ver_mathstats said:Homework Statement
Find the value of (-√3 + i)43/243
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
I do not know how to really go about this problem.
I know that i0=1, i1=i, i2=-1, i3=-i, and I tried to use that to help but I got to no where, I also tried to break up the exponent into smaller numbers however that did not work for me either. So I could use some help to better understand.
Thank you.
Yes thank you, I was planning on trying that.Ray Vickson said:Instead of converting to polar form, you could also do it directly, using a binomial expansion:
$$\text{Answer} = \sum_{k=0}^{43} {43 \choose k} (-1)^k \, 3^{k/2} \, i^{43-k}$$
Unless you have a lot of spare time I would not recommend you do this manually, but it is actually the method used by some computer algebra systems.
Thank you. That's what I was thinking of doing since the homework question wants us to answer in the form a+bi, however when we do that we would change the exponent for both the numerator and denominator correct?Orodruin said:Yet another method to minimize actual computations if not going to polar form:
In your case you could also simplify a bit by computing a few powers of ##z## just by repeated multiplication. Try multiplying ##z^2##, ##z^3##, ##z^4## for some time to see if you get something nicer ...
- Compute ##z^2##, then ##z^4 = z^2 z^2## using the result, then ##z^8 = z^4z^4##, etc
- Write ##z^{43} = z^{32}z^{11} = z^{32}z^8z^3 = z^{32}z^8 z^2 z##.
Thank you for your response. In our math class we are almost always required to answer in the form a + bi.DaveE said:A general comment about complex notation:
In math class complex numbers are often written in the rectangular form ( a + bi ), This is good for addition and subtraction calculations.
However, out in the real world where people work with complex numbers, they almost always use the polar form ( c*edi ). The polar form is much easier to work with for multiplication, exponents, etc. I think it's also easier to understand the physical interpretations of polar form, but that may just be a personal preference.
Would the correct answer be √3/2-1/2i?Orodruin said:Yet another method to minimize actual computations if not going to polar form:
In your case you could also simplify a bit by computing a few powers of ##z## just by repeated multiplication. Try multiplying ##z^2##, ##z^3##, ##z^4## for some time to see if you get something nicer ...
- Compute ##z^2##, then ##z^4 = z^2 z^2## using the result, then ##z^8 = z^4z^4##, etc
- Write ##z^{43} = z^{32}z^{11} = z^{32}z^8z^3 = z^{32}z^8 z^2 z##.
ver_mathstats said:Thank you for your response. In our math class we are almost always required to answer in the form a + bi.
To find the value of a complex number with a high exponent, you can use the polar form of the complex number. This involves converting the complex number into its magnitude and angle form, raising it to the desired exponent, and then converting it back to rectangular form. This method is known as De Moivre's theorem.
Yes, most scientific calculators have a function for calculating complex numbers with high exponents. You can use the "power" or "exponent" button and enter the complex number and exponent to get the result. However, it is important to make sure your calculator is set to the correct mode (polar or rectangular) before performing the calculation.
The polar form involves converting the complex number into its magnitude and angle form, which can be easier to work with when dealing with high exponents. The rectangular form, on the other hand, is the standard form of representing complex numbers and may be more familiar to some individuals. Both methods will yield the same result.
Yes, when the exponent is a multiple of 4 (4, 8, 12, etc.), the result will always be a real number. This is because the angle of the complex number will be a multiple of 90 degrees, resulting in a real number when raised to a power. In all other cases, the result will be a complex number.
Yes, De Moivre's theorem can be extended to work with non-integer exponents. In this case, the complex number will be raised to a power using the binomial theorem. The resulting answer will be a complex number in polar form, which can then be converted back to rectangular form if needed.