Complex Numbers

Chapter 6.5 Roots of Complex Numbers

Complex Numbers Chapter 6.5 Roots of Complex Numbers 1

 • For a real number a, and a positive integer n, an nth root of a is a
real number c so that c n = a.
• If a < 0 and n is even, then no real nth root of a exists. For instance,
there is no real number c so that c 2 = −1.
• On the other hand, if n is odd, then a has exactly one nth root, and
for a > 0 and n is even, a has two nth roots.

Definition 6.5.1
Let z be a complex number and n a positive integer. An nth root of z is a
complex number w so that w n = z.

Example 6.5.2
√
3
Let z = i. We show that w = 2 + 12 i is a cube root of z.

Solution
π
The polar form of w is w = e 6 i . Apply De Moivre’s Theorem 6.3.9 we
π
have w 3 = e 2 i = i. Therefore w is a cube root of z = i.
Complex Numbers Chapter 6.5 Roots of Complex Numbers 2
Theorem 6.5.3
Consider nonzero complex numbers z = r1 e θ1 i and w = r2 e θ2 i . Then
z = w if and only if r1 = r2 and θ1 = θ2 + 2πk for some integer k.

Proof
Suppose that z = w . Then r1 = |z| = |w | = r2 . Furthermore,

r1 cos(θ1 ) + r2 sin(θ1 )i = z = w = r2 cos(θ2 ) + r2 sin(θ2 )i.

By Definition 6.1.2 and the fact that r1 = r2 6= 0 we have

cos(θ1 ) = cos(θ2 ) and sin(θ1 ) = sin(θ2 ).

Therefore

cos(θ1 − θ2 ) = cos(θ1 ) cos(θ2 ) + sin(θ1 ) sin(θ2 ) = cos2 (θ1 ) + cos2 (θ1 ) = 1.

Therefore θ1 − θ2 = 2πk, hence θ1 = θ2 + 2πk, for some integer k. We

leave the proof of the converse statement as an exercise, see Exercise 6.5
number 6.
Complex Numbers Chapter 6.5 Roots of Complex Numbers 3
Theorem 6.5.4
Let z = re θi be a nonzero complex number, with θ the principal argument
of z. For every integer n, z has exactly n distinct roots w0 , w1 , . . . , wn−1
given by
√ θ+2πk
wk = n r e n i , k = 0, 1, . . . , n − 1.

Proof
The proof consists of three parts. First we show that if w is an nth root of
z, then w = wk for some k = 0, 1, . . . , n − 1. The second step is to show
that each wk is an nth root of z. Lastly, we show that the wk are all
different. We prove only the first part, leaving the second and third parts
as exercises, see Exercise 6.5 number 7.
Suppose that w = se αi is an nth root of z, with 0 < α ≤ 2π. By
Definition 6.5.1 and De Moivre’s Theorem 6.3.9,

s n e nαi = w n = z.

Complex Numbers Chapter 6.5 Roots of Complex Numbers 4

Proof cpnt’d
By Theorem 6.5.3, s n = r and nα = θ + 2πk for some integer k. Therefore
√
s = n r and α = θ+2πk
n for some integer k.

Since 0 < α < 2π,

0 < θ + 2πk ≤ 2nπ

so that

−θ < 2πk ≤ 2nπ − θ.

But −π < θ ≤ π so that

−π < 2πk < 2nπ + π.

Hence

− 21 < k < n + 12 .

Complex Numbers Chapter 6.5 Roots of Complex Numbers 5

Since k and n are integers it follows that 0 ≤ k ≤ n so that
√ θ+2nπ
w = wk for some k = 0, 1, . . . , n − 1 or w = n r e n i .

But by Theorem 6.5.3,

√ θ+2nπ √ θ √ θ
n
r e n i = n r e n +2πi = n r e n i = w0 .

Therefore w = wk for some k = 0, 1, . . . , n − 1.

Complex Numbers Chapter 6.5 Roots of Complex Numbers 6

Example 6.5.5
√ √
We find the 4th roots of z = 2 2 − 2 2i in standard form.

Solution
π
In polar form, z = 4e − 4 i . Therefore, applying Theorem 6.5.4, the 4th
roots of z are
√ − π4 +2kπ
wk = 2e 4 i , k = 0, 1, 2, 3.

In particular,
√ π √ √
w0 = 2e − 16 i = 2 cos(− 16
π
) + 2 sin(− 16π
)i ≈ 1.387 − 0.276i,
√ 7π i √ 7π
√ 7π
w1 = 2e 16 = 2 cos( 16 ) + 2 sin( 16 )i ≈ 0.276 + 1.387i,
√ 15π √ √
w2 = 2e 16 i = 2 cos( 15π
16 ) + 2 sin( 15π )i ≈ −1.387 + 0.276i, and
√ 23π i √ 23π
√ 16 23π
w3 = 2e 16 = 2 cos( 16 ) + 2 sin( 16 )i ≈ 0.276 − 1.387i.

Example 6.5.6

Complex Numbers Chapter 6.5 Roots of Complex Numbers 7

A particularly interesting situation arises when z = 1. According to
Theorem 6.5.4, for each positive integer n, there are n distinct nth roots of
z = 1. These are called the roots of unity.

Example 6.5.7
In polar form, 1 = e oi . Hence, by Theorem 6.5.4, the nth roots of 1 are
given by
2kπ
wk = e n , k = 0, 1, . . . , n − 1.

Let us make a few observations regarding the nth roots wk of 1.

(1) For each k = 0, 1, . . . , n − 1 we have |wk | = 1. Therefore all the nth
roots of unity lie on the circle with radius 1 and centre 0.
(2) The first nth root is w0 = e oi = 1. If n is even, then
wn/2 = e πi = −1. Therefore the real nth roots of 1 are complex nth
roots of unity.
(3) Moving from wk to wk+1 along the circle, the argument increases by
2π 2kπ 2(k+1)π
n from n to n .
Complex Numbers Chapter 6.5 Roots of Complex Numbers 8
Therefore the roots of unity are even distributed along the circle |z| = 1.
As an illustration of the general observations (1), (2) and (3), we calculate
the cube roots of 1 and represent these graphically on the Argand plane.
We have
2π
√ 4π
√
i 3 3
w0 = e 0i = 1, w1 = e 3 = − 21 + 2 i, w2 = e 3
i
= − 12 − 2 i.

Complex Numbers Chapter 6.5 Roots of Complex Numbers 9

• As an application of De Moivre’s Theorem 6.3.9, we have found an
explicit formula for the nth roots of a complex number.
• A real number has either no real nth roots, exactly one real nth root
or exactly 2 real nth roots, a complex number has exactly n complex
nth root.
• The equation z 6 = −1 has no real solutions but has exactly 6 distinct
complex solutions.
• This is a special case of the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra
discussed in the next chapter.

Complex Numbers Chapter 6.5 Roots of Complex Numbers 1