2 problems found
In this question, \(a\) and \(c\) are distinct non-zero complex numbers. The complex conjugate of any complex number \(z\) is denoted by \(z^*\). Show that \[ |a - c|^2 = aa^* + cc^* -ac^* - ca^* \] and hence prove that the triangle \(OAC\) in the Argand diagram, whose vertices are represented by \(0\), \(a\) and \(c\) respectively, is right angled at \(A\) if and only if \(2aa^* = ac^*+ca^*\,\). Points \(P\) and \(P'\) in the Argand diagram are represented by the complex numbers \(ab\) and \(\ds \frac{a}{b^*}\,\), where \(b\) is a non-zero complex number. A circle in the Argand diagram has centre \(C\) and passes through the point \(A\), and is such that \(OA\) is a tangent to the circle. Show that the point \(P\) lies on the circle if and only if the point \(P'\) lies on the circle. Conversely, show that if the points represented by the complex numbers \(ab\) and \(\ds \frac{a}{b^*}\), for some non-zero complex number \(b\) with \(bb^* \ne 1\,\), both lie on a circle centre \(C\) in the Argand diagram which passes through \(A\), then \(OA\) is a tangent to the circle.
Let \(a,b,c,d,p,q,r\) and \(s\) be real numbers. By considering the determinant of the matrix product \[ \begin{pmatrix}z_{1} & z_{2}\\ -z_{2}^{*} & z_{1}^{*} \end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}z_{3} & z_{4}\\ -z_{4}^{*} & z_{3}^{*} \end{pmatrix}, \] where \(z_{1},z_{2},z_{3}\) and \(z_{4}\) are suitably chosen complex numbers, find expressions \(L_{1},L_{2},L_{3}\) and \(L_{4},\) each of which is linear in \(a,b,c\) and \(d\) and also linear in \(p,q,r\) and \(s,\) such that \[ (a^{2}+b^{2}+c^{2}+d^{2})(p^{2}+q^{2}+r^{2}+s^{2})=L_{1}^{2}+L_{2}^{2}+L_{3}^{2}+L_{4}^{2}. \]
Solution: Supppose \(z_1 = a+ib, z_2 = c+id, z_3 = p+iq, z_4 = r+is\) then: \begin{align*} && \det \left (\begin{pmatrix}z_{1} & z_{2}\\ -z_{2}^{*} & z_{1}^{*} \end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}z_{3} & z_{4}\\ -z_{4}^{*} & z_{3}^{*} \end{pmatrix} \right) &= \det \begin{pmatrix}z_{1} & z_{2}\\ -z_{2}^{*} & z_{1}^{*} \end{pmatrix}\det\begin{pmatrix}z_{3} & z_{4}\\ -z_{4}^{*} & z_{3}^{*} \end{pmatrix} \\ && \det \begin{pmatrix}z_{1}z_3-z_2z_4^* & z_1z_4+z_2z_3^*\\ -z_2^*z_3-z_1^*z_4*& -z_2^*z_4+z_{1}^*z_3^* \end{pmatrix}&= (z_1z_1^*+z_2z_2^*)(z_3z_3^*+z_4z_4^*) \\ && |z_{1}z_3-z_2z_4^*|^2+|z_1z_4+z_2z_3^*|^2&= (a^2+b^2+c^2+d^2)(p^2+q^2+r^2+s^2) \\ && L_1^2 + L_2^2+L_3^2+L_4^2 &= \ldots \end{align*}