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Exercise 836Algebra › Complex numbersL1Added 3 Nov 2026

Square roots of a complex number

#square roots#complex#algebraic method

Statement

Find the square roots of z=3+4iz=3+4i.

Hint

Look for w=a+biw=a+bi with w2=3+4iw^2=3+4i. Solve a2−b2=3a^2-b^2=3 and 2ab=42ab=4.

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Solution

System. a2−b2=3a^2-b^2=3, 2ab=42ab=4, so ab=2ab=2.

Also. ∣w∣2=∣z∣=9+16=5|w|^2=|z|=\sqrt{9+16}=5, so a2+b2=5a^2+b^2=5.

Solve. a2=(5+3)/2=4a^2=(5+3)/2=4, so a=±2a=\pm2. b2=(5−3)/2=1b^2=(5-3)/2=1, so b=±1b=\pm1. With ab=2>0ab=2>0, aa and bb have the same sign: (a,b)=(2,1)(a,b)=(2,1) or (−2,−1)(-2,-1).

Conclusion. The square roots are ±(2+i)\pm(2+i).

Check. (2+i)2=4+4i+i2=3+4i(2+i)^2=4+4i+i^2=3+4i. Correct.