complex no.

a is a complex no. such that
a^{2}+a+\frac{1}{a}+\frac{1}{a^{2}}+1=0
a^{2m}+a^{m}+\frac{1}{a^{m}}+\frac{1}{a^{2m}}+1= ?

where m is +ve integer

6 Answers

24
eureka123 ·

how did u take common???????
(a+1/a)(a+1/a-1)

24
eureka123 ·

asish bhai....delete kar di............

106
Asish Mahapatra ·

main soo rahaa tha.. tab [3]

341
Hari Shankar ·

Notice that a is a root of a^4+a^3+a^2+a+1 = 0

in other words a non real root of a^5-1=0

Lemma: If m is prime to 5, then the numbers m,2m,3m,4m all leave different remainders when divided by 5

Proof: Suppose im and jm both leave the same remainder for 1 \le i,j \le 4; i \ne j, then m(i-j) is divisible by 5.

Since 5 does not divide m, it must divide (i-j). But that is not possible as |i-j| < 5, and 5 cannot divide any number less than it.

That means, m, 2m, 3m and 4m leave remainders 1,2,3,4 in some order.

In other words, if m is not divisible by 5, the numbers,

a^m, a^{2m}, a^{3m}, a^{4m} are equal to a,a^2,a^3, a^4 in some order.

So, 1+a^m + a^{2m} + a^{3m} + a^{4m} = 1 + a+a^2+a^3+a^4 = 0 when m is not divisible by 5

If m is divisible by 5, obviously the expression equals 5.

341
Hari Shankar ·

Incidentally, this means that if f(a) = 1+a+a^2+a^3+a^4, then f(a) divides f(am) when m is not a multiple of 5.

One more observation is that m is not required to be a positive integer

62
Lokesh Verma ·

I guess I have to make a section..

Prophet's Geniuses.. :)

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