# Steps and explanation for solving $z^2-(3-2i)z+(5-5i)=0$?

I am reading a book and current I am doing some exercises. The exercise that I am having trouble with is this:

Solve the following equation for $$z$$:

$$z^2-(3-2i)z+(5-5i)=0$$

I know that the solution is $$2+i$$ and $$1-3i$$ but I do not know the steps to get to this result. I have tried using the polar form of complex number to calculate the roots using the solution formula for quadratic equations. However, what I get is not even near the correct results :/

So if anyone could give a user-friendly walkthrough of how to solve that quadratic polynomial - I would be very very happy!

Oh, and here is my general results, if you manage to read it :P

• Using the quadratic formula should give you the correct results. Can you post the results you get by using it? – Leo Aug 19 at 17:29
• I just posted my drawings - and my results are $1+i$ and $-4+i$ :) – npp Aug 19 at 17:34
• Square roots of $-15+8i$ are wrong in your solution. To find them properly, you can follow the steps in math.stackexchange.com/questions/3042441/… – user376343 Aug 19 at 17:40
• Pleas refer to another answer of mine here. – Ng Chung Tak Aug 19 at 19:28

Consider in $$\mathbb C[z]$$ the equation $$az^2+bz+c=0.$$ As in $$\mathbb R[z]$$, the solutions are given by $$z_{1,2}=\frac{-b\pm\sqrt{\Delta }}{2a},$$ where $$\Delta =b^2-4ac.$$

Use that your equation can be written as $$(z-(2+i)) (z-(1-3 i))$$

• Would you have known that if I did not provide the roots in advance? – npp Aug 19 at 17:58
• @npp With enough practice you get good at factoring nonreal numbers – gen-z ready to perish Aug 19 at 17:59

Let’s complete the square: $$(z^2-(3-2i)z+\left(\dfrac{3-2i}{2}\right)^2=\left(\dfrac{3-2i}{2}\right)^2-(5-5i).$$ This gives us $$\left(z-\dfrac{3-2i}{2}\right)^2=\dfrac{-15+8i}{4}.$$ It is not hard to realize that the RHS of the last equation is the square of $$\dfrac{1+4i}{2}.$$ Finally take the square root of both sides (do not forget both+ and -) and solve for the unknown $$z.$$

Hint

You had the correct idea but you did the square root wrong.

$$\sqrt{(3-2i)^2-4(5-5i)}\ne 5$$

in fact,

$$\sqrt{(3-2i)^2-4(5-5i)}=\sqrt{-15+8i}=a+bi$$ with, $$a,b \in \Bbb R$$, so, $$(a+bi)^2=-15+8i$$

solve the above equation and get your result.

The OP made two errors in the exercise:

1. As the quadratic formula is $$\lambda= \dfrac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}$$, the $$-(3-2i)$$ should be replaced by $$(3-2i)$$ for $$-b$$.
2. The calculation of $$\Delta=b^2-4ac$$ is incorrect.

We have

$$\Delta =b^2-4ac=(3-2i)^2-4(1)(5-5i)=(5-12i)-(20+20i)=-15+8i$$

so that

$$\lambda=\frac{3-2i\pm \sqrt{-15+8i}}{2}$$

where we can find the square roots $$\pm (a+bi)$$ of $$-15+8i$$ by solving the equation

$$(a+ib)^2=-15+8i$$

We have that $$(1+4i)^2=-15+8i$$, hence the two square roots are $$\pm(1+4i).$$ Therefore

$$\lambda=\frac{3-2i + (1+4i)}{2}=2+i$$

or

$$\lambda=\frac{3-2i - (1+4i)}{2}=1-3i$$