EdExcel Pure Mathematics 1

Complex Numbers
Topic assessment
1. Solve the equation z² + 2z + 10 = 0.
Find the modulus and argument of each root. [5]

2. The complex number α is given by α = –2 + 5i.

(i) Write down the complex conjugate α*. [1]
(ii) Find the modulus and argument of α. [3]
α +α *
(iii) Find in the form a + bi. [3]
α

3. Find the complex number z which satisfies (2 + i) z + (3 − 2i) z* = 32 . [5]

4. (i) Given that w = 1 + 2i, express w², w³ and w4 in the form a + bi. [5]
(ii) Given that w is a root of the equation z + pz + qz − 6 z + 65 = 0 , find the
4 3 2

values of p and q. [5]

(iii) Write down a second root of the equation. [1]
(iv) Find the other two roots of the equation. [6]

5. Complex numbers α and β are given by

⎛ π π⎞ ⎛ 5π 5π ⎞
α = 2 ⎜ cos + i sin ⎟ , β = 4 2 ⎜ cos + i sin ⎟
⎝ 8 8⎠ ⎝ 8 8 ⎠
(i) Write down the modulus and argument of each of the complex numbers α
and β. Illustrate these two complex numbers on an Argand diagram. [3]
(ii) Indicate a length on your diagram which is equal to β − α , and show that
β −α = 6 . [3]

6. (i) Show that z1 = 2 + i is one of the roots of the equation z² – 4z + 5 = 0.

Find the other root, z2. [3]
1 1 4
(ii) Show that + = . [3]
z1 z2 5
(iii) Show also that Im (z1² + z2²) = 0 and find Re (z1² – z2²). [4]

Total 50 marks

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EdExcel FP1 Complex numbers Assessment solutions

Solutions to Topic assessment

1. z 2 + 2 z + 10 = 0
−2 ± 2 2 − 4 × 1 × 10
Using the quadratic formula, z =
2
−2 ± −36
=
2
−2 ± 6i
=
2
= −1 ± 3i

−1 + 3i = 1 2 + 3 2 = 10
(-1 + 3i) is in the second quadrant,
3
so arg( −1 + 3i) = arctan ⎛⎜ ⎞⎟ + π = 1.89 (3 s.f.)
⎝ −1 ⎠

−1 − 3i = 10
arg( −1 − 3i) = −1.89
[5]
2. α = −2 + 5 i
(i) α * = −2 − 5 i
[1]
(ii) α = 2 2 + 5 2 = 29
5 ⎞
α is in the second quadrant, so arg α = π + arctan ⎛⎜ ⎟
⎝ −2 ⎠
= π − 1.19
= 1.95 (3 s.f.)
[3]
α + α * −2 + 5 i − 2 − 5 i
(iii) =
α −2 + 5 i
−4
=
−2 + 5 i
−4( −2 − 5 i)
=
( −2 + 5 i)( −2 − 5 i)
8 + 20i 8 20
= = + i
29 29 29
[3]

3. (2 + i)z + (3 − 2i)z * = 32
Let z = x + iy
(2 + i)( x + iy ) + (3 − 2i)( x − iy ) = 32
2 x + ix + 2iy − y + 3 x − 2ix − 3iy − 2 y = 32
5 x − 3 y − ix − iy = 32

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EdExcel FP1 Complex numbers Assessment solutions
Equating imaginary parts: −x − y = 0 ⇒ y = −x
Equating real parts: 5 x − 3 y = 32 ⇒ 5 x + 3 x = 32
⇒ 8 x = 32
⇒ x = 4, y = −4
so z = 4 – 4i.
[5]

4. (i) w = 1 + 2i
w 2 = (1 + 2i)(1 + 2i) = 1 + 4i − 4 = −3 + 4i
w 3 = ( −3 + 4i)(1 + 2i) = −3 − 2i − 8 = −11 − 2i
w 4 = ( −11 − 2i)(1 + 2i) = −11 − 24i + 4 = −7 − 24i
[5]
(ii) z + pz + qz − 6 z + 65 = 0
4 3 2

−7 − 24i + p( −11 − 2i) + q( −3 + 4i) − 6(1 + 2i) + 65 = 0

Equating real parts: −7 − 11 p − 3q − 6 + 65 = 0

11 p + 3q = 52 c
Equating imaginary parts: −24 − 2 p + 4q − 12 = 0
p − 2q = −18 d
2 ×c + 3 ×d : 25 p = 50 ⇒ p = 2, q = 10
[5]
(iii) A second root of the equation is w * = 1 − 2i .
[1]
(iv)A quadratic factor is ( z − 1 − 2i )( z − 1 + 2i ) = ( z − 1) + 4
2

= z 2 − 2z + 1 + 4
= z 2 − 2z + 5
z 4 + 2 z 3 + 10z 2 − 6 z + 65 = ( z 2 − 2 z + 5 )( z 2 + 4z + 13)
The other two roots are the roots of the quadratic equation
z 2 + 4z + 13 = 0
−4 ± 16 − 4 × 1 × 13
z=
2
−4 ± −36
=
2
−4 ± 6i
=
2
= −2 ± 3i
The other two roots are -2 + 3i and -2 – 3i.
[6]

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EdExcel FP1 Complex numbers Assessment solutions

π π⎞
5. (i) α = 2 ⎛⎜ cos + i sin ⎟ Im
⎝ 8 8⎠
α =2 β
π β −α
argα =
8
4 2 π
8 α
5π 5π ⎞
β = 4 2 ⎛⎜ cos + i sin ⎟ π 2
⎝ 8 8 ⎠ 8

β =4 2 Re
5π
arg β =
8
[3]
(ii) The triangle is a right-angled triangle,
so β − α = 2 2 + (4 2 )2
2

= 4 + 32
= 36
β −α = 6
[3]

6. (i) z 12 − 4z + 5 = (2 + i)2 − 4(2 + i) + 5

= 4 + 4i − 1 − 8 − 4i + 5
=0
The other root, z 2 = z 1 * = 2 − i
[3]
1 1 1 1
(ii) + = +
z1 z2 2 + i 2 − i
2 −i +2 +i
=
(2 + i)(2 − i)
4
=
4+1
4
=
5
[3]
(iii) z + z = (2 + i) + (2 − i)
2
1
2
2
2 2

= 4 + 4i − 1 + 4 − 4i − 1
=6
Im ( z 1 + z 22 ) = 0
2

z 12 − z 22 = (2 + i)2 − (2 − i)2
= 4 + 4i − 1 − 4 + 4i + 1
= 8i

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EdExcel FP1 Complex numbers Assessment solutions

Re ( z 12 − z 22 ) = 0
[4]

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