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PSAT Math : Complex Numbers

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Example Questions

Example Question #2 : How To Multiply Complex Numbers

Multiply:

(10 + 3i)(10-3i)

Possible Answers:

100 - 9i

100 + 9i

None of the other responses is correct.

109

Correct answer:

109

Explanation:

This is the product of a complex number and its complex conjugate. They can be multiplied using the pattern

$\left (A + Bi \right )\left (A - Bi \right ) = A^{2} + B^{2}$

with A = 10, B = 3

$(10 + 3i)(10-3i) = 10^{2} +3^{2} = 100 + 9 = 109$

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Example Question #521 : Algebra

Which of the following is equal to $i ^{-56}$ ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

$i ^{-56} = \frac{1}{i^{56}}$

$56 \div 4 = 14$ , so 56 is a multiple of 4. raised to the power of any multiple of 4 is equal to 1, so

$i ^{-56} = \frac{1}{i^{56}} = \frac{1}{1} = 1$ .

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Example Question #1 : How To Multiply Complex Numbers

Which of the following is equal to (2i)^7 ?

Possible Answers:

-2i

-128i

128i

Correct answer:

-128i

Explanation:

The first step to solving this problem is distributing the exponent:

2^7i^7 = 128i^7

Next, we need simplify the complex portion.

$i^7=i^2\times i^2\times i^2\times i=-1\times -1\times -1\times i=-i$

Thus, our final answer is $128\times (-i)=-128i$ .

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Example Question #2 : How To Multiply Complex Numbers

What is the eighth power of ?

Possible Answers:

6,561i

None of the other responses is correct.

-24i

-6,561i

24i

Correct answer:

None of the other responses is correct.

Explanation:

$\left (3i \right )^{8}$

$= 3^{8} i^{8}$

$= 6,561 i^{8}$

raised to the power of any multiple of 4 is equal to 1, so the above expresion is equal to

$= 6,561 \cdot 1 = 6,561$

This is not among the given choices.

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Example Question #4 : How To Multiply Complex Numbers

What is the third power of $2 + i\sqrt{5}$ ?

Possible Answers:

$38 +7i\sqrt{5}$

$-22 +17i\sqrt{5}$

$-22 +7i\sqrt{5}$

38 +35i

-22 +35i

Correct answer:

$-22 +7i\sqrt{5}$

Explanation:

You are being asked to evaluate

$\left (2 + i\sqrt{5} \right )^{3}$

You can use the cube of a binomial pattern with $A = 2, B = i\sqrt{5}$ :

$\left ( A + B \right )^{3} = A^{3}+ 3A^{2}B + 3AB^{2}+ B^{3}$

$\left ( 2 + i\sqrt{5} \right )^{3} =2^{3}+ 3 \cdot 2^{2} \cdot i\sqrt{5} + 3 \cdot 2 (i\sqrt{5}) ^{2}+ (i\sqrt{5}) ^{3}$

$=8+ 3 \cdot 4 \cdot i\sqrt{5} + 6i ^{2} (\sqrt{5}) ^{2}+ i^{3}(\sqrt{5}) ^{3}$

$=8+12i\sqrt{5} + 6 (-1) 5+(-i)(5\sqrt{5})$

$=8-30 +12i\sqrt{5} -5i\sqrt{5}$

$=-22 +7i\sqrt{5}$

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Example Question #5 : How To Multiply Complex Numbers

What is the fourth power of $3 - i\sqrt{2}$ ?

Possible Answers:

$121-84 i\sqrt{2}}$

$-23-84 i\sqrt{2}}$

$49- 132 i\sqrt{2}$

-23-168i

95-168i

Correct answer:

$-23-84 i\sqrt{2}}$

Explanation:

$\left (3 - i\sqrt{2} \right )^{4}$ can be calculated by squaring $3 - i\sqrt{2}$ , then squaring the result, using the square of a binomial pattern as follows:

