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Geometry Difficulty 7.9 National olympiad, round 2 Find the answer

Let nn be a positive integer, n2n \ge 2, and put θ=2π/n\theta = 2 \pi / n. Define points Pk=(k,0)P_k = (k,0) in the xyxy-plane, for k=1,2,,nk = 1, 2 , \dots, n. Let RkR_k be the map that rotates the plane counterclockwise by the angle θ\theta about the point PkP_k. Let RR denote the map obtained by applying, in order, R1R_1, then R2,R_2, \dots, then RnR_n. For an arbitrary point (x,y)(x,y), find, and simplify, the coordinates of R(x,y)R(x,y).

A number or a short expression. Spacing and $ signs are ignored.

Solution

Identify the xyxy-plane with the complex plane C\mathbb{C}, so that PkP_k is the real number kk. If zz is sent to zz' by a counterclockwise rotation by θ\theta about PkP_k, then zk=eiθ(zk)z'-k = e^{i\theta} (z-k); hence the rotation RkR_k sends zz to ζz+k(1ζ)\zeta z + k (1-\zeta), where ζ=e2πi/n\zeta = e^{2\pi i/n}. It follows that R1R_1 followed by R2R_2 sends zz to ζ(ζz+(1ζ))+2(1ζ)=ζ2z+(1ζ)(ζ+2)\zeta(\zeta z +(1-\zeta)) + 2 (1-\zeta) = \zeta^2 z + (1-\zeta)(\zeta + 2), and so forth; an easy induction shows that RR sends zz to ζnz+(1ζ)(ζn1+2ζn2++(n1)ζ+n). \zeta^n z + (1-\zeta)(\zeta^{n-1} + 2 \zeta^{n-2} + \dots + (n-1) \zeta + n). Expanding the product (1ζ)(ζn1+2ζn2++(n1)ζ+n)(1-\zeta)(\zeta^{n-1} + 2 \zeta^{n-2} + \dots + (n-1) \zeta + n) yields ζnζn1ζ+n=n-\zeta^n - \zeta^{n-1} - \dots - \zeta + n = n. Thus RR sends zz to z+nz+n; in cartesian coordinates, R(x,y)=(x+n,y)R(x,y) = (x+n,y).

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