Q. If the points $\mathcal{z}_{1},\ \mathcal{z}_{2},\ \mathcal{z}_{3}$ are the vertices of an equilateral triangle in the complex plane, then the value of $\mathcal{z}_{1}^{2} + \mathcal{z}_{2}^{2} + \mathcal{z}_{3}^{2}$ is equal to

A) $\frac{\mathcal{z}_{1}}{\mathcal{z}_{2}} + \frac{\mathcal{z}_{2}}{\mathcal{z}_{3}} + \frac{\mathcal{z}_{3}}{\mathcal{z}_{1}}$
B) $\mathcal{z}_{1}\mathcal{z}_{2} + \mathcal{z}_{2}\mathcal{z}_{3} + \mathcal{z}_{3}\mathcal{z}_{1}$
C) $\mathcal{z}_{1}\mathcal{z}_{2} - \mathcal{z}_{2}\mathcal{z}_{3} - \mathcal{z}_{3}\mathcal{z}_{1}$
D) $- \frac{\mathcal{z}_{1}}{\mathcal{z}_{2}} - \frac{\mathcal{z}_{2}}{\mathcal{z}_{3}} - \frac{\mathcal{z}_{3}}{\mathcal{z}_{1}}$
Explanation

(b)
[image:5_image16.emf]
$\therefore\ \ \overline{AC} = \overline{AB}\ e^{i\pi/3}$
By rotating $\frac{\pi}{3}\$in clockwise sense
$\Rightarrow \left( \mathcal{z}_{3} - \mathcal{z}_{1} \right) = \left( \mathcal{z}_{2} - \mathcal{z}_{1} \right)e^{i\pi/3}$ …(i)
Also, $\left( \mathcal{z}_{1} - \mathcal{z}_{2} \right) = \left( \mathcal{z}_{3} - \mathcal{z}_{2} \right)e^{i\pi/3}$ …(ii)
On dividing Eq.(i) by Eq. (ii), we get
$\frac{(\mathcal{z}_{3} - \mathcal{z}_{1})}{(\mathcal{z}_{1} - \mathcal{z}_{2})} = \frac{(\mathcal{z}_{2} - \mathcal{z}_{1})}{(\mathcal{z}_{3} - \mathcal{z}_{2})}$
$\Rightarrow \ \mathcal{z}_{1}^{2} + \mathcal{z}_{2}^{2} + \mathcal{z}_{3}^{2} = \mathcal{z}_{1}\mathcal{z}_{2} + \mathcal{z}_{2}\mathcal{z}_{3} + \mathcal{z}_{3}\mathcal{z}_{1}$

Dr. Abubacker
Reviewed by Dr. Abubacker

Physics Educator & NEET/JEE Specialist

Ph.D. in Physics with 19+ years of teaching experience.