A2 June 2022 Paper 2 Q1

EdexcelCurrent spec3 marksComplex Numbers

1. A student was asked to answer the following:

For the complex numbers \(z_1 = 3 - 3\mathrm{i}\) and \(z_2 = \sqrt{3} + \mathrm{i}\), find the value of \(\arg\left(\dfrac{z_1}{z_2}\right)\)

The student’s attempt is shown below.

Line 1 →\(\arg(z_1) = \tan^{-1}\left(\dfrac{3}{3}\right) = \dfrac{\pi}{4}\)
Line 2 →\(\arg(z_2) = \tan^{-1}\left(\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{3}}\right) = \dfrac{\pi}{6}\)
Line 3 →\(\arg\left(\dfrac{z_1}{z_2}\right) = \dfrac{\arg(z_1)}{\arg(z_2)}\)
Line 4 →\(= \left(\dfrac{\pi}{4}\right)\Big/\left(\dfrac{\pi}{6}\right) = \dfrac{3}{2}\)

The student made errors in line 1 and line 3

Correct the error that the student made in

(a)
(i) line 1
(ii) line 3 (2)
(b) Write down the correct value of \(\arg\left(\dfrac{z_1}{z_2}\right)\) (1)