Section 8.

3 : De Moivres Theorem and

Applications
Let z1 and z2 be complex numbers, where
|z1 | = r1 , |z2 | = r2 , arg(z1 ) = 1 , arg(z2 ) = 2 .
Then
z1 = r1 (cos 1 + i sin 1 )
z2 = r2 (cos 2 + i sin 2 )

and

z1 z2 = r1 r2 (cos 1 cos 2 sin 1 sin 2 ) + i(sin 1 cos 2 + cos 1 sin 2 )

|
{z
}
|
{z
}
cos(1 +2 )

sin(1 +2 )

= r1 r2 (cos(1 + 2 ) + i sin(1 + 2 ))
This means
1. |z1 z2 | = r1 r2 = |z1 | |z2 |
2. arg(z1 z2 ) = 1 + 2 = arg(z1 ) + arg(z2 )
or :
The modulus of the product of two complex numbers is the product of their moduli,
and
the argument of the product of two complex numbers is the sum of their arguments.

We can use these facts to compute the square of a complex number (in polar
form): suppose z = r(cos + i sin ), so |z| = r and arg(z) = . Then z 2 has
modulus r r = r2 , and z 2 has argument + = 2, i.e.
z 2 = r2 (cos(2) + i sin(2))
This principle can be used to compute any positive integer power of z to give :
Theorem 8.3.1: (De Moivres Theorem) Let z = r(cos + i sin ), and let n be a
positive integer. Then
z n = rn (cos n + i sin n)
1

(i.e. in taking the nth power of z, we raise the modulus to its nth power and multiply
the argument by n.)
Remark: Provided z 6= 0, De Moivres Theorem also holds for negative integers n.
We now consider three problems of different types, all involving De Moivres
theorem.
1. Computing Positive Powers of a Complex Number
Example 8.3.2 Let z = 1 i. Find z 10 .
Solution: First write z in polar form.
p

|z| = 12 + (1)2 = 2
arg(z) = 4 (or

7
)
4

Polar Form : z =

2 cos( 4 ) + i sin( 4 ) .

Applying de Moivres Theorem gives :



z 10 = ( 2)10 cos(10 ( )) + i sin(10 ( ))

4
4


10
10
= 25 cos(
) + i sin(
)
4
4


5
5
= 32 cos( ) + i sin( )
2
2


5
5
= 32 cos(
+ 2) + i sin(
+ 2)
2
2



= 32 cos( ) + i sin( )
2
2
= 32(0 + i (1))
= 32i
Note: It can be verified directly that (1 i)10 = 32i.

Exercise : Use De Moivres Theorem to find (1 + 3i)6 .

2. Computing nth roots of a complex number.
Example 8.3.3 Find all complex cube roots of 27i.
Solution: We are looking for complex numbers z with the property z 3 = 27i.
Strategy: First we write 27i in polar form :p
|27i| = |0 + 27i| = 02 + (27)2 = 27

arg(27i) =

+ i sin )
2
2
3
Now suppose z = r(cos +i sin ) satisfies z = 27i. Then, by De Moivres Theorem,
27i = 27(cos

r3 (cos 3 + i sin 3) = 27i = 27(cos

+ i sin )
2
2

Thus r3 = 27 = r = 3 (since r must be a positive real number with cube 27).

What are the possible values of ? We must have
cos 3 = cos

and sin 3 = sin

2
2

This means :

+ 2k,
2
where k is an integer; i.e. 3 differs from 2 by a multiple of 2. Possibilities are :
3 =

1. k = 0: 3 = 2 , =

z1 = 3(cos + i sin )
6
6
3
1
= 3(
+i )
2
2
3 3 3
+ i
z1 =
2
2
2. k = 1: 3 =

+ 2(1) =

5
,
2

5
6

5
5
z2 = 3(cos
+ i sin )
6
6
3
1
= 3(
+i )
2
2

3 3 3
+ i
z2 =
2
2
3. k = 2: 3 =

+ 2(2) =

9
,
2

9
6

3
3
+ i sin )
2
2
= 3(0 + i(1))
= 3i

z3 = 3(cos
z1

3
2

These are the only possibilities : setting k = 3 results in =

the same result as k = 0.

.....

.....
...
...
.
..
.
..
...
.
...
...
...
.
...
.
...
.
...
.
...
.
...
.
....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....

..... ..... ..... ..... .....

.....

.....
.....
.....
.....

.....

...
.
...
.
...
.
...
.
...
.
...
.
...
.
.
...
...
.
...
.
...
...
.
...
.
.
.
.

ppppppppp ppppps z1
ppppppppp ppppppppp p p
p
p
p
p
p
p
pppppppppppppp
p
p
p
p
p
pppppppppppppp p pppppppppp pppppppppp
pppppppp

z2 =

+ 2 which gives

z2 sppppppppppppp
ppppppppppppppppppppp
p pppppppp

The complex cube roots of 27i are :

z1 =

....
..... .
.....
.....
.....

