2021 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 13

Problem

Of the following complex numbers $z$ , which one has the property that $z^5$ has the greatest real part?

$\textbf{(A) }-2 \qquad \textbf{(B) }-\sqrt3+i \qquad \textbf{(C) }-\sqrt2+\sqrt2 i \qquad \textbf{(D) }-1+\sqrt3 i\qquad \textbf{(E) }2i$

Solution 1 (Degrees)

First, $\textbf{(B)} = 2\text{cis}(150), \textbf{(C)} =2\text{cis}(135)$ $, \textbf{(D)} =2\text{cis}(120)$ .

Taking the real part of the 5th power of each we have:

$\textbf{(A): }(-2)^5=-32$ ,

$\textbf{(B): }32\cos(650)=32\cos(30)=16\sqrt{3}$

$\textbf{(C): }32\cos(675)=32\cos(-45)=16\sqrt{2}$

$\textbf{(D): }32\cos(600)=32\cos(240)$ which is negative

$\textbf{(E): }(2i)^5$ which is zero

Thus, the answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(B)}}$ . ~JHawk0224

Solution 2 (Radians)

For every complex number $z=a+bi,$ where $a$ and $b$ are real numbers and $i=\sqrt{-1},$ its magnitude is $|z|=\sqrt{a^2+b^2}.$ For each answer choice, we get that the magnitude is $2.$

We rewrite each answer choice to the polar form $z=re^{i\theta}.$ By De Moivre's Theorem, the real part of $z^5$ is $\mathrm{Re}\left(z^5\right)=r^5\cos{(5\theta)}.$ We construct a table as follows: $\begin{array}{c|ccc|cclclclcc} & & & & & & & & & & & & \\ [-2ex] \textbf{Choice} & & \boldsymbol{\theta} & & & & & & \hspace{0.75mm} \boldsymbol{\mathrm{Re}\left(z^5\right)} & & & & \\ [0.5ex] \hline & & & & & & & & & & & & \\ [-1ex] \textbf{(A)} & & \pi & & & &32\cos{(5\pi)}&=&32\cos\pi&=&32(-1)& & \\ [2ex] \textbf{(B)} & & \frac{5\pi}{6} & & & &32\cos{\frac{25\pi}{6}}&=&32\cos{\frac{\pi}{6}}&=&32\left(\frac{\sqrt3}{2}\right)& & \\ [2ex] \textbf{(C)} & & \frac{3\pi}{4} & & & &32\cos{\frac{15\pi}{4}}&=&32\cos{\frac{7\pi}{4}}&=&32\left(\frac{\sqrt2}{2}\right)& & \\ [2ex] \textbf{(D)} & & \frac{2\pi}{3} & & & &32\cos{\frac{10\pi}{3}}&=&32\cos{\frac{4\pi}{3}}&=&32\left(-\frac{1}{2}\right)& & \\ [2ex] \textbf{(E)} & & \frac{\pi}{2} & & & &32\cos{\frac{5\pi}{2}}&=&32\cos{\frac{\pi}{2}}&=&32\left(0\right)& & \\ [1ex] \end{array}$ Clearly, the answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(B) }-\sqrt3+i}.$

~MRENTHUSIASM

Video Solution by Punxsutawney Phil

https://youtube.com/watch?v=FD9BE7hpRvg

Video Solution by Hawk Math

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjQARBvdZ20

Video Solution by OmegaLearn (Using Polar Form and de Moivre's Theorem)

https://youtu.be/2qXVQ5vBKWQ

~ pi_is_3.14

Solution 5

Video Solution by TheBeautyofMath

https://youtu.be/ySWSHyY9TwI?t=568

~IceMatrix

2021 AMC 12A (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 12	Followed by Problem 14
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