Exercise · ZW-COMPLEX-NTH-ROOT-002 · ★☆☆ Basic

Find the square roots of \(-4\).

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  • D. \(2i\) and \(-2i\)

Explanation

\((\pm2i)^2=-4\). For \(w=-4\): \(r=4\), \(\theta=\pi\), and \(\sqrt4\,(\cos\frac\pi2+i\sin\frac\pi2)=2i\) plus its negative.

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Review the concept: Complex nth root

An \(n\)-th root of a complex number \(w\) is a complex number \(z\) whose \(n\)-th power, with \(n\) a positive integer, is \(w\). If \(w\) has modulus \(r\) and argument \(\theta\), its roots are given below.

\[z_k=\sqrt[n]{r}\left(\cos\frac{\theta+2\pi k}{n}+i\sin\frac{\theta+2\pi k}{n}\right),\quad k=0,\dots,n-1\]

More practice problems: complex nth root

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