Question:
The value of $(1+i)^{4}+(1-i)^{4}$ is
(a) 8
(b) 4
(c) −8
(d) −4
Solution:
(c) −8
Using $a^{4}+b^{4}=\left(a^{2}+b^{2}\right)^{2}-2 a^{2} b^{2}$
$(1+i)^{4}+(1-i)^{4}$
$=\left((1+i)^{2}+(1-i)^{2}\right)^{2}-2(1+i)^{2}(1-i)^{2}$
$=\left(1+i^{2}+2 i+1+i^{2}-2 i\right)^{2}-2\left(1+i^{2}+2 i\right)\left(1+i^{2}-2 i\right)$
$=(1-1+2 i+1-1-2 i)^{2}-2(1-1+2 i)(1-1-2 i)$
$=(0)-2(2 i)(-2 i) \quad\left(\because i^{2}=-1\right)$
$=8 i^{2}$
$=-8$