The least positive integer $n$ such that $\left( \frac{2i}{1 + i} \right)^n$ is a positive integer is
A2
B4
C8
D16
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. 8
First simplify the base.
$$\frac{2i}{1+i}=\frac{2i(1-i)}{(1+i)(1-i)}$$
$$\frac{2i}{1+i}=i(1-i)=1+i$$
So we need the least positive integer $n$ such that $$(1+i)^n$$ is a positive integer.
Write $1+i$ in polar form.
$$1+i=\sqrt{2}\left(\cos\frac{\pi}{4}+i\sin\frac{\pi}{4}\right)$$
Hence
$$ (1+i)^n=(\sqrt{2})^n\left(\cos\frac{n\pi}{4}+i\sin\frac{n\pi}{4}\right) $$
For this to be a positive integer, the imaginary part must be $0$ and the value must be positive real. So we need
$$\sin\frac{n\pi}{4}=0$$
and
$$\cos\frac{n\pi}{4}=1$$
That means
$$\frac{n\pi}{4}=2k\pi$$
for some integer $k$. Therefore
$$n=8k$$
The least positive value is $8$.
Checking the options, $8$ corresponds to option $C$.
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