Analyzing the Setup
Imagine you are standing at the base of a mountain. You have a massive, daunting expression:
z=(1+i)(1+2i)(1+3i)…(1+ni)
If you were to try and expand this by brute force, multiplying each bracket one by one, you would quickly find yourself lost in a forest of i2 terms, real parts, and imaginary parts. It is a path that leads to exhaustion.
In the world of JEE Advanced, we don't just work hard; we work smart. We look for the hidden symmetry.
The Power of the Modulus
When you see a product of complex numbers, your first instinct should be the modulus property. We know that the modulus of a product is the product of the moduli:
∣z1z2…zn∣=∣z1∣∣z2∣…∣zn∣
Since the problem gives us the squared modulus
∣z∣2=44200, we can square our property to get:
∣z∣2=∣z1∣2∣z2∣2…∣zn∣2
This is our golden ticket. It transforms a complex algebraic nightmare into a simple sequence of real numbers.
Unveiling the Terms
Let us look at a single term in our product: 1+ki. What is its squared modulus?
Using the definition
∣a+bi∣2=a2+b2, we find that for any term
k, the squared modulus is:
∣1+ki∣2=12+k2=1+k2
Suddenly, the entire expression simplifies to a beautiful, clean product:
(1+12)(1+22)(1+32)…(1+n2)=44200
This is the heart of the problem. We are no longer dealing with complex numbers; we are dealing with a sequence of integers:
2⋅5⋅10⋅17…(1+n2)=44200
The Final Ascent
Now, we simply calculate the running product. It is like climbing a staircase, one step at a time:
For n=1, the product is 2.
For n=2, we multiply by (1+22)=5, giving us 2×5=10.
For n=3, we multiply by (1+32)=10, giving us 10×10=100.
For n=4, we multiply by (1+42)=17, giving us 100×17=1700.
We are getting closer! We need to reach 44200. Let us look at the next term, n=5.
The factor is
(1+52)=26. If we multiply our current total,
1700, by
26, we get:
1700×26=44200
The Victory
There it is! The numbers align perfectly. The product hits the target exactly when n=5.
It is a moment of pure mathematical elegance—where the complexity of the initial expression dissolves into a simple, satisfying conclusion. You didn't need to struggle with complex algebra; you only needed to see the structure beneath the surface.
Remember, in JEE, the most difficult-looking problems often have the most beautiful, simple solutions hidden just behind the curtain. Keep looking for that structure, and you will conquer any problem that comes your way.