New 2026 Level 3 Complex Numbers prediction exam is out: a full paper with worked answers, free. Try it

Question Bank

Achieved

The locus of a complex number $z$ is described by $|z + 4 - 3i| = 5$.

Find the Cartesian equation of the locus, and state the centre and radius of the circle.

Achieved

The complex number $z$ satisfies $|z - 1 + 2i| \le 3$.

(a) Describe the region of the Argand diagram where $z$ lies, and write it as an inequality in $x$ and $y$, where $z = x + iy$.

(b) Determine whether each of the complex numbers $u = 3$ and $v = 4 - i$ lies in this region.

Merit

The locus of a complex number $z$ is described by $|z + 2 - 2i| = |z - 2 - 6i|$.

Find the Cartesian equation of the locus in the form $y = mx + c$, and find the complex number on the locus whose argument is $\dfrac{\pi}{4}$.

Merit

The locus described by $|z - 2i| = |z - 4|$ is a straight line.

Find the gradient of this line. Justify your answer.

Merit

(a) Describe the locus of $z$ given by $\arg(z - 1) = \dfrac{\pi}{4}$, and give its Cartesian equation, including any restriction on $x$.

(b) Find the complex number(s) $z$ for which $\arg(z - 1) = \dfrac{\pi}{4}$ and $|z| = 5$.

Merit

The locus of a complex number $z$ is given by $|z - 3| = |z - 1 - 4i|$.

Find the Cartesian equation of this locus.

Hence, find the value of the real constant $m$ if the complex number $w = m + mi$ lies on this locus.

Merit

The locus of a complex number $z$ is described by $|z - 2 - 2i| = 2$.

Find the Cartesian equation of the locus, and the complex number on the locus with the greatest modulus. Give your answer in exact form.

Merit

The locus of a complex number $z$ is described by $|z - 7 - 2i| = 2|z - 1 - 2i|$.

Find the Cartesian equation of the locus in the form $(x - a)^2 + (y - b)^2 = r^2$, and state the centre and radius of the circle.

Merit

The locus of a complex number $z$ is described by $|2z + 4 - 6i| = 10$.

Find the Cartesian equation of the locus. Hence find the equation of the tangent to the locus at the point where it crosses the positive real axis.

Excellence

The complex number $w$ is given by $w = \dfrac{z - 8}{z - 6i}$.

Find the Cartesian equation of the locus of $z$ if $\arg(w) = \dfrac{\pi}{2}$, and describe the locus fully.

Excellence

The locus of a complex number $z$ is described by $|z - 15 + 4i| = 2|z - 6 + 4i|$.

Find the Cartesian equation of the locus. Hence find the least value of $|z|$ for $z$ on the locus.

Excellence

The locus of a complex number $z$ is described by $|z - 8| = 2|z - 2|$.

Find the Cartesian equation of the locus, and hence find the complex number(s) on the locus with argument $\dfrac{3\pi}{4}$. Give your answer(s) in rectangular form.

Excellence

The complex number $z$ is not zero, and $w = z + \dfrac{4}{z}$.

Find and describe fully the locus of $z$ if $w$ is a real number.

Excellence

The locus of a complex number $z$ is described by $|z + 1 - 2i| = |z - 3|$.

Find the Cartesian equation of the locus, and the complex number on the locus that is closest to the origin.

Excellence

The locus of a complex number $z$ is described by $|z - 3i| + |z + 3i| = 10$.

Find the Cartesian equation of the locus in the form $ax^2 + by^2 = c$, and name the curve. Hence find the complex numbers $z$ on the locus with $\text{Im}(z) = 3$.

Excellence

Consider the complex numbers $u = 1 + 2ki$ and $v = 2 + 5ki$, where $k$ is a real constant.

Show that the complex number $w = \frac{u}{v}$ will not lie on the line $y = x$ in the Argand diagram, for any value of $k$.

Excellence

Find the equation of the locus of the point representing $z$ if $|z - 5| - |z + 5| = 6$.

Hence, show that the complex number $w = k(3 + 4i)$, where $k$ is a real constant, does not lie on this locus for any value of $k$.

Excellence

The locus of a complex number $z$ is described by $|z + 6| = 3|z + 2|$.

The complex number $u = k + i$ lies on this locus.

Find the Cartesian equation of the locus of $z$ (in the form $(x-a)^2 + y^2 = r^2$) and find the possible value(s) of $k$.

Excellence

The locus of a complex number $z$ is given by the Cartesian equation $y = x + 4$.

Show that the complex number $w = \frac{k + 2i}{1 + ki}$, where $k$ is a real constant, does not lie on this locus for any value of $k$.