NVAMediumJEE 2023Complex Numbers Basics

JEE Mathematics 2023 Question with Solution

Let S={zC{i,2i}:z2+8iz15z23iz2R}S = \left\{z \in \mathbb{C} - \{i, 2i\}: \frac{z^2 + 8iz - 15}{z^2 - 3iz - 2} \in \mathbb{R} \right\}. If α1311iS\alpha - \frac{13}{11}i \in S, αR{0}\alpha \in \mathbb{R} - \{0\}, then 242α2242\alpha^2 is equal to _____.

Answer

Correct answer:1680

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given:

S={zC{i,2i}:z2+8iz15z23iz2R}S = \left\{z \in \mathbb{C} - \{i, 2i\}: \frac{z^2 + 8iz - 15}{z^2 - 3iz - 2} \in \mathbb{R} \right\}

and z=α1311iz = \alpha - \frac{13}{11}i with αR{0}\alpha \in \mathbb{R} - \{0\}.

Find: 242α2242\alpha^2.

Rewrite the numerator as

z2+8iz15=(z23iz2)+(11iz13)z^2 + 8iz - 15 = \left(z^2 - 3iz - 2\right) + (11iz - 13)

so

z2+8iz15z23iz2=1+11iz13z23iz2\frac{z^2 + 8iz - 15}{z^2 - 3iz - 2} = 1 + \frac{11iz - 13}{z^2 - 3iz - 2}

For the given value to be real, the solution uses the condition obtained after substituting z=x+iyz = x + iy into the denominator.

Now,

z=x+iyz = x + iy

Then

z2=x2y2+2xyiz^2 = x^2 - y^2 + 2xyi

and

3iz=3i(x+iy)=3y3xi-3iz = -3i(x+iy) = 3y - 3xi

Hence,

z23iz2=(x2y2+3y2)+(2xy3x)iz^2 - 3iz - 2 = (x^2 - y^2 + 3y - 2) + (2xy - 3x)i

Using the real-part condition from the working,

x2y2+3y2=0x^2 - y^2 + 3y - 2 = 0

that is,

x2=y23y+2=(y1)(y2)x^2 = y^2 - 3y + 2 = (y-1)(y-2)

Now substitute

x=α,y=1311x = \alpha, \qquad y = -\frac{13}{11}

Then

α2=(13111)(13112)\alpha^2 = \left(-\frac{13}{11} - 1\right)\left(-\frac{13}{11} - 2\right) α2=(2411)(3511)=24×35121\alpha^2 = \left(-\frac{24}{11}\right)\left(-\frac{35}{11}\right) = \frac{24 \times 35}{121}

Therefore,

242α2=24224×35121=22435=1680242\alpha^2 = 242 \cdot \frac{24 \times 35}{121} = 2 \cdot 24 \cdot 35 = 1680

Therefore, the required value is 16801680.

Algebraic Substitution

Given:

z2+8iz15z23iz2R,z=α1311i\frac{z^2 + 8iz - 15}{z^2 - 3iz - 2} \in \mathbb{R}, \qquad z = \alpha - \frac{13}{11}i

Find: 242α2242\alpha^2.

Take

z=x+iyz = x + iy

Then the denominator becomes

z23iz2=(x+iy)23i(x+iy)2=x2y2+2xyi3xi+3y2=(x2y2+3y2)+(2xy3x)i\begin{aligned} z^2 - 3iz - 2 &= (x+iy)^2 - 3i(x+iy) - 2 \\ &= x^2 - y^2 + 2xyi - 3xi + 3y - 2 \\ &= (x^2 - y^2 + 3y - 2) + (2xy - 3x)i \end{aligned}

From the extracted working, the required condition gives

x2y2+3y2=0x^2 - y^2 + 3y - 2 = 0

So,

x2=y23y+2=(y1)(y2)x^2 = y^2 - 3y + 2 = (y-1)(y-2)

Since

z=α1311iz = \alpha - \frac{13}{11}i

we have

x=α,y=1311x = \alpha, \qquad y = -\frac{13}{11}

Therefore,

α2=(13111)(13112)\alpha^2 = \left(-\frac{13}{11} - 1\right)\left(-\frac{13}{11} - 2\right) α2=24113511=840121\alpha^2 = \frac{-24}{11} \cdot \frac{-35}{11} = \frac{840}{121}

Now multiply by 242242:

242α2=242840121=2840=1680242\alpha^2 = 242 \cdot \frac{840}{121} = 2 \cdot 840 = 1680

Therefore, the required value is 16801680.

Common mistakes

  • Using the wrong expansion for 3iz-3iz. Since z=x+iyz = x + iy, we get 3i(x+iy)=3y3xi-3i(x+iy) = 3y - 3xi. If this term is expanded incorrectly, both the real and imaginary parts become wrong. Always separate real and imaginary parts carefully before applying the condition.

  • Substituting y=1311y = \frac{13}{11} instead of y=1311y = -\frac{13}{11}. The given number is α1311i\alpha - \frac{13}{11}i, so the imaginary part is negative. Using the wrong sign changes α2\alpha^2 completely. Read the complex number in the form x+iyx + iy before substitution.

  • Forgetting to factor y23y+2y^2 - 3y + 2 as (y1)(y2)(y-1)(y-2). This makes the arithmetic longer and often causes sign mistakes. First rewrite the quadratic in factored form, then substitute the given value of yy.

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