Part I Problems

Problem 1: Change to polar form:

a)
1 + i
3i
b)
i
Problem 2: Express 11
+i in the form a + bi via two methods: one using the Cartesian
form throughout, and one changing numerator and denominator to polar form. Show the
two answers agree.

Problem 3: Calculate each of the following two ways: rst by using the binomial theorem
and second by changing to polar form and using DeMoivres formula:
a) (1 i )4

b) (1 + i 3)3
Problem 4: Express the 6 sixth roots of 1 in the form a + bi.
Problem 5: Solve the equation x4 + 16 = 0

Part I Problems and Solutions

Problem 1: Change to polar form:
a)
1 + i
3i
b)
Solution:
a) 1 + i =

2ei3/4

b)

3 i = 2ei/6

i
Problem 2: Express 11
+i in the form a + bi via two methods: one using the Cartesian form
throughout, and one changing numerator and denominator to polar form. Show the two answers
agree.

Solution: Using Cartesian form:

1i
(1 i )2
2i
=
=
= i
1+i
(1 + i )(1 i )
2
Other way:
1i =

2ei/4

2ei/4

1i
2
= e(/4/4) i
1+i
2
i/2
=e
= i
1+i =

Problem 3: Calculate each of the following two ways: rst by using the binomial theorem and
second by changing to polar form and using DeMoivres formula:
a) (1 i )4

b) (1 + i 3)3
Solution:
a)

(1 i )4 = 1 + 4(i ) + 6(i )2 + 4(i )3 + (i )4

= 1 6 + 1 + i (4 + 4) = 4

Part I Problems and Solutions

OCW 18.03SC

By DeMoivre:

2ei/4

(1 i )4 = ( 2)4 ei = 4 (1) = 4
1i =

b)

(1 + i 3)3 = 1 + 3( i 3) + 3( i 3)2 + ( i 3)3

= 1 + 3i 3 + 3 (3) + i3 3 3

= 8 + i (3 3 3 3) = 8

By DeMoivre:

1 + i 3 = 2ei/3

(1 + i 3)3 = 8ei = 8

Problem 4: Express the 6 sixth roots of 1 in the form a + bi.

ik/3 where k = 0, 1, 2, , 5. Thus (using
Solution: In polar form the sixth
roots of 1 are e
cos(/3) = 1/2, sin(/3) = 3/2) the roots in Cartesian form are

1 i 3
1, and
2

Problem 5: Solve the equation x4 + 16 = 0

Solution: 4 16 = 2 4 1
1 i
The 4th roots of 1 are ei(/4+n/2 = . They are shown in the gure at right:
2

4
Thus, 2 (1 i ) are the roots of x + 16 = 0.

-1

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Part II Problems
Problem 1: [Complex numbers, roots of unity]
(a) Make a table with three columns. Each row will contain three representations of a
complex number z: the rectangular expression z = a + bi (with a and b real); the polar
expression |z|, Arg(z); and a little picture of the complex plane with the complex number
marked on it. There are ve rows, containing, in one column or another, the following
complex numbers:
(i) 1 i
(ii) z such that |z| = 2 and Arg(z) = /6
(iii) A square root of i with negative real and imaginary parts
(iv) A sixth root
1 with argument such that 0 < < /2
of

13
(v) ((1 + i )/ 2) .
(b) Find the complex roots of the following equations: z4 + 4 = 0; z2 + 2z + 2 = 0.
Problem 2: [Complex exponentials, Sinusoids]
(a) Add a fourth column to table you made in 1(a) by giving the exponential representation
z = Aei (with A and real).
(b) Find all complex numbers z = a + bi such that ez = 2.
(c) Find an expression for cos(4t) in terms of sums of powers of sin t and cos t by using
(eit )4 = e4it and Eulers formula.
(d) The Mathlet Complex Exponential will probably be useful in understanding the rest
of this problem. Open it and explore its functionalities. The Help button lists most of
them. Notice that in the left window, the real part a ranges between 1 and 1, while the
imaginary part b ranges from 8 to 8. You use the left-hand window to pick out a complex
number a + bi. When you do, a portion of the line through it and zero is drawn. This line
is parametrized by ( a + bi )t. At the same time, the curve parametrized by the complexvalued function e(a+bi)t is drawn on the right window.
For each of the following functions f (t), make a sketch of the graph (in a convenient range),
nd a value of w = a + bi such that Re(ewt ) = f (t), and sketch the trajectory of the complex
valued function ewt (i.e. its set of values).
(i) f (t) = cos(2t)
(ii) f (t) = et
(iii) f (t) = et cos(2t).
(iv) The constant function with value 1.

Part II Problems and Solutions

Problem 1: [Complex numbers, roots of unity]
(a) Make a table with three columns. Each row will contain three representations of a complex
number z: the rectangular expression z = a + bi (with a and b real); the polar expression |z|,
Arg(z); and a little picture of the complex plane with the complex number marked on it. There are
ve rows, containing, in one column or another, the following complex numbers:
(i) 1 i
(ii) z such that |z| = 2 and Arg(z) = /6
(iii) A square root of i with negative real and imaginary parts
(iv) A sixth root
of 1 with argument such that 0 < < /2
(v) ((1 + i )/ 2)13 .
(b) Find the complex roots of the following equations: z4 + 4 = 0; z2 + 2z + 2 = 0.
Solution: (a) The rectangular expression gives the coordinates for the little pictures. Any
angle may be altered by adding a multiple of 2. The table below does not have a column
for the pictures you will have to supply those. The last column is for problem 2(a)

1 i
3 + i
(1 i )/ 2
(1 + 3i )
/2
(1 + i )/ 2
(b) (i) 1 i; or

2, /4
2, /6
1, 5/4
1, /3
1, 3/4

2ei/4
2ei/6
e5i/4
ei/3
e3i/4

2eki/4 where k = 1, 3, 5, 7. (ii) 1 i.

Problem 2: [Complex exponentials, Sinusoids]

(a) Add a fourth column to table you made in 1(a) by giving the exponential representation z = Aei
(with A and real).
(b) Find all complex numbers z = a + bi such that ez = 2.
(c) Find an expression for cos(4t) in terms of sums of powers of sin t and cos t by using (eit )4 = e4it
and Eulers formula.
(d) The Mathlet Complex Exponential will probably be useful in understanding the rest of this
problem. Open it and explore its functionalities. The Help button lists most of them. Notice that
in the left window, the real part a ranges between 1 and 1, while the imaginary part b ranges
from 8 to 8. You use the left-hand window to pick out a complex number a + bi. When you do, a
portion of the line through it and zero is drawn. This line is parametrized by ( a + bi )t. At the same
time, the curve parametrized by the complex-valued function e(a+bi)t is drawn on the right window.

Part II Problems and Solutions

OCW 18.03SC

For each of the following functions f (t), make a sketch of the graph (in a convenient range), nd
a value of w = a + bi such that Re(ewt ) = f (t), and sketch the trajectory of the complex valued
function ewt (i.e. its set of values).
(i) f (t) = cos(2t)
(ii) f (t) = et
(iii) f (t) = et cos(2t).
(iv) The constant function with value 1.
Solution: (a) The solution in the right hand column of the table above.
(b) e a+bi = e a ebi so |e a+bi | = |e a ||ebi | = e a . Since | 2| = 2, a = ln 2. Arg(e a+bi ) = b up to
adding multiples of 2. Arg(1) = , so b is any odd multiple of . Answer: ln 2 + bi,
b = 1, 3, . . ..
(c) cos(4t) = Re(e4it ) = Re((eit )4 ) = Re((cos t + i sin t)4 ). By the binomial theorem, ( a +
bi )4 = a4 + 4a3 bi 6a2 b2 4ab3 i + b4 , so we nd cos(4t) = cos4 t 6 cos2 t sin2 t + sin4 t.
(d) (i) w = 2i. The trajectory is the unit circle.
(ii) w = 1. The trajectory is the positive real axis.
(iii) w = 1 + 2i. The trajectory is a spiral, spiralling in towards the origin in a counter
clockwise direction and passing though 1.
(iv) w = 0. The trajectory is the single point 1.

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Part I Problems
Problem 1: Write each of the following functions f (t) in the form
A cos(t ). In each case, begin by drawing a right triangle.

a) 2 cos(3t) + 2 sin(3t)

b)
3 cos(t) sin(t)

c) cos(t 8 ) + sin(t 8 )
Problem 2: Find

e2x sin x dx by using complex exponentials.

Part I Problems and Solutions

Problem 1: Write each of the following functions f (t) in the form
A cos(t ). In each case, begin by drawing a right triangle.

a) 2 cos(3t) + 2 sin(3t)

b)
3 cos(t) sin(t)

c) cos(t 8 ) + sin(t 8 )

Solution: a) Here, our right triangle has hypotenuse 2 2, so A = 2 2. Both summands

have circular
frequency 3, so = 3. is the argument of the hypotenuse, which is /4, so
f (t) = 2 2 cos(3t /4).

b) The right triangle has hypotenuse of length ( 3)2 + (1)2 ) = 2. The circular fre
quency of both summands is , so = . The argument of the hypotenuse is /6, so
f (t) = 2 cos(t + /6).
c) Similar to (a), with 3t replaced by t /8:

f (t) = 2 cos(t /8 /4) = 2 cos(t

Problem 2: Find

3
8 ).

e2x sin x dx by using complex exponentials.

