Thursday, 15 March 2018

complex numbers - Find smallest positive integer k such that zz2z3...zk is real

The question I have been given is
Given that z=2eiπ7, find the smallest positive integer of k such that z×z2×z3×...×zk is real, and state the value of |z×z2×z3×...×zk| in this case.



A previous part of the question had me show that for any complex number z=reiθ, z×z2×z3×...×zk=(reiθ)k(k+1)2, which I achieved using de Moivre's Theorem




Here's what I've tried doing;
Using Euler's Identity, I expanded the product to



cos(k(k+1)π72)+isin(k(k+1)π72)



For a number to be real, I know that it's imaginary component must equal zero, so I figured that I would have to find the smallest positive integer of k that satisfies the equation



sin(k(k+1)π72)=0



From here, I tried the following;
k(k+1)π72=arcsin0=0+aπaZ

k(k+1)=2aππ7
k2+k=14a
k2+k14a=0
k=1±156a2
I'm not sure where to go from here. If a was a defined constant, I could easily find k, however, because it isn't and I'm trying to find the smallest positive integer. According to the textbook, the solution is k=6, giving a modulus of 221, but I do not understand how they came to this answer. I think I've gone about this the wrong way and there is probably a simpler method.



Edit: Fixed my dumb arcsin0 mistake..

No comments:

Post a Comment

real analysis - How to find limhrightarrow0fracsin(ha)h

How to find lim without lhopital rule? I know when I use lhopital I easy get $$ \lim_{h\rightarrow 0}...