Analyzing the Setup
Welcome, student. Today, we are not just solving an equation; we are exploring the elegant dance between geometry and algebra. We are given a complex number
and told that w is purely imaginary for all z on the unit circle (∣z∣=1). This is a classic JEE Advanced setup. It looks intimidating, but it is actually a beautiful puzzle waiting to be unlocked.
The Constraint of the Unit Circle
First, let us look at our playground: the unit circle. We are told ∣z∣=1. In the complex plane, this is a circle of radius 1 centered at the origin.
There is a crucial constraint: $\text{Re } z
eq 1$. If Re z=1 and ∣z∣=1, then z must be 1. If z=1, our denominator 1−z becomes zero, and the expression for w explodes into infinity.
So, we are working on the entire unit circle except for the point (1,0). This exclusion is our safety net; it ensures our math remains well-defined.
The Purely Imaginary Condition
Now, what does it mean for w to be purely imaginary? Geometrically, it means w sits on the vertical imaginary axis.
Algebraically, this is equivalent to saying that the real part of w is zero. The most powerful way to express this is the condition:
This is our golden key. It allows us to work with the conjugate wˉ without having to decompose w into its real and imaginary parts manually.
The Algebraic Dance
Let us find wˉ. We take the conjugate of the entire expression:
Here, we use the magic of the unit circle. Since ∣z∣=1, we know zzˉ=1, which implies zˉ=z1.
Substituting this into our expression for wˉ, we get:
To clean this up, we multiply the numerator and denominator by z, yielding:
Notice the denominator is z−1, while our original w had 1−z. By factoring out a negative sign, we get:
Final Calculation
Now, we are ready for the final act. We set w+wˉ=0:
1−z1+(1−8α)z−1−zz+1−8α=0
Combining the numerators, we get:
Watch closely as the terms cancel: 1 and −1 vanish, z and −z vanish. We are left with:
Since $z
eq 1$, we can safely divide by (1−z), leaving us with 8α=0. Thus, α=0.
The elegance of this result is breathtaking. The complex variable z completely disappears, leaving us with a single, definitive value for α. You have successfully navigated the trap and found the truth.