Problem

Find all complex number solutions for the equation z4=16.

Answer

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Answer

Solving for θ gives us θ=kπ2 for k=0,1,2,3. Substituting these values back into the polar representation of z gives us the four complex roots of the equation z4=16.

Steps

Step 1 :First, we can write the equation in the polar form. In polar form, a complex number z can be represented as z=r(cos(θ)+isin(θ)), where r is the modulus of z and θ is the argument of z. In this case, r=16=4 and θ=0, so z=4(cos(0)+isin(0)).

Step 2 :Next, we need to solve the equation z4=16. Using De Moivre's theorem, we know that if z=r(cos(θ)+isin(θ)), then zn=rn(cos(nθ)+isin(nθ)). Therefore, we get z4=44(cos(4×0)+isin(4×0))=256 which is not equal to 16. So, we need to find a new angle θ such that z4=16. This gives us 44(cos(4θ)+isin(4θ))=16.

Step 3 :Solving for θ gives us θ=kπ2 for k=0,1,2,3. Substituting these values back into the polar representation of z gives us the four complex roots of the equation z4=16.

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