# Thread: A Simple Complex Number Equation

1. ## A Simple Complex Number Equation

Hello, I'm new here.

I have a problem with understanding this little equation:
$
z^{4} = i
$

According to WolframAlpha, the solutions are:
$
z_{1} = - \sqrt[8]{-1},

z_{2} = \sqrt[8]{-1},

z_{3} = - (-1)^{\frac{5}{8}},

z_{4} = (-1)^{\frac{5}{8}}
$

I can understand the first two solutions, since this equation can be written like this:

$
(z - \sqrt{\sqrt{i}})(z + \sqrt{\sqrt{i}})(z^2 + \sqrt{i}) = 0
$

And I just don't know how to deal with the following equation:
$
(z^2 + \sqrt{i}) = 0
$

Apparently, the solutions are:
$
z_{3} = - \sqrt{- \sqrt{i}}
$

and:
$
z_{4} = \sqrt{- \sqrt{i}}
$

But how do I go from that to this?:
$
z_{3} = - (-1)^{\frac{5}{8}}$

$
z_{4} = (-1)^{\frac{5}{8}}
$

Please give me a step by step solution, if you can.

Uhmm... I just got it, somehow seeing it on screen made it simpler, I'm sorry to bother you.
It is of course:

$
- \sqrt{-\sqrt{i}} = - \sqrt{-\sqrt{\sqrt{-1}}} =$
$= - \sqrt{-1 * \sqrt{\sqrt{-1}}} = - \sqrt{-1} * \sqrt{\sqrt{i}} =$ $= - i * i^{\frac{1}{4}} = - i^{\frac{5}{4}} = - (- 1)^{\frac{5}{8}}
$

You may delete this topic, sorry for the fuss.
Thanks,
Moon

2. Originally Posted by Moon
Hello, I'm new here.

I have a problem with understanding this little equation:
$
z^{4} = i
$

According to WolframAlpha, the solutions are:
$
z_{1} = - \sqrt[8]{-1},

z_{2} = \sqrt[8]{-1},

z_{3} = - (-1)^{\frac{5}{8}},

z_{4} = (-1)^{\frac{5}{8}}
$

I can understand the first two solutions, since this equation can be written like this:

$
(z - \sqrt{\sqrt{i}})(z + \sqrt{\sqrt{i}})(z^2 + \sqrt{i}) = 0
$

And I just don't know how to deal with the following equation:
$
(z^2 + \sqrt{i}) = 0
$

Apparently, the solutions are:
$
z_{3} = - \sqrt{- \sqrt{i}}
$

and:
$
z_{4} = \sqrt{- \sqrt{i}}
$

But how do I go from that to this?:
$
z_{3} = - (-1)^{\frac{5}{8}}$

$
z_{4} = (-1)^{\frac{5}{8}}
$

Please give me a step by step solution, if you can.

Uhmm... I just got it, somehow seeing it on screen made it simpler, I'm sorry to bother you.
It is of course:

$
- \sqrt{-\sqrt{i}} = - \sqrt{-\sqrt{\sqrt{-1}}} =$
$= - \sqrt{-1 * \sqrt{\sqrt{-1}}} = - \sqrt{-1} * \sqrt{\sqrt{i}} =$ $= - i * i^{\frac{1}{4}} = - i^{\frac{5}{4}} = - (- 1)^{\frac{5}{8}}
$

You may delete this topic, sorry for the fuss.
Thanks,
Moon
That's a weird way to write down complex numbers...I'd do the following:

$z^4=i=e^{\pi i/2+2k\pi i}=e^{\frac{\pi i}{2}(1+4k)}\,,\,\,k=0,1,2,3$ , so now taking the fourth rooth on both sides and using De Moivre's theorem we get:

$z_k=e^{\frac{\pi i}{8}(1+4k)}$ , and the four different roots are obtained by taking the four different values of k.

Tonio