De Moivre's Theorem: Difference between revisions
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''' | '''De Moivre's Theorem''' is a very useful theorem in the mathematical fields of [[complex numbers]]. It allows complex numbers in [[polar form]] to be easily raised to certain powers. It states that for <math>x\in\mathbb{R}</math> and <math>n\in\mathbb{Z}</math>, <math>\left(\cos x+i\sin x\right)^n=\cos(nx)+i\sin(nx)</math>. | ||
== Proof == | == Proof == | ||
This is one proof of | This is one proof of de Moivre's theorem by [[induction]]. | ||
*If <math>n | *If <math>n\ge0</math>: | ||
:Assume true for | :If <math>n=0</math>, the formula holds true because <math>\cos(0x)+i\sin(0x)=1+0i=1=z^0.</math> | ||
:Assume the formula is true for <math>n=k</math>. Now, consider <math>n=k+1</math>: | |||
<cmath>\begin{align*} | <cmath>\begin{align*} | ||
(\cos x+i \sin x)^{k+1} & =(\cos x+i \sin x)^{k}(\cos x+i \sin x) & \text { by Exponential laws } \\ | (\cos x+i \sin x)^{k+1} & =(\cos x+i \sin x)^{k}(\cos x+i \sin x) & \text { by Exponential laws } \\ | ||
& =[\cos (k x)+i \sin (k x)](\cos x+i \sin x) & \text { by | & =[\cos (k x)+i \sin (k x)](\cos x+i \sin x) & \text { by our assumption } \\ | ||
& =\cos (k x) \cos x-\sin (k x) \sin x+i[\cos (k x) \sin x+\sin (k x) \cos x] & \\ | & =\cos (k x) \cos x-\sin (k x) \sin x+i[\cos (k x) \sin x+\sin (k x) \cos x] & \\ | ||
& =\operatorname{cis}(k+1) & \text { | & =\operatorname{cis}((k+1)(x)) & \text { by various trigonometric identities } | ||
\end{align*}</cmath> | \end{align*}</cmath> | ||
:Therefore, the result is true for all | :Therefore, the result is true for all nonnegative integers <math>n</math>. | ||
*If <math>n<0</math>, one must consider <math>n=-m</math> when <math>m</math> is a positive integer. | *If <math>n<0</math>, one must consider <math>n=-m</math> when <math>m</math> is a positive integer. | ||
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\end{align*}</cmath> | \end{align*}</cmath> | ||
And thus, the formula proves true for all integral values of <math>n</math>. <math>\ | And thus, the formula proves true for all integral values of <math>n</math>. <math>\blacksquare</math> | ||
==Generalization== | ==Generalization== | ||
Note that from the functional equation <math>f(x)^n = f(nx)</math> where <math>f(x) = \cos x + i\sin x</math>, we see that <math>f(x)</math> behaves like an exponential function. Indeed, [[Euler's identity]] states that <math>e^{ix} = \cos x+i\sin x</math>. This extends de Moivre's theorem to all <math>n\in \mathbb{R}</math>. | |||
==See Also== | |||
[[Category:Theorems]] | [[Category:Theorems]] | ||
[[Category:Complex numbers]] | [[Category:Complex numbers]] | ||
Latest revision as of 09:49, 31 August 2024
De Moivre's Theorem is a very useful theorem in the mathematical fields of complex numbers. It allows complex numbers in polar form to be easily raised to certain powers. It states that for
and
,
.
Proof
This is one proof of de Moivre's theorem by induction.
- If
:
- If
, the formula holds true because 
- Assume the formula is true for
. Now, consider
:
- Therefore, the result is true for all nonnegative integers
.
- If
, one must consider
when
is a positive integer.
And thus, the formula proves true for all integral values of
.
Generalization
Note that from the functional equation
where
, we see that
behaves like an exponential function. Indeed, Euler's identity states that
. This extends de Moivre's theorem to all
.