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Complex Numbers practice questions — Honors Math

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

Problems & worked solutions

Problem #0790 RO M1

Problem 1Complex Numbers

Consider the complex number z=4+3i13z = 4 + 3i^{13}. What is its modulus z|z|?

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 7\sqrt{7}
  2. B. 77
  3. C. 55✓ correct
  4. D. 2525

Since 13=43+113 = 4\cdot 3 + 1, we have i13=i43+1=(i4)3i=i.i^{13} = i^{4\cdot 3 + 1} = (i^4)^3 \cdot i = i. So z=4+3iz = 4 + 3i, and z=42+32=25=5.|z| = \sqrt{4^2 + 3^2} = \sqrt{25} = 5.

Problem #0174 International

Problem 2Complex Numbers

The complex number 1+i1i\dfrac{1 + i}{1 - i} equals:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 00
  2. B. 11
  3. C. ii✓ correct
  4. D. i-i

1+i1i1+i1+i=(1+i)21i2=2i2=i\dfrac{1 + i}{1 - i} \cdot \dfrac{1 + i}{1 + i} = \dfrac{(1 + i)^2}{1 - i^2} = \dfrac{2i}{2} = i.

Problem #0176 International

Problem 3Complex Numbers

Compute (1+i)8(1 + i)^{8}.

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 16-16
  2. B. 8i8i
  3. C. 1616✓ correct
  4. D. 256256

(1+i)8= ⁣[2]8 ⁣(cos2π+isin2π)=16(1+0)=16(1 + i)^8 = \!\left[\sqrt{2}\right]^{8} \cdot \!\left(\cos 2\pi + i\sin 2\pi\right) = 16 \cdot (1 + 0) = 16.

Problem #0177 International

Problem 4Complex Numbers

The number of distinct complex solutions of zn=1z^n = 1 (where n1n \ge 1) is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 11
  2. B. 22
  3. C. nn✓ correct
  4. D. 2n2n

By the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra (or Moivre), zn=1z^n = 1 has exactly nn distinct complex roots, the nnth roots of unity εk=e2πik/n\varepsilon_k = e^{2\pi i k/n}, k=0,,n1k = 0, \ldots, n-1.

Problem #0175 International

Problem 5Complex Numbers

The trigonometric form of z=1+i3z = -1 + i\sqrt{3} is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 2 ⁣(cosπ3+isinπ3)2\!\left(\cos\dfrac{\pi}{3} + i\sin\dfrac{\pi}{3}\right)
  2. B. 3 ⁣(cos2π3+isin2π3)\sqrt{3}\!\left(\cos\dfrac{2\pi}{3} + i\sin\dfrac{2\pi}{3}\right)
  3. C. 2 ⁣(cos2π3+isin2π3)2\!\left(\cos\dfrac{2\pi}{3} + i\sin\dfrac{2\pi}{3}\right)✓ correct
  4. D. 2 ⁣(cos5π6+isin5π6)2\!\left(\cos\dfrac{5\pi}{6} + i\sin\dfrac{5\pi}{6}\right)

z=1+3=2|z| = \sqrt{1 + 3} = 2. Argument: tanθ=31=3\tan\theta = \dfrac{\sqrt{3}}{-1} = -\sqrt{3}, with zz in Q2, so θ=2π3\theta = \dfrac{2\pi}{3}. Hence z=2 ⁣(cos2π3+isin2π3)z = 2\!\left(\cos\dfrac{2\pi}{3} + i\sin\dfrac{2\pi}{3}\right).

Problem #0172 International

Problem 6Complex Numbers

The value of (1+i)2(1 + i)^2 is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 11
  2. B. 1+2i1 + 2i
  3. C. 2i2i✓ correct
  4. D. 12i1 - 2i

(1+i)2=1+2i+i2=1+2i1=2i(1 + i)^2 = 1 + 2i + i^2 = 1 + 2i - 1 = 2i.

Problem #0173 International

Problem 7Complex Numbers

The conjugate of z=23iz = 2 - 3i is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 2+3i2 + 3i✓ correct
  2. B. 23i-2 - 3i
  3. C. 2+3i-2 + 3i
  4. D. 23i2 - 3i

a+bi=abi\overline{a + bi} = a - bi, so 23i=2+3i\overline{2 - 3i} = 2 + 3i.

Problem #0171 International

Problem 8Complex Numbers

Compute the modulus of z=3+4iz = 3 + 4i.

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 33
  2. B. 44
  3. C. 55✓ correct
  4. D. 77

z=32+42=25=5|z| = \sqrt{3^2 + 4^2} = \sqrt{25} = 5.

Problem #0179 International

Problem 9Complex Numbers

The set of all complex solutions of z2=4z^2 = -4 is:

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

z2=4z2+4=0(z2i)(z+2i)=0z^2 = -4 \Rightarrow z^2 + 4 = 0 \Rightarrow (z - 2i)(z + 2i) = 0. Solutions: z=2iz = 2i or z=2iz = -2i.

Problem #0180 International

Problem 10Complex Numbers

For n2n \ge 2, the sum of all nnth roots of unity equals:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 00✓ correct
  2. B. 11
  3. C. nn
  4. D. 1n\dfrac{1}{n}

The polynomial zn1z^n - 1 has zero coefficient for zn1z^{n-1}, so by Viète's formula the sum of its roots is 00. Equivalently, the geometric sum k=0n1e2πik/n=111e2πi/n=0\sum_{k=0}^{n-1} e^{2\pi i k / n} = \dfrac{1 - 1}{1 - e^{2\pi i / n}} = 0 (for n2n \ge 2).

2 more Complex Numbers questions in the app

Also covered in Complex Numbers practice across every exam.

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