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Section 8.3: de Moivre's Theorem and Applications
Section 8.3: de Moivre's Theorem and Applications
Then
z1 = r1 (cos 1 + i sin 1 )
z2 = r2 (cos 2 + i sin 2 )
and
= r1 r2 (cos(1 + 2 ) + i sin(1 + 2 ))
This means
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
)
2 cos( 4 ) + i sin( 4 ) .
Polar Form : z =
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
2
arg(27i) = 2
27i = 27(cos+ i sin )
2 2
3
Now suppose z = r(cos +i sin ) satisfies z = 27i. Then, by De Moivres Theorem,
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 :
3 =
+ 2k,
2
where k is an integer; i.e. 3 differs from 2 by a multiple of 2. Possibilities are :
1. k = 0: 3 = 2 , =
6
z1 = 3(cos + i sin )
6 6
3 1
= 3( +i )
2 2
3 3 3
z1 = + i
2 2
5 5
2. k = 1: 3 = 2
+ 2(1) = 2
, = 6
5 5
z2 = 3(cos + i sin )
6 6
3 1
= 3( +i )
2 2
3 3 3
z2 = + i
2 2
9 9 3
3. k = 2: 3 = 2
+ 2(2) = 2
, = 6
= 2
3 3
z3 = 3(cos + i sin )
2 2
= 3(0 + i(1))
z1 = 3i
3
These are the only possibilities : setting k = 3 results in = 2
+ 2 which gives
the same result as k = 0.
z3
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
1
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( 34
) + i sin( 34
)) = 2 + 2i
z3 = 2(cos( 54
) + i sin( 5
4
)) = 2 2i
7 7
z4 = 2(cos( 4 ) + i sin( 4 )) = 2 2i
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 4 1 5 3 2 5
(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 )
5
and so
Exercise: Prove :