Difference between revisions of "2008 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 23"
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Modifying this slightly, we can write the given equation as: | Modifying this slightly, we can write the given equation as: | ||
− | <cmath> {\left(z+i\right)}^{4}=1+i=2^{\frac{1}{2}}\ | + | <cmath> {\left(z+i\right)}^{4}=1+i=2^{\frac{1}{2}}\cos \frac {\pi}{4} + 2^{\frac{1}{2}}i\sin \frac {\pi}{4} </cmath> |
We can apply a translation of <math>-i</math> and a rotation of <math>-\frac{\pi}{4}</math> (both operations preserve area) to simplify the problem: | We can apply a translation of <math>-i</math> and a rotation of <math>-\frac{\pi}{4}</math> (both operations preserve area) to simplify the problem: | ||
<cmath>z^{4}=2^{\frac{1}{2}}</cmath> | <cmath>z^{4}=2^{\frac{1}{2}}</cmath> |
Latest revision as of 01:38, 10 November 2019
Problem
The solutions of the equation are the vertices of a convex polygon in the complex plane. What is the area of the polygon?
Solution
Looking at the coefficients, we are immediately reminded of the binomial expansion of .
Modifying this slightly, we can write the given equation as: We can apply a translation of and a rotation of (both operations preserve area) to simplify the problem:
Because the roots of this equation are created by rotating radians successively about the origin, the quadrilateral is a square.
We know that half the diagonal length of the square is
Therefore, the area of the square is
See Also
2008 AMC 12A (Problems • Answer Key • Resources) | |
Preceded by Problem 22 |
Followed by Problem 24 |
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 | |
All AMC 12 Problems and Solutions |
The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions.