IB Maths AA

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Complex numbers practice questions — IB Maths AA

12 free multiple-choice problems on complex numbers, ordered to match IB Maths AA difficulty, each with a full worked solution. No account needed — and there's a fresh problem set every day.

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Problem #0179 International
Advancedcomplex-numbers
The set of all complex solutions of is:

Problems & worked solutions

Problem #0179 International

Problem 1 — Complex numbers

The set of all complex solutions of z2=−4 is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. {2,−2}
  2. B. {2i}
  3. C. {2i,−2i}✓ correct
  4. D. {1+i,−1−i}

z2=−4⇒z2+4=0⇒(z−2i)(z+2i)=0. Solutions: z=2i or z=−2i.

Problem #0178 International

Problem 2 — Complex numbers

The set of complex numbers z satisfying ∣z−1∣=∣z+1∣ is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. A circle centered at the origin
  2. B. A circle centered at 1
  3. C. The imaginary axis✓ correct
  4. D. The real axis

∣z−1∣=∣z−(−1)∣ describes the set of points equidistant from 1 and −1. That's the perpendicular bisector of the segment between them, i.e. the imaginary axis Re⁡(z)=0.

Problem #0180 International

Problem 3 — Complex numbers

For n≥2, the sum of all nth roots of unity equals:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 0✓ correct
  2. B. 1
  3. C. n
  4. D. 1n

The polynomial zn−1 has zero coefficient for zn−1, so by Viète's formula the sum of its roots is 0. Equivalently, the geometric sum ∑k=0n−1e2πik/n=1−11−e2πi/n=0 (for n≥2).

Problem #0772 IB AA

Problem 4 — Complex numbers

Let z=(1+i3)5(1−i)3. Writing cis⁡θ=cos⁡θ+isin⁡θ, express z in the form r cis⁡θ with r>0 and −π<θ≤π.

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 82 cis⁡5π12✓ correct
  2. B. 82 cis⁡11π12
  3. C. 162 cis⁡5π12
  4. D. 642 cis⁡5π12

Convert each base to modulus–argument form: 1+i3=2 cis⁡π3,1−i=2 cis⁡ ⁣(−π4) Apply De Moivre to each power: (1+i3)5=25 cis⁡5π3=32 cis⁡5π3 (1−i)3=(2)3 cis⁡ ⁣(−3π4)=22 cis⁡ ⁣(−3π4) Divide moduli and subtract arguments: ∣z∣=3222=82 arg⁡z=5π3−(−3π4)=29π12≡5π12 (mod 2π) z=82 cis⁡5π12

Problem #0790 RO M1

Problem 5 — Complex numbers

Consider the complex number z=4+3i13. What is its modulus ∣z∣?

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 7
  2. B. 7
  3. C. 5✓ correct
  4. D. 25

Since 13=4⋅3+1, we have i13=i4⋅3+1=(i4)3⋅i=i. So z=4+3i, and ∣z∣=42+32=25=5.

Problem #0175 International

Problem 6 — Complex numbers

The trigonometric form of z=−1+i3 is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 2 ⁣(cos⁡π3+isin⁡π3)
  2. B. 3 ⁣(cos⁡2π3+isin⁡2π3)
  3. C. 2 ⁣(cos⁡2π3+isin⁡2π3)✓ correct
  4. D. 2 ⁣(cos⁡5π6+isin⁡5π6)

∣z∣=1+3=2. Argument: tan⁡θ=3−1=−3, with z in Q2, so θ=2π3. Hence z=2 ⁣(cos⁡2π3+isin⁡2π3).

Problem #0177 International

Problem 7 — Complex numbers

The number of distinct complex solutions of zn=1 (where n≥1) is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 1
  2. B. 2
  3. C. n✓ correct
  4. D. 2n

By the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra (or Moivre), zn=1 has exactly n distinct complex roots, the nth roots of unity εk=e2πik/n, k=0,…,n−1.

Problem #0176 International

Problem 8 — Complex numbers

Compute (1+i)8.

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. −16
  2. B. 8i
  3. C. 16✓ correct
  4. D. 256

(1+i)8= ⁣[2]8⋅ ⁣(cos⁡2π+isin⁡2π)=16⋅(1+0)=16.

Problem #0174 International

Problem 9 — Complex numbers

The complex number 1+i1−i equals:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 0
  2. B. 1
  3. C. i✓ correct
  4. D. −i

1+i1−i⋅1+i1+i=(1+i)21−i2=2i2=i.

Problem #0172 International

Problem 10 — Complex numbers

The value of (1+i)2 is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 1
  2. B. 1+2i
  3. C. 2i✓ correct
  4. D. 1−2i

(1+i)2=1+2i+i2=1+2i−1=2i.

2 more Complex numbers questions in the app

Also covered in Complex numbers practice across every exam.

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