Function of A Complex Variable

Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
2 replies · 2K views
darkchild
Messages
153
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


If[tex]z=e^{2\pi i/5}[/tex], then [tex]1+z+z^{2}+z^{3}+5z^{4}+4z^{5}+4z^{6}+4z^{7}+4z^{8}+5z^{9}=[/tex]

(A) 0

(B) [tex]4e^{3\pi i/5}[/tex]

(C) [tex]5e^{4\pi i/5}[/tex]

(D) [tex]-4e^{2\pi i/5}[/tex]

(E)[tex]-5e^{3\pi i/5}[/tex]


Homework Equations


[tex]e^{2\pi i}=\cos(2\pi)+isin(2\pi)=1[/tex]

The Attempt at a Solution


I plugged [tex]z=1[/tex] into the equation and calculated 30. None of the answer choices is equal to 30. I'm thinking that maybe I have to do something with the fifth roots of unity, but I'm not sure what.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
You might want to use that the sum of the five fifth roots of unity is zero.
 
Studying for the Math GRE, eh? :biggrin:

Anyway, I was just going to add that the fact that Dick mentioned comes from the factorization of [itex]z^5 - 1[/itex]. Letting [itex]\zeta = e^{{2 \pi i}/{5}}[/itex] (I want z for my variable), which is a primitive 5th root of unity, we have

[tex] z^5 - 1 = (z - 1)(z- \zeta)(z - \zeta^2)(z - \zeta^3)(z - \zeta^4)[/tex]

Calculating the coefficient for z4 yields the identity.