MedVision ad

Complex Numbers Division (1 Viewer)

xV1P3R

Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2007
Messages
199
Gender
Male
HSC
2010
Hi, I found this question in a textbook and was wondering how you
would divide x³-2-2i by x+1-i

The answer is
x³-2-2i = (x+1-i)[x²+(-1+i)x-2i]

I've tried turning it into a fraction and realizing the denominator, but end up with something horrible. I suppose you could manually alter the numbers so they factorize nicely, but I was wondering if there was an easier way.

Thanks
 

Drongoski

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2009
Messages
4,255
Gender
Male
HSC
N/A
Don't recall a general technique for doing this. But I tried a long-division approach after converting problem into:





Then do a long division: 1st you have x2 + xi as 1st "multiple" which you then multiply with the divisor and you end up with:

 

Drongoski

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2009
Messages
4,255
Gender
Male
HSC
N/A
continued from above:




Next you have [-x-2i] as the next "multiple". On multiplying this with the divisor you get exactly the above "remainder". End of division.

Result of division: [x2 + xi] -[x+2i]

which is equivalent to the reqd result.
 

xV1P3R

Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2007
Messages
199
Gender
Male
HSC
2010
Oh Awesome, thanks. Long Division does look easier after realizing the denominator. Didn't quite see that before.
 

annabackwards

<3 Prophet 9
Joined
Jun 14, 2008
Messages
4,670
Location
Sydney
Gender
Female
HSC
2009
I just did the question on paper and you actually don't need to factorise the quotient or realise the denominator at all.

Click here for the solution :)
 

jchoi

Member
Joined
Nov 16, 2007
Messages
50
Gender
Male
HSC
2009
Synthetic division for me is like poo. Only because I remember I learnt it the day before one of my exams, and I failed using it in a 4 mark question out of 30 trying to save time, and actually wasted time and marks.

I'm 100% sure it's quicker and easier if you get used to it, but I suck at it! HELP ME!!! lol;
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 0, Guests: 1)

Top