Conjugate. The conjugate of z=x+iy is z=x−iy — obtained by flipping the sign of the imaginary part, equivalently by reflecting z across the real axis in the Argand plane. A key fact: the product of a complex number with its own conjugate is always a non-negative real number, zz=(x+iy)(x−iy)=x2+y2.
Ten conjugate properties (each provable directly from the definition, several proved in the text):
z1+z2=z1+z2
z1−z2=z1−z2
z1z2=z1z2
(z2z1)=z2z1,z2=0
Re(z)=2z+z
Im(z)=2iz−z
zn=(z)n, n an integer
z is real⟺z=z
z is purely imaginary⟺z=−z
z=z
Proof idea (property 1): writing z1=x1+iy1,z2=x2+iy2, z1+z2=(x1+x2)−i(y1+y2)=(x1−iy1)+(x2−iy2)=z1+z2. Proof idea (property 9): z=−z⟺x+iy=−(x−iy)=−x+iy⟺2x=0⟺x=0, i.e. z is purely imaginary.
The conjugate is the standard tool for dividing by a complex number: multiplying numerator and denominator by the conjugate of the denominator makes the denominator real (exactly like rationalising a surd).
Modulus. The modulus of z=x+iy, written ∣z∣, is ∣z∣=x2+y2 — the distance from z to the origin in the Argand plane, generalising the real-number absolute value. Note zz=∣z∣2.
For fixed ∣z∣=t, as argz varies, z−z3 sweeps between t−t3 and t+t3; requiring 2 to be an attainable value forces t−t3≤2≤t+t3, and we solve for the smallest such t.
Step 1. Set t=∣z∣>0 and bound z−z3 using the modulus inequalities.
∣z∣−z3≤z−z3≤∣z∣+z3⟹t−t3≤2≤t+t3.
Step 2. Check the upper bound 2≤t+t3 is automatic. By AM–GM, t+t3≥23≈3.46>2 for every t>0, so this side never restricts t — the binding condition is purely t−t3≤2.