For the imaginary unit i, where i^2 = -1, let z be the complex number defined by z = \frac… — ACT

For the imaginary unit $i$ , where $i^2 = -1$ , let $z$ be the complex number defined by $z = \frac{10 + ki}{2 - i}$ , where $k$ is a real constant. If the imaginary part of $z$ is $4$ , what is the value of $k$ ?

Answer: 5

Answer

The value of

k

5

Multiplying the numerator and denominator of

z = \frac{10 + ki}{2 - i}

by the complex conjugate

2 + i

gives

z = \frac{(20 - k) + (10 + 2k)i}{5}

. The imaginary part is

\frac{10 + 2k}{5}

. Setting this expression equal to

4

and solving for

k

yields

k = 5

Step-by-Step Solution

Multiply the numerator and denominator of the fraction by the complex conjugate of the denominator, which is

2 + i

z = \frac{(10 + ki)(2 + i)}{(2 - i)(2 + i)}

To eliminate the imaginary unit from the denominator and express the complex number in standard form.

Expand both the numerator and the denominator, using the property

i^2 = -1

z = \frac{20 + 10i + 2ki + ki^2}{4 - i^2} = \frac{(20 - k) + (10 + 2k)i}{5}

To separate the real terms and imaginary terms in the numerator and simplify the denominator to a real number.

Express the complex number in standard form

a + bi

to identify the imaginary part.

z = \frac{20 - k}{5} + \left(\frac{10 + 2k}{5}\right)i

The imaginary part of a complex number is the coefficient of

i

, which is

\frac{10 + 2k}{5}

Set the imaginary part equal to

4

and solve the linear equation for

k

\frac{10 + 2k}{5} = 4 \implies 10 + 2k = 20 \implies 2k = 10 \implies k = 5

To find the specific value of the constant

k

that makes the imaginary part of

z

equal to

4

Key Concept

Rationalizing complex numbers and identifying real and imaginary components

Question

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Step-by-Step Solution

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