Difference between revisions of "2008 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 23"

(New page: ==Problem== The solutions of the equation <math>z^4+4z^3i-6z^2-4zi-i=0</math> are the vertices of a convex polygon in the complex plane. What is the area of the polygon? <math>\textbf{(A)...)
 
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==Solution==
 
==Solution==
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Looking at the coefficients, we are immediately reminded of the binomial expansion of <math>{\left(x+1\right)}^{4}</math>.
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 +
Modifying this slightly, we can write the given equation as:
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<cmath>  {\left(x+i\right)}^{4}=1+i=2^{\frac{1}{2}}\cdot \text{cis}\, \frac {\pi}{4} </cmath>
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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>
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 +
Because the roots of this equation are created by rotating <math>\frac{\pi}{2}</math> radians successively about the origin, the quadrilateral is a square.
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 +
We know that half the diagonal length of the square is <math>{\left(2^{\frac{1}{2}}\right)}^{\frac{1}{4}}=2^{\frac{1}{8}}</math>
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 +
Therefore, the area of the square is:
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<cmath> \frac{\left( 2 \cdot 2^{\frac{1}{8} \right)}^{2}}{2}=\frac{2^{\frac{9}{4}}}{2}=2^{\frac{5}{4}} \Rightarrow D. </cmath>
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
 
{{AMC12 box|year=2008|ab=A|num-b=22|num-a=24}}
 
{{AMC12 box|year=2008|ab=A|num-b=22|num-a=24}}
[[Collatz Problem]]
 

Revision as of 17:04, 19 February 2008

Problem

The solutions of the equation $z^4+4z^3i-6z^2-4zi-i=0$ are the vertices of a convex polygon in the complex plane. What is the area of the polygon?

$\textbf{(A)}\ 2^{\frac{5}{8}} \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 2^{\frac{3}{4}} \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 2 \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 2^{\frac{5}{4}} \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 2^{\frac{3}{2}}$

Solution

Looking at the coefficients, we are immediately reminded of the binomial expansion of ${\left(x+1\right)}^{4}$.

Modifying this slightly, we can write the given equation as: \[{\left(x+i\right)}^{4}=1+i=2^{\frac{1}{2}}\cdot \text{cis}\, \frac {\pi}{4}\] We can apply a translation of $-i$ and a rotation of $-\frac{\pi}{4}$ (both operations preserve area) to simplify the problem: \[z^{4}=2^{\frac{1}{2}}\]

Because the roots of this equation are created by rotating $\frac{\pi}{2}$ radians successively about the origin, the quadrilateral is a square.

We know that half the diagonal length of the square is ${\left(2^{\frac{1}{2}}\right)}^{\frac{1}{4}}=2^{\frac{1}{8}}$

Therefore, the area of the square is:

\[\frac{\left( 2 \cdot 2^{\frac{1}{8} \right)}^{2}}{2}=\frac{2^{\frac{9}{4}}}{2}=2^{\frac{5}{4}} \Rightarrow D.\] (Error compiling LaTeX. Unknown error_msg)

See Also

2008 AMC 12A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
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