Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Complex Numbers
Complex numbers are numbers that have a real part and an imaginary part, expressed in the form a + bi, where 'a' is the real part and 'b' is the imaginary part. They can be represented on the complex plane, with the x-axis as the real axis and the y-axis as the imaginary axis. Understanding complex numbers is essential for solving equations that do not have real solutions.
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Polar Form of Complex Numbers
The polar form of a complex number expresses it in terms of its magnitude (r) and angle (θ), represented as r(cos θ + i sin θ) or re^(iθ). This form is particularly useful for multiplication and division of complex numbers and for solving equations involving roots, as it simplifies the process of finding solutions in the complex plane.
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Complex Numbers In Polar Form
Roots of Unity
Roots of unity are complex numbers that satisfy the equation z^n = 1, where 'n' is a positive integer. These roots are evenly spaced around the unit circle in the complex plane and can be expressed in polar form as e^(2πik/n) for k = 0, 1, ..., n-1. In the context of the given equation x⁶ - 1 = 0, the sixth roots of unity will provide the solutions in both polar and rectangular forms.
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