3 3
+ 23 i
2

3 3
+ 32 i
2

z3 = 3i

.....
ppp pp
.....
.....
ppp p
.....
.
.
.
.
.
p
..... ..... ....ps
. ..... .....

.
....

z3

In general : To find the complex nth roots of a non-zero complex number z.

1. Write z in polar form : z = r(cos + i sin )
2. z will have n different nth roots (i.e. 3 cube roots, 4 fourth roots, etc.).
1

3. All these roots will have the same modulus r n (the positive real nth root of
r).
4. They will have different arguments :
+ 2 + (2 2)
+ ((n 1) 2)
,
,
, ... ,
n
n
n
n
5. The complex nth roots of z are given (in polar form) by


1
z1 = r n cos( n ) + i sin( n )


1
+2
z2 = r n cos( +2
)
+
i
sin(
)
n
n


1
+4
+4
n
z3 = r cos( n ) + i sin( n ) , etc.
Example: Find all the complex fourth roots of -16.
Solution: First write -16 in polar form.
Modulus : 16
Argument :
16 = 16(cos + i sin )
4

Fourth roots of 16 all have modulus 16 4 = 2, and possibilities for the argument are
:
+ 2
3 + 4
5 + 3
7
,
=
,
=
,
=
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
Fourth roots of 16 are :

z1 = 2(cos( 4 ) + i sin( 4 )) = 2 + 2i

z2 = 2(cos( 3
) + i sin( 3
)) = 2 + 2i
4
4

5
z3 = 2(cos( 5
)
+
i
sin(
))
=

2i
4
4

7
7
z4 = 2(cos( 4 ) + i sin( 4 )) = 2 2i

3. Proving Trigonometric Identities

Example 8.3.4 : Prove that
1. cos 5 = 16 cos5 20 cos3 + 5 cos
2. sin 5 = 16 sin5 20 sin3 + 5 sin
Solution: The idea is to write (cos + i sin )5 in two different ways. We use both
the binomial theorem and De Moivres theorem, and compare the results.
Binomial Theorem:
(cos + i sin )5 =
 
 
 
5
5
5
5
4
1
3
2
(cos ) +
(cos ) (i sin ) +
(cos ) (i sin ) +
(cos )2 (i sin )3
1
2
3
 
 
5
5
+
(cos )1 (i sin )4 +
(cos )0 (i sin )5
4
5
= cos5 + 5 cos4 (i sin ) + 10(cos3 )(i2 sin2 ) + 10(cos2 )(i3 sin3 )
+5(cos )(i4 sin4 ) + (i5 sin5 )
= cos5 + i 5 cos4 sin 10 cos3 sin2 i 10 cos2 sin3 + 5 cos sin4 + i sin5
= (cos5 10 cos3 sin2 + 5 cos sin4 ) + i(5 cos4 sin 10 cos2 sin3 + sin5 )

Also, by De Moivres Theorem, we have

(cos + i sin )5 = cos 5 + i sin 5

and so
cos 5 + i sin 5 = (cos5 10 cos3 sin2 + 5 cos sin4 )
+i(5 cos4 sin 10 cos2 sin3 + sin5 )

Equating the real parts gives

cos 5 =
=
=
=
cos 5 =

cos5 10 cos3 sin2 + 5 cos sin4

cos5 10 cos3 (1 cos2 ) + 5 cos (1 cos2 )2
cos5 10 cos3 + 10 cos5 + 5 cos (1 2 cos2 + cos4 )
cos5 10 cos3 + 10 cos5 + 5 cos 10 cos3 + 5 cos5
16 cos5 20 cos3 + 5 cos

For the other identity, look at the imaginary parts :

sin 5 =
=
=
=
=
sin 5 =

5 cos4 sin 10 cos2 sin3 + sin5

5(1 sin2 )2 sin 10(1 sin2 ) sin3 + sin5
5(1 2 sin2 + sin4 ) sin 10 sin3 + 10 sin5 + sin5
5 sin 10 sin3 + 5 sin5 10 sin3 + 10 sin5 + sin5
5 sin 10 sin3 + 5 sin5 10 sin3 + 10 sin5 + sin5
16 sin5 20 sin3 + 5 sin

Remark: This method can be used to prove many trigonometric identities. In

general one can write sin n and cos n in terms of powers of sin and cos by using
both the binomial theorem and De Moivres theorem to expand (cos + i sin )n and
comparing the real and imaginary parts of the results.
Exercise: Prove :
1. cos 4 = 8 cos4 8 cos2 + 1
2. sin 4 = 4 cos3 sin 4 cos sin3