Question

Difficulty: MediumComplex Numbers and Operations

Let the complex number zz be defined as z=(43i)(1+2i)+5i14z = (4 - 3i)(1 + 2i) + 5i^{14}, where i=1i = \sqrt{-1}. What is the real part of zz?

Answer: 5

Answer

The real part of the complex number zz is 55.
First, expand the product (43i)(1+2i)(4 - 3i)(1 + 2i) to get 4+8i3i6i24 + 8i - 3i - 6i^2. Replacing i2i^2 with 1-1 gives 10+5i10 + 5i. Next, simplify 5i145i^{14}. Since i14=(i4)3i2=13(1)=1i^{14} = (i^4)^3 \cdot i^2 = 1^3 \cdot (-1) = -1, the term becomes 5-5. Adding the components together gives z=(10+5i)5=5+5iz = (10 + 5i) - 5 = 5 + 5i. The real part of this complex number is 55.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Expand the product of the complex binomials (43i)(1+2i)(4 - 3i)(1 + 2i)
10 + 5i
Applying the distributive property gives 4+8i3i6i24 + 8i - 3i - 6i^2. Substituting i2=1i^2 = -1 simplifies the expression to 4+5i+6=10+5i4 + 5i + 6 = 10 + 5i.
2
Simplify the power of the imaginary unit in 5i145i^{14}
-5
Since the powers of ii cycle every 4 terms, i14=i12i2=1(1)=1i^{14} = i^{12} \cdot i^2 = 1 \cdot (-1) = -1. Therefore, 5i14=5(1)=55i^{14} = 5(-1) = -5.
3
Add the simplified terms together to find zz
5 + 5i
Adding the real and imaginary parts of the terms yields z=(10+5i)+(5)=5+5iz = (10 + 5i) + (-5) = 5 + 5i.
4
Determine the real part of zz
5
A complex number is written in the form a+bia + bi, where aa represents the real part. For 5+5i5 + 5i, the real part is 55.

Key Concept

Complex multiplication and simplification of powers of the imaginary unit
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