component. There are attempts to use the complex conjugate to simplify the expression, but confusion arises regarding the correct application and the interpretation of "totally imaginary."

Discussion Status

There is ongoing exploration of the problem with various participants sharing their attempts and questioning each other's work. Some guidance has been offered regarding the use of the complex conjugate and the implications of w being purely imaginary, but no consensus has been reached on the correct approach or solution.

Contextual Notes

Participants express confusion about the definitions and implications of terms used in the problem, particularly regarding the nature of imaginary numbers and the requirements for w to be considered totally imaginary. There is also mention of potential transcription errors in the problem statement.

crays
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Hi, i have this question which is related to complex number and i have just no idea how i should solve it. Some guide and help please.

Given that z = x + yi and w = (z+8i)/(z-6) , z [tex]\neq[/tex] 6. If w is totally imaginary, show that x^2 + y^2 + 2x - 48 = 0

I've tried a lot of way comparing them. Just can't work.
I substituted z into w but end up still with a w. How can i get rid of the w?
 
Last edited:
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Hi crays! :smile:
crays said:
I substituted z into w but end up still with a w.

You should really have shown us what you got, otherwise we can't see where you went wrong.

Hint: multiply top and bottom by the complex conjugate of (z - 6). :smile:
 
i tried using the conjugate way. The equation formed is extremely long @_@.
Here is it:

(x^2 - y^2 + 2x + 14yi + 48i) / (x^2 - y^2 - 36)

There is still i in it @_@.
 
You could just substitute the z into the expression for w, multiply the denominator with its complex conjugate. You are given that w is imaginary, so what does that say about that expression you have?

Anyway, I didn't manage to get that answer you gave. Did you transcribe the question correctly?
 
crays said:
(x^2 - y^2 + 2x + 14yi + 48i) / (x^2 - y^2 - 36)

There is still i in it @_@.

crays, there's supposed t be an i in it! :rolleyes:

w has to be purely imaginary … that's zero plus something-times-i.

If your equation were correct, the solution would be x² - y² + 2x = 0.

You have a minus wrong, and the 48 seems to be in the wrong place …

show us your working! :smile:
 
w = imaginary means that the whole w equation = imaginary ? I don't really understand how does that helps tho. Erm yes, i'll repeat my question here again

Given that z = x + yi and w = (z+8i)/(z-6) , z =/= 6 , show that x^2 + y^2 + 2x - 48 = 0
 
crays said:
Hi, i have this question which is related to complex number and i have just no idea how i should solve it. Some guide and help please.

Given that z = x + yi and w = (z+8i)/(z-6) , z [tex]\neq[/tex] 6. If w is totally imaginary, show that x^2 + y^2 + 2x - 48 = 0

I've tried a lot of way comparing them. Just can't work.
I substituted z into w but end up still with a w. How can i get rid of the w?

You don't want to get rid of the w, you want to use the fact that it is "totally imaginary"-i.e., its real part is 0. If you put z= x+ yi into w, what is the real part of 0?
 
Okay, my working :
(z + 8i) / (z - 6) x (z + 6) / (z + 6)
= (z² - 6z + 8zi + 48i) / (z² - 36)
= [(x+yi)² - 6(x+yi) + 8(x+yi)i + 48i] / (x+yi)² - 36)
= (x² - y² - 6x + 6yi + 8x + 8yi + 48i) / (x² - y² - 36)
= (x² - y² + 2x + 14yi + 48i) / (x² - y² - 36)
 
HallsofIvy said:
You don't want to get rid of the w, you want to use the fact that it is "totally imaginary"-i.e., its real part is 0. If you put z= x+ yi into w, what is the real part of 0?

My teacher did not explain it properly. What does TOTALLY imaginary means? Means the whole equation is imaginary ? means there is no real number there? I'm confused @_@
 
  • #10
Neither z+6 nor z-6 is not the complex conjugate of z-6. Your denominator is still complex.
 
  • #11
crays said:
(z + 8i) / (z - 6) x (z + 6) / (z + 6)

crays, the conjugate of z - 6 is not z +6, is it? :frown:

Hint: put z - 6 = x - 6 + yi. :smile:
 
  • #12
An expression is totally imaginary or pure imaginary if the real part is identically zero.
 
  • #13
So sorry my maths foundation and expansion is still not good enough. Here is my new one, (hopefully without error)

(x² - y² + 2x + 2yi - 48i) / (x² - y² - 36)

D H @ I don't really get it, so 0 is imaginary ?
 
  • #14
crays said:
(x² - y² + 2x + 2yi - 48i) / (x² - y² - 36)
Show your work, please.

D H @ I don't really get it, so 0 is imaginary ?
The same question (is zero real or imaginary) can be applied to the real numbers: is zero positive or negative? Zero can be viewed as both positive and negative, or as neither positive nor negative. The same applies to complex numbers. Zero is a special case.
 
  • #15
(x² - y² - 36) is wrong.

Hint: what is (x - 6 - yi)(x - 6 + yi) ? :smile:
 
  • #16
Sorry, here is my working.

[ (Z + 8i) / ( z - 6 ) ] x [ (z - 6) / (z - 6) ]
= (z² - 6z + 8zi - 48i) / (z² - 36)
= (x² - y² - 6x - 6yi + 8x + 8yi - 48i) / ( x² - y² - 36 )
= (x² - y² + 2x + 2yi - 48i) / (x² - y² - 36)
 
  • #17
crays, both D H and I have told you that z+6 is not the complex conjugate of z-6.

Follow the hint! :smile:
 
  • #18
i am, just that i posted before you posted lol. Thanks.
here it is, following ur hints, I've got.

(x² - y² + 2x + 2yi - 48i) / (x² - 12x + 2xyi + 36 - 12yi - y²)
 
  • #19
crays said:
i am, just that i posted before you posted lol. Thanks.
here it is, following ur hints, I've got.

(x² - y² + 2x + 2yi - 48i) / (x² - 12x + 2xyi + 36 - 12yi - y²)

Nooo. Let's concentrate on the denominator …

it should be purely real, shouldn't it?

The x² - 12x + 36 is correct, but the y part shouldn't have any i, should it? :smile:
 
  • #20
finally! thanks.

I've got it cause in z there is no imaginary number so i must expand it first right?
with that I've found (denominator)
x² - 12x + 36 + y²
 
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  • #21
crays said:
finally! thanks.

I've got it cause in z there is no imaginary number so i must expand it first right?
with that I've found (denominator)
x² - 12x + 36 + y²

crays, before we go any further, can you please check the question …

is w = (z+8i)/(z-6), or is w = (z+8)/(z-6) ?

(I only get the right answer with the latter. :confused: )
 
  • #22
Yes, the book says w = (z + 8i) / (z-6). Apparently my friend tried the question too but we both got stucked with (x² - y² -6x +8y -6yi + 8xi -48i)/(x² -12x + 36 + y²)
 
  • #23
crays said:
Yes, the book says w = (z + 8i) / (z-6). Apparently my friend tried the question too but we both got stucked with (x² - y² -6x +8y -6yi + 8xi -48i)/(x² -12x + 36 + y²)

ok … see what happens with w = (z+8)/(z-6) :smile:
 

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