Analysis of a Complex Kind

Week 1 Lecture 4: Roots of Complex Numbers

Petra Bonfert-Taylor

Lecture 4: Complex Roots

Analysis of a Complex Kind

P. Bonfert-Taylor

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The nth Root

Denition Let w be a complex number. An nth root of w is a complex number z such that zn = w . Well see: If w = 0 there are exactly n distinct nth roots: Use the polar form for w and z : w = ei and z = rei . The equation z n = w then becomes r n ein = ei , n so r n = and ein = ei .

2k + , k = 0, 1, . . . , n 1. n n 1 2k We write w n = n ei ( n + n ) , k = 0, 1, . . . , n 1. Thus r = and n = + 2k , k Z, so =

Lecture 4: Complex Roots Analysis of a Complex Kind P. Bonfert-Taylor 2/5

Examples of nth Roots

w = ei , Square roots of 4i : 4i = 4e i 2 ,

wn =

ei ( n +

2k ) n

k = 0, 1, . . . , n 1.

so = 4, =

and n = 2. 2

(4i ) 2

= =

4 ei ( 4 +
4

2k ) 2

, k = 0, 1

2 ei if k = 0 i( + ) 2e 4 if k = 1 = ( 2 + i 2).
P. Bonfert-Taylor 3/5

Lecture 4: Complex Roots

Analysis of a Complex Kind

Examples of nth Roots

w = ei , Cubed roots of 8: 8 = 8ei , so = 8, = and n = 3. wn =
1

ei ( n +

2k ) n

k = 0, 1, . . . , n 1.

(8) 3

8 ei ( 3 + 3 ) , k = 0, 1, 2 i if k = 0 2 e 3 i = 2 e = 2 if k = 1 5 2 ei 3 if k = 2. =

2k

Lecture 4: Complex Roots

Analysis of a Complex Kind

P. Bonfert-Taylor

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Roots of Unity

Denition The nth roots of 1 are called the nth roots of unity. Since 1 = 1ei 0 , we nd that 1n
1

1 ei ( n +

2k ) n

, k = 0, 1, . . . , n 1

= e

k i 2 n

, k = 0, 1, . . . , n 1.

Lecture 4: Complex Roots

Analysis of a Complex Kind

P. Bonfert-Taylor

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