What is the imaginary part of each expression?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around identifying the imaginary parts of various complex expressions. Participants are examining different forms of complex numbers and their components, particularly focusing on how to express them correctly.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants attempt to identify the imaginary parts of several expressions, questioning the correctness of their interpretations. There is a specific focus on the fifth expression and the implications of having 'i' in the denominator. Some participants suggest methods to manipulate the expressions to clarify the imaginary parts.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants providing feedback on each other's interpretations. Some guidance has been offered regarding the proper form of complex numbers, particularly emphasizing that 'i' should not be in the denominator. There is ongoing exploration of the implications of this for the fifth expression.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of homework rules, which may limit the depth of exploration into the concepts. There is also a noted confusion regarding the manipulation of terms in the fifth expression, leading to differing interpretations of the imaginary part.

UrbanXrisis
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I am supposed to identify the imaginary part (marked in bold) of each expression, just wanted to see if I got them correct:

1. (1+i)+(1-i) ......0
2. (5+i)+(1+5i) ......6
3. (5+i)-(1-5i) ......6
4. 1+2i+3+4i+5 ......6
5. [tex]S=1+\frac{1}{2i}+\frac{1}{4}+\frac{1}{8i}+\frac{1}{16}+\frac{1}{32i}+\frac{1}{64}+...[/tex]

using the geometric series: (.5)/(1-.25)=2/3=1/1.5i
does this mean the imaginary part is 1.5 since the i is in the denominator? or is it 1.5?

6. a and b are constants
a+bi ......b
7. (a+ib)^2 ......2ab
8. (a+bi)(b+ia) ......a^2+b^2
9. (ia)^3 ......-a^3
10. a(a+i)(a+2i) ......3a^2

are these correct?
 
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The way I see it, everything is correct except the 5th one
If the complex number is in the form: a + ib then a is the real part, and b is the imaginary part. You must do something to make it have the form a + ib, i.e i cannot be in the denominator, it must be in the numerator.
Hint:
[tex]\frac{a}{ib} = \frac{ia}{i ^ 2b} = -\frac{ia}{b}[/tex]
Multiply both numerator and denominator by i. :smile:
 
then it is -1/15?
 
UrbanXrisis said:
then it is -1/15?
Nope, you should check your answer again.
The first term is -1 / 2, and the common ratio is still 1 / 4.
It should be -2 / 3. Shouldn't it? :smile:
 
The imaginary part of
[tex]S=1+\frac{1}{2i}+\frac{1}{4}+\frac{1}{8i}+\frac{1} {16}+\frac{1}{32i}+\frac{1}{64}+...[/tex]
is
[tex]S=\frac{1}{2i}+\frac{1}{8i}+\frac{1}{32i}+...[/tex]
which is indeed, a geometric sequence,
[tex]S= \frac{1}{2i}\left(1+ \frac{1}{4}+ \frac{1}{16}+...\right)[/tex]
having sum
[tex]\frac{1}{2i}\frac{1}{1- \frac{1}{4}}[/tex]
[tex]= \frac{1}{2i}\frac{4}{3}= \frac{2}{3}\frac{1}{i}[/tex]
which is what you got. The only question is "what do you do with that 1/i?"

Well, i*i= -1, of course, so i(-i)= -(-1)= 1. -i is the multiplicative inverse of i: 1/i= -i.
[tex]\frac{2}{3}\frac{1}{i}= -\frac{2}{3}i[/tex].
 

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