CAIE A-Level Further Math A2 2.5 Complex Numbers Questions

Practise using de Moivre's theorem to expand trig identities, solve complex root equations, and link powers with multiple angles.

Syllabus
2028–2030
Course
Further Mathematics 9231
Level
A2

Exam points

  • expand (cos θ+i sin θ)^n or z±z^-1 to prove multiple-angle identities
  • convert complex numbers to re^iθ and list all roots within the required argument range

Question 1

[Maximum number: 5]

Find the roots of the equation (z+5i)3=4+43i(z+5 \mathrm{i})^{3}=4+4 \sqrt{3} \mathrm{i}, giving your answers in the form rcos⁡θ+i(rsin⁡θ−5)r \cos \theta+\mathrm{i}(r \sin \theta-5), where r>0 and 0<θ<2π0<\theta<2 \pi.

Question 2

[Maximum number: 8]

Question (a)

(a)

State the sum of the series 1+z+z2+…+zn−11+z+z^{2}+\ldots+z^{n-1}, for z≠1z \neq 1.

[ 1 ]

Question (b)

(b)

By letting z=cos⁡θ+isin⁡θz=\cos \theta+\mathrm{i} \sin \theta, where cos⁡θ≠1\cos \theta \neq 1, show that

1+cos⁡θ+cos⁡2θ+…+cos⁡(n−1)θ=12(1−cos⁡nθ+sin⁡nθsin⁡θ1−cos⁡θ).1+\cos \theta+\cos 2 \theta+\ldots+\cos (n-1) \theta=\frac{1}{2}\left(1-\cos n \theta+\frac{\sin n \theta \sin \theta}{1-\cos \theta}\right) .
Figure for Question (b) — CAIE A-Level Further Math A2

The diagram shows the curve with equation y=cos⁡xy=\cos x for 0⩽x⩽10 \leqslant x \leqslant 1, together with a set of n rectangles of width 1n\frac{1}{n}.

[ 7 ]

Question 3

[Maximum number: 8]

Question (a)

(a)

Use de Moivre's theorem to show that

cos⁡5θ=16cos⁡5θ−20cos⁡3θ+5cos⁡θ\cos 5 \theta=16 \cos ^{5} \theta-20 \cos ^{3} \theta+5 \cos \theta
[ 4 ]

Question (b)

(b)

Hence obtain the roots of the equation

32x5−40x3+10x−2=032 x^{5}-40 x^{3}+10 x-\sqrt{2}=0

in the form cos⁡(qπ)\cos (q \pi), where q is a rational number.

[ 4 ]
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