De Moivre's formula, also known as de Moivre's theorem, is a result connecting complex numbers and trigonometry. It states that for any real number x and any integer n, the quantity cosine of x plus i times sine of x, raised to the power n, equals cosine of n times x plus i times sine of n times x, where i is the imaginary unit whose square is negative one. The formula is named after the mathematician Abraham de Moivre, although he never stated it explicitly in his own writings. By expanding the left side of the formula and comparing real and imaginary parts, it can be used to derive expressions for the cosine and sine of a multiple angle in terms of the cosine and sine of the original angle, and it can also be used to find the roots of unity, the complex numbers whose nth power equals one.
Facts
Classification
Statement Form StatementFor any real number x and integer n, (cos x + i sin x)^n = cos nx + i sin nx. 1 Connections
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In Branch
Source De Moivre's formula (Wikipedia)
Proved By
Source De Moivre's formula (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. De Moivre's formula (Wikipedia)
Lead sentence
In mathematics, de Moivre's formula (also known as de Moivre's theorem and de Moivre's identity) states that for any real number x and integer n, (cos x + i sin x)^n = cos nx + i sin nx
In Branch: Trigonometry, Lead paragraph
The formula is important because it connects complex numbers and trigonometry.
Proved By: Abraham de Moivre, Lead section
The formula is named after Abraham de Moivre, although he never stated it in his works.
In Group: Polynomials and Elementary Algebra, Lead section
These can be used to give explicit expressions for the nth roots of unity, that is, complex numbers z such that
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