# Showing that for complex numbers $z_1,z_2,z_3$, $|z_1z_2+z_2z_3+z_3z_1|=|z_1+z_2+z_3|$ given that $|z_i|=1$.

Let $$z_1,z_2$$ and $$z_3$$ be complex numbers such that $$|z_i|=1$$ for $$i=1,2,3$$. Show that $$|z_1z_2+z_2z_3+z_3z_1|=|z_1+z_2+z_3|$$

This is an exercise from Jonathan S. Golan's book on Linear Algebra. To check that it is true for particular values of $$z_i$$, it is quite obvious that it holds when $$z_i$$ are the cube roots of unity.

I have checked it by computing both sides with $$z_i=e^{i\theta_i}$$, but the computation is extremely long and tedious. I was wondering if there is a more elegant way of proving this.

Apologies if this is a duplicate.

Note that $$|z_1z_2z_3|=1$$. Using the property that $$|xy|=|x|\cdot |y|$$, the LHS simplifies to $$\left|\sum_\text{cyc} z_1z_2\right|$$ $$=\left|\sum_\text{cyc} \frac{z_1z_2z_3}{z_1}\right|$$ $$=|z_1z_2z_3|\cdot\left|\sum_\text{cyc} \frac{1}{z_1}\right|$$ $$=1\cdot\left|\sum_\text{cyc} \frac{1}{z_1}\right|$$ Note that since $$|z_1|=1$$, we have $$\frac{1}{z_1}=\overline{z_1}$$, where $$\overline{x}$$ is the complex conjugate of $$x$$. Hence, the LHS is equivalent to $$\left|\sum_\text{cyc} \overline{z_1}\right|$$ $$=\left|\overline{\sum_\text{cyc} z_1}\right|$$ Using the fact that $$|x|=|\overline{x}|$$, this is equivalent to $$\left|\sum_\text{cyc} z_1\right|$$ Hence, the LHS is equivalent to the RHS.

• what does $\text{cyc}$ mean under sigma? Aug 14 at 7:04
• @Algebrology It means do the summations with each permutation of the numbers.
– Alan
Aug 14 at 7:26
• @Alan ah thanks a lot :) Aug 14 at 7:56
• @Alan Abraham. Clearly $|z_1 z_2 z_3|=1$ but that does not imply $z_1 z_2 z_3=1$. So, how is it that $|\frac{z_1 z_2 z_3}{z_1} +\frac{z_1 z_2 z_3}{z_2}+\frac{z_1 z_2 z_3}{z_3} |$ equals $|\frac{1}{z_1} +\frac{1}{z_2}+\frac{1}{z_3} |$ ?
– Medo
Aug 14 at 8:12
• @Medo You tagged the wrong Alan, not sure how you properly tag a 2 person name...but it shouldn't need tagging since its his answer. I'd answer, but I didn't understand it myself :)
– Alan
Aug 14 at 8:13

We can rotate $$z_1, z_2, z_3$$ in a way so $$z_1=1$$. So let's suppose that $$z_1=1$$. The equation simplifies to: $$|z_2+z_2z_3+z_3|=|1+z_2+z_3|$$ Conjugation doesn't affect the absolute value, so we can rewrite the equation to: $$|\overline{z_2}+\overline{z_2z_3}+\overline{z_3}|=|1+z_2+z_3|$$ Conjugation of a complex unit is equal to its inverse. $$\left|\frac1{z_2}+\frac1{z_2z_3}+\frac1{z_3}\right|=|1+z_2+z_3|$$ $$\left|\frac1{z_2z_3}\right|\left|z_3+1+z_2\right|=|1+z_2+z_3|$$ And the absolute value of $$\frac1{z_2z_3}$$ is 1, so the equation holds.

• I think in the last step it should be $z_2$ not $z_1$ in the LHS.
– tmaj
Aug 14 at 8:36
• Yes, it was a typo. Thanks! Aug 15 at 14:41

We have that $$|z_1|=|z_2|=|z_3|=1$$. So $$|z_1 z_2 z_3|=|z_1|| z_2|| z_3|=1$$ So $$|z_1 z_2+z_2 z_3+z_3 z_1|=|z_1 z_2 z_3||\frac{1}{z_1}+\frac{1}{z_2}+\frac{1}{z_3}|= |\frac{1}{z_1}+\frac{1}{z_2}+\frac{1}{z_3}|$$ $$=\left|\frac{\overline{z_1}}{|z_1|^2}+\frac{\overline{z_2}}{|z_2|^2}+\frac{\overline{z_3}}{|z_3|^2}\right|=|\overline{z_1}+\overline{z_2}+\overline{z_3}|$$ $$=|\overline{z_1+z_2+z_3}|=|z_1+z_2+z_3|.$$

• Yeah. Checked. Thanks
– Medo
Aug 15 at 1:04