# Polar form of Complex numbers

I'm doing some work with complex numbers and I've come across this exercise in the "Polar form" section.

$$(1/2+i(\sqrt{3}/2))^{100}$$

Of course this exercise is manageable with the help of Pascal's triangle and numerous hours of calculating, but I assume there's a much simpler solution.

The result should be: $$-(1/2)-i(\sqrt{3}/2)$$

I'm appreciative with any possible help.

Thanks,

Bobby

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Take the section name as a hint and start by rewriting $\frac12+\frac{\sqrt3}2 i$ into polar form. –  Henning Makholm Dec 6 '12 at 15:08
and then use $(e^{i\theta})^n=e^{i\theta n}$ –  Artem Dec 6 '12 at 15:09
Alright, with my calculations, (not messing with ^100) I get $e^{i\pi/3}$ so I should get something like $e^{i\pi/3*100}$ –  Rob Dec 6 '12 at 15:18

Let $\frac12+i\frac{\sqrt3}2=R(\cos\theta+i\sin\theta)$ where $R\ge 0$

Equating the real & the imaginary part, $R\