2000 AIME II Problems/Problem 9

Problem

Given that $z$ is a complex number such that $z+\frac 1z=2\cos 3^\circ$ , find the least integer that is greater than $z^{2000}+\frac 1{z^{2000}}$ .

Solution

Using the quadratic equation on $z^2 - (2 \cos 3 )z + 1 = 0$ , we have $z = \frac{2\cos 3 \pm \sqrt{4\cos^2 3 - 4}}{2} = \cos 3 \pm i\sin 3 = \text{cis}\,3^{\circ}$ .

There are other ways we can come to this conclusion. Note that if $z$ is on the unit circle in the complex plane, then $z = e^{i\theta} = \cos \theta + i\sin \theta$ and $\frac 1z= e^{-i\theta} = \cos \theta - i\sin \theta$ . We have $z+\frac 1z = 2\cos \theta = 2\cos 3^\circ$ and $\theta = 3^\circ$ . Alternatively, we could let $z = a + bi$ and solve to get $z=\cos 3^\circ + i\sin 3^\circ$ .

Using De Moivre's Theorem we have $z^{2000} = \cos 6000^\circ + i\sin 6000^\circ$ , $6000 = 16(360) + 240$ , so $z^{2000} = \cos 240^\circ + i\sin 240^\circ$ .

We want $z^{2000}+\frac 1{z^{2000}} = 2\cos 240^\circ = -1$ .

Finally, the least integer greater than $-1$ is $\boxed{000}$ .

2000 AIME II (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 8	Followed by Problem 10
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2000 AIME II Problems/Problem 9

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