Question
The least positive integer n such that $\Big(\frac{2\text{i}}{1+\text{i}}\Big)^\text{n}$ is a positive integer, is:
  1. 16
  2. 8
  3. 4
  4. 2

Answer

  1. 8

​​​​​​​Solution:

 Let $\text{z}=\Big(\frac{2\text{i}}{1+\text{i}}\Big)$

$\Rightarrow\text{z}=\frac{2\text{i}}{1+\text{i}}\times\frac{1-\text{i}}{1-\text{i}}$

$\Rightarrow\text{z}=\frac{2\text{i}(1-\text{i})}{1-\text{i}^2}$

$\Rightarrow\text{z}=\frac{2\text{i}(1-\text{i})}{1+1} \ [\because\text{i}^2=-1]$

$\Rightarrow\text{z}=\frac{2\text{i}(1-\text{i})}{2}$

$\Rightarrow\text{z}=\text{i}-\text{i}^2$

$\Rightarrow\text{z}=\text{i}+1$

Now, $\text{z}^\text{n}=(1+\text{i})^\text{n}$

For $\text{n}=2,$

$\text{z}^2=(1+\text{i})^2$

$=1+\text{i}^2+2\text{i}$

$=1-1+2\text{i}$

$=2\text{i} \ ...(1)$

Since this is not a positive integer,

For $\text{n}=4,$

$\text{z}^4=(1+\text{i})^4$

$=\big[(1+\text{i})^2\big]^2$

$=(2\text{i})^2$ [Using (1)]

$=(4\text{i})^2$

$=-4 \ ...(2)$

This is a negative integer.

For $\text{n}=8,$

$\text{z}^8=(1+\text{i})^8$

$=\big[(1+\text{i})^4\big]^2$

$=(-4)^2$ [Using (2)]

$=16$

This is a positive integer.

Thus, $\text{z}=\Big(\frac{2\text{i}}{1+\text{i}}\Big)^\text{n}$ is positive for $\text{n}=8.$

Therefore, 8 is the least positive integer such that $\Big(\frac{2\text{i}}{1+\text{i}}\Big)^\text{n}$ is a positive integer.

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