Determine the complex numbers z și w with the property that ∣z2n+znwn+w2n∣=22n+2n+1, for any positive integer n.
Solution
Applying the modulus to both members of the identity (z2+zw+w2)⋅(z2−zw+w2)=z4+z2w2+w4 and, using the problem hypothesis, we obtain that ∣z2−zw+w2∣=3.
Applying the modulus to both members of the identity (z4+z2w2+w4)⋅(z4−z2w2+w4)=z8+z4w4+w8 and, using the problem hypothesis, we obtain that ∣z4−z2w2+w4∣=13.
Applying the modulus to both members of the identity 21(z2+zw+w2)2+21(z2−zw+w2)2+(z4−z2w2+w4)=2(z4+z2w2+w4), using the modulus inequality and the above, we obtain that 21⋅49+21⋅9+13≥2⋅21. We observe that equality holds, therefore there is a real number t such that (z2+zw+w2)2=t2(z2−zw+w2)2. Moving to the modules, we find t=±37, so 3(z2+zw+w2)=±7(z2−zw+w2). For t=37 we obtain 2z2−5zw+2w2=0⇔(2z−w)(z−2w)=0. It follows that w=2z or z=2w. Substituting in ∣z2+zw+w2∣=7, in the first case we obtain ∣z∣=1, and in the second ∣w∣=1. For t=−37 we obtain 5z2−2zw+5w2=0⇔(φz−w)(z−φw)=0, where φ=51+26i, 5φ2−2φ+5=0, ∣φ∣=1. Thus w=φz or z=φw. Substituting in ∣z2+zw+w2∣=7, in the first case we obtain ∣z∣=5, and in the second ∣w∣=5. None of these options are suitable, because they contradict equality ∣z4−z2w2+w4∣=13.
It is easy to verify that all pairs of the form (z,2z) and (2z,z), where z is a complex number with modulus equal to 1, have the property in the statement.
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