$\left (3 - i\sqrt{2} \right )^{2}$

$=3^{2}- 2 \cdot 3 \cdot i\sqrt{2} +\left ( i\sqrt{2} \right )^{2}$

$=9- 6 i\sqrt{2} +2i^{2}$

$=9- 6 i\sqrt{2} +2(-1)$

$=7- 6 i\sqrt{2}$

$\left (3 - i\sqrt{2} \right )^{4}$

$=\left [ \left (3 - i\sqrt{2} \right )^{2} \right ]^{2}$

$=\left (7- 6 i\sqrt{2}} \right )^{2}$

$=7^{2} - 2 \cdot 7 \cdot 6 i\sqrt{2}} + \left ( 6 i\sqrt{2}} \right )^{2}$

$=49-84 i\sqrt{2}} + 6^{2} i^{2} \left ( \sqrt{2}} \right )^{2}$

$=49-84 i\sqrt{2}} +36 (-1) (2)$

$=49-84 i\sqrt{2}} -72$

$=-23-84 i\sqrt{2}}$

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Example Question #13 : Complex Numbers

Multiply 32+ 18i by its complex conjugate. What is the product?

Possible Answers:

1,152

700 + 1,152i

700

700 - 1,152i

1,348

Correct answer:

1,348

Explanation:

The product of any complex number a + bi and its complex conjugate a - bi is the real number $a^{2}+b^{2}$ , so all that is needed here is to evaluate the expression:

$32^{2}+ 18 ^{2}= 1,024+ 324 = 1,348$

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Example Question #6 : How To Multiply Complex Numbers

What is the eighth power of 1+ i ?

Possible Answers:

The correct response is not given among the other choices.

256i

8 - 8i

8 + 8i

Correct answer:

Explanation:

First, square 1+ i using the square of a binomial pattern as follows:

$\left (1+ i \right )^{2}$

$= 1^{2}+ 2 \cdot 1 \cdot i + i^{2}$

= 1 +2i -1

= 2i

Raising this number to the fourth power yields the correct response:

$\left (1+ i \right )^{8}$

$= \left [\left (1+ i \right )^{2} \right ]^{4}$

$= (2i)^{4}$

$= (2 )^{4} \cdot i^{4}$

$=16 \cdot 1 = 16$

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Example Question #7 : How To Multiply Complex Numbers

What is the ninth power of -2i ?

Possible Answers:

-512 i

None of the other responses is correct.

18i

-18i

512 i

Correct answer:

-512 i

Explanation:

$\left ( -2i\right )^{9}$

$= \left ( -2 \right )^{9} \cdot i^{9}$

To raise a negative number to an odd power, take the absolute value of the base to that power and give its opposite:

$\left ( -2\right )^{9} = - \left ( 2^{9}\right ) = -512$

To raise to a power, divide the power by 4 and raise to the remainder. Since

$9 \div 4 = 2 \textup{ R }1$ ,

$i^{9} = i^{1}= i$

Therefore,

$\left ( -2i\right )^{9}= \left ( -2 \right )^{9} \cdot i^{9} = -512 i$

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Example Question #1181 : Psat Mathematics

Simplify:

$\small \left ( 3 - 2i \right )\left ( 2 + i\right )$

Possible Answers:

$\small 6 - 3i$

$\small 6 + 3i$

$\small 6 - i$

$\small 8 - i$

$\small 8 + i$

Correct answer:

$\small 8 - i$

Explanation:

Use the FOIL method that states to multiply the Firsts, Outter, Inner, Lasts. Also remember that $\small i \times i = -1$ :

$\small \left ( 3 - 2i \right )\left ( 2 + i\right )$

$\small = 3 \times 2 + 3 \times i - 2i \times 2 - 2i \times i$

$\small = 6 +3i -4i + 2$

$\small = 8 - i$

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PSAT Math : Complex Numbers

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Math

All PSAT Math Resources

Example Questions

Example Question #2 : How To Multiply Complex Numbers

Example Question #521 : Algebra

Example Question #1 : How To Multiply Complex Numbers

Example Question #2 : How To Multiply Complex Numbers

Example Question #4 : How To Multiply Complex Numbers

Example Question #5 : How To Multiply Complex Numbers

Example Question #13 : Complex Numbers

Example Question #6 : How To Multiply Complex Numbers

Example Question #7 : How To Multiply Complex Numbers

Example Question #1181 : Psat Mathematics

All PSAT Math Resources

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