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JEE Advanced 2018 Paper 2 · Mathematics · Complex Numbers · medium

Let ω=e^2π i/7, and define α=ω+ω^2+ω^4 and β=ω^3+ω^5+ω^6.

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Let ω=e2πi/7\omega=e^{2\pi i/7}, and define α=ω+ω2+ω4\alpha=\omega+\omega^{2}+\omega^{4} and β=ω3+ω5+ω6\beta=\omega^{3}+\omega^{5}+\omega^{6}. Which of the following statements is (are) correct?
  1. A. α+β=−1\alpha+\beta=-1
  2. B. α\alpha is a root of the equation x2+x+2=0x^{2}+x+2=0
  3. C. ∣α∣=2|\alpha|=2
  4. D. Im⁡(α)=72\operatorname{Im}(\alpha)=\dfrac{\sqrt7}{2}
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Answer: A, B, D

Since 1+ω+⋯+ω6=01+\omega+\dots+\omega^6=0, the six non-trivial powers add to −1-1, so α+β=−1\alpha+\beta=-1 (A true). Expanding αβ\alpha\beta gives nine terms ωa+b\omega^{a+b}; exactly three of them have a+b≡0(mod7)a+b\equiv0\pmod 7 and contribute 11 each, while the other six are the six distinct non-trivial powers, summing to −1-1. So αβ=3−1=2\alpha\beta=3-1=2. Hence α,β\alpha,\beta are roots of x2−(α+β)x+αβ=x2+x+2x^{2}-(\alpha+\beta)x+\alpha\beta=x^{2}+x+2 (B true), giving α,β=−1±i72\alpha,\beta=\frac{-1\pm i\sqrt7}{2}. Then ∣α∣2=1+74=2|\alpha|^{2}=\frac{1+7}{4}=2, so ∣α∣=2≠2|\alpha|=\sqrt2\neq2 (C false). Because sin⁡2π7+sin⁡4π7+sin⁡8π7>0\sin\frac{2\pi}{7}+\sin\frac{4\pi}{7}+\sin\frac{8\pi}{7}>0, α\alpha is the root with positive imaginary part, Im⁡α=72\operatorname{Im}\alpha=\frac{\sqrt7}{2} (D true). A numerical evaluation confirms all of this. Answer: A, B, D.
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