10.5 Powers of Complex Numbers and De Moivre’s Theorem (de moi-yay)

DeMoivre’s Theorem is used to raise complex numbers to integer powers. If z= a+bi is any complex number with polar form rcisϴ and n is any positive integer then the nth power of z is given by The proof of this is simple, we remember that if (rcisϴ)2 = (rcisϴ)(rcisϴ) And then by multiplying 2 complex numbers in polar form we get rrcis(ϴ+ ϴ) Which is the same as r2(cis2ϴ) Now if we wanted to find (rcis ϴ)3. We would simply take (rcis ϴ)2(rcis ϴ). Which is the same as r2(cis2 ϴ)(rcis ϴ) Which is the same as r3cis3 ϴ. Thus a pattern has developed that is consistent with de Moivre’s Theorem.

Example And in rectangular form that would be 0+64i Draw a picture to convince ourselves of this…

Rewrite this in rectangular form.

Write in the form a + bi

Let z=1-i Express z3, z5, z7 in polar form. Then in rectangular form. In order to complete this you must first put z into polar form. So now we have In rectangular form that would be -8 – 8i On your own find the other 2

HWK pg. 410 1,2,3,5

11.4 Roots of Complex numbers De Moivre’s Theorem helps as well to find roots. The n nth roots of z =rcisϴ are:

Find the fourth roots of z=(-8+8i 3 ) Change to polar form, identify r and ϴ. Replace z in Rectangular form with z in polar form Apply DeMoivre’s Theorem involving complex roots.

Evaluate

Find the cube roots of 16i

We can also take nth roots of complex numbers, so maybe we want to find the square root or the cube root of (2+3i), DeMoivre’s Theorem is beneficial in helping us do that. Something to remember, if I want to find the fourth root of (2+3i), there will be in fact 4 different solutions that I could raise to the 4th power to get (2+3i), so when you are asked for the nth roots of something you will have n solutions.

The following comes directly from de moivre’s Theorem Find the cube roots of 16i. First understand that there will be a z1, z2, and z3. To find z1 you will use k=0 To find z2 you will use k=1 To find z3 you will use k=2