Solution:
e(2+i)x = e2x (cos x + i sin x )
e2x sin x = Im e(2+i)x

1 (2+ i ) x
e(2+i)x dx =
e
2+i

2 i 2x
=
e cos x + ie2x sin x
5
We want just the imaginary part; multiplying out and collecting the coefcient of i then
gives

2
1
2x
2x
e sin x dx = e
sin x cos x
5
5

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Part I Problems
.

Problem 1: a) Find a solution of x + 2x = e3t of the form Be3t . Then nd the general

solution.

.
b) Now do the same for the complex-valued differential equation x + 2x = e3it .

Part I Problems and Solutions

.

Problem 1: a) Find a solution of x + 2x = e3t of the form Be3t . Then nd the general solution.
.
b) Now do the same for the complex-valued differential equation x + 2x = e3it .

Solution: a) Assume x p (t) = Be3t satises x + 2x = e3t then substituting this into the DE
we get
.
x + 2x = e3t
3Be3t + 2Be3t = e3t
5Be3t = e3t
5B = 1
B = 1/5.
1 3t
e .
5
.
The solution to the homogeneous equation x + 2x = 0 is xh (t) = Ce2t . The general
solution to the original DE is of the form x = x p + xh , so
So, a particular solution is x p (t) =

x=

1 3t
e + Ce2t .
5

b) Similarly, assume x p = Be3it then substituting this into the DE gives

x + 2x = B(3i + 2)e3it = e3it B =

Thus,
xp =

1
2 3i
=
.
2 + 3i
13

2 3i 3it
e .
13

The homogeneous solution is the same as in part (a): xh = Ce2t . Again by superposition
the general solution to the DE is

2 3i 3it
x = x p + xh =
e + Ce2t .
13
Remark: This problem is unusual in asking for a complex solution. In this class we will
most often ask for the real solution with x p in amplitude phase form.

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Part II Problems
[Sinusoidal input and output]
3it
e
(a) Express Re
in the form a cos(3t) + b sin(3t). Then rewrite this in the form
3+i
A cos(3t ). Now nd this
mod
same answer using the following method. By nding its
ulus and argument, write 3 + i in the form Aei . Then substitute this into e3it /( 3 + i ),
e3it
and use properties of the exponential function to nd B and such that
= Bei(3t) .
3+i
Finally, take the real part of this new expression.
Problem 1:

(b) Find a solution to the differential equation z + 3z = e2it of the form we2it , where w is
some complex number. What is the general solution?

(c) Find a solution of x + 3x = cos(2t) by relating this ODE to the one in (b). What is the
general solution?

Part II Problems and Solutions

[Sinusoidal input and output]
3it
e
in the form a cos(3t) + b sin(3t). Then rewrite this in the form A cos(3t
(a) Express Re
3+i
). Now
its modulus and argument,

nd this same answer using the following method. By nding

write 3 + i in the form Aei . Then substitute this into e3it /( 3 + i ), and use properties of the
e3it
exponential function to nd B and such that
= Bei(3t) . Finally, take the real part of
3+i
this new expression.
Problem 1:

(b) Find a solution to the differential equation z + 3z = e2it of the form we2it , where w is some
complex number. What is the general solution?

(c) Find a solution of x + 3x = cos(2t) by relating this ODE to the one in (b). What is the general
solution?

( 3 i)
e3it
Solution: (a)
=
(cos(3t) + i sin(3t)) has real part 43 cos(3t) + 14 sin(3t).
4
3+i

Form the right triangle with sides a =

angle is = /6.

3
4

and b = 41 . The hypotenuse is A = 1/2 and the

e3it
1
3 + i = 2ei/6 (by essentially the same triangle), so
= ei(3t/6) : B = 12 , =
2
3+i
and Re( Bei(3t) ) = B cos(3t ), so you get the same answer.

6,

1
(b) Substituting z = we2it , e2it = w2ie2it + 3we2it , so 1 = w(2i + 3) or w = 2i+
3 . Thus a
1
2it

3
t
solution of the desired form is z p = 2i+3 e . The general solution is z p + ce .

(c) If x = Re(z), the real part of z + 3z = e2it is x + 3x = cos(2t). So we are looking for

Re(z p ), where z p is the answer in part (b).

In polar form, 2i + 3 = 13ei , where = tan1 (2/3).

Thus,

1
z p = ei(2t)
13
We get
1
x p = Re(z p ) = cos(2t ).
13
The general solution is then x = x p + ce3t .

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