De Moivre's Formula Proof Step

De Moivre's Formula Proof Step
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($\cos \phi + i\sin \phi)^n = \cos (n \phi) + i\sin (n \phi)$

Saw this in the De Moivre's formula proof and some other calculations involving complex numbers, but I do not understand why the equation is true.

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3 Answers

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This is DeMoivre's formula:

$$(\cos\phi+i\sin\phi)^n=\cos n\phi+i\sin n\phi$$

which may be proven by induction:

First of all, this is true for $n=1$. Now, we prove that if it is true for $k$, then it is true for $k+1$:

$$\begin{align}(\cos\phi+i\sin\phi)^{k+1}&=(\cos\phi+i\sin\phi)(\cos\phi+i\sin\phi)^k\\&=(\cos\phi+i\sin\phi)(\cos k\phi+i\sin k\phi)\\&=\cos\phi\cos k\phi-\sin\phi\sin k\phi+i(\sin\phi\cos k\phi+\cos\phi\sin k\phi)\\&\stackrel{(*)}=\cos(k+1)\phi+i\sin(k+1)\phi\end{align}$$

That is, if it holds for $k=1$, it holds true for $k+1=2$, and if it holds for $k=2$, it holds true for $k+1=3$, etc.

$(*)$ we used the sum of angles formula.

Likewise, this extends to negative $n$:

$$\begin{align}(\cos\phi+i\sin\phi)^{-n}&=((\cos\phi+i\sin\phi)^n)^{-1}\\&=(\cos n\phi+i\sin n\phi)^{-1}\\&=\frac1{\cos n\phi+i\sin n\phi}\\&=\frac1{\cos n\phi+i\sin n\phi}\frac{\cos n\phi-i\sin n\phi}{\cos n\phi-i\sin n\phi}\\&=\frac{\cos n\phi-i\sin n\phi}{\cos^2n\phi+\sin^2n\phi}\\&\stackrel{(**)}=\cos n\phi-i\sin n\phi\\&\stackrel{(***)}=\cos(-n\phi)+i\sin(-n\phi)\end{align}$$

$(**)$ we used the pythagorean identity $\sin^2+\cos^2=1$

$(***)$ we used symmetry formulas $\cos(x)=\cos(-x)$ and $\sin(x)=-\sin(-x)$

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DeMoivre's formula.

$(\cos\theta + i\sin\theta)^n = \cos n\theta + i\sin n\theta$

De Moivre's formula can easily be derived from Euler's formula.

$ e^{i \theta} =(\cos \theta + i \sin \theta)$

$ e^{i n \theta} =(\cos n \theta + i \sin n \theta)$

And you can use induction to prove it. Here's link with full details.

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The "identity is wrong. Consider $n=2$. Then the left hand side is $$ \cos^2 \theta + \sin^2 \theta + 2\cos \theta \sin\theta = 1 + 2\cos \theta \sin\theta = 1 + \sin(2\theta) $$ And the right hand side is $$ \cos (2\theta) + \sin(2\theta) $$ So unless $\cos (2\theta) = 1$ the equality fails.

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David Miller
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David Miller

David Miller brings 15 years of experience in global economics, personal finance strategy, and market dynamics. He specializes in turning complex economic trends into actionable insights for everyday readers.