How do I find and plot the roots of a polynomial with complex roots on an Argand diagram? e.g. f(z) =z^3 -3z^2 + z + 5 where one of the roots is known to be 2+i

For a polynomial with real coefficients, use that roots come in complex conjugate pairs. Therefore, another root is 2-i (and we know for this example that the final root must be real). Write the factorised function from what we know so far. For this polynomial, the factorised equation must therefore look like (z-z1)(z-z2)(z-z3) where z1 and z2 are the 2 already known roots, and z3 is real.Expand the known part. Expanding (z-(2+i))(z-(2-i)) gives (z^2 -4z +5) - be careful with the algebra when expanding. Comparing coefficients of (z^2 -4z +5)(z-z3)=z^3 -3z^2 + z + 5 shows that z3 is -1.An Argand diagram plot is simply a plot of imaginary against real components. The roots are (2+i1), (2-i1), and (-1 +i0), so the points to plot will be (2,-1), (2,+1), and (-1, 0).

Related Further Mathematics A Level answers

All answers ▸

You are given a polynomial f, where f(x)=x^4 - 14x^3 + 74 x^2 -184x + 208, you are told that f(5+i)=0. Express f as the product of two quadratic polynomials and state all roots of f.


Given that f(x)=2sinhx+3coshx, solve the equation f(x)=5 giving your answers exactly.


Prove that 27(23^n)+17(10^2n)+22n is divisible by 11 for n belongs to the natural numbers


How to determine the rank of a matrix?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo
Cookie Preferences