Perplex
Content
  • Exponents & Logarithms
  • Approximations & Error
  • Sequences & Series
  • Counting & Binomials
  • Proof and Reasoning
  • Complex Numbers
  • Cartesian plane & lines
  • Quadratics
  • Function Theory
  • Transformations & asymptotes
  • Polynomials
  • 2D & 3D Geometry
  • Trig equations & identities
  • Vectors
  • Probability
  • Descriptive Statistics
  • Distributions & Random Variables
  • Differentiation
  • Integration
  • Differential Equations
  • Maclaurin
Other
  • Review Videos
  • Formula Booklet
  • Blog
  • Landing Page
  • Sign Up
  • Login
  • Perplex
    IB Math AAHL
    /
    Complex Numbers
    /

    Powers of Complex Numbers

    Edit

    Exercises

    Key Skills

    Powers of Complex Numbers

    Powers of Complex Numbers

    De Moivre's Theorem for powers and roots of complex numbers.

    Want a deeper conceptual understanding? Try our interactive lesson! (Plus Only)

    Exercises

    No exercises available for this concept.

    Practice exam-style powers of complex numbers problems

    Key Skills

    Powers of complex numbers
    AHL AA 1.14

    Now that we know how to represent complex numbers in the form ​reiθ, we can understand De Moivre's Theorem, which gives us a shortcut to finding powers of complex numbers:

    ​
    z=reiθ⇒zn=(reiθ)n=rneinθ
    ​


    And since ​reiθ=rcisθ:

    ​
    [r(cosθ+isinθ)]n=(rcisθ)n=rneinθ=rncis(nθ)📖
    ​
    Roots of complex numbers
    AHL AA 1.14

    De Moivre's Theorem can also be used to find the ​nth​ roots of complex numbers:

    ​
    n√reiθ=(reiθ)1/n=n√r⋅eiθ/n🚫
    ​

    or equivalently

    ​
    n√rcisθ=n√rcis(nθ​)🚫
    ​


    However, since ​cisθ=cis(θ+2kπ)​ for any ​k∈Z, then we actually have

    ​
    n√rcisθ=n√rcis(nθ+2kπ​),k=0,1…n−1🚫
    ​

    Note that ​k​ stops at ​n−1​ since when ​k=n​ we have

    ​
    cis(nθ+2nπ​)=cis(θ+2π)=cisθ
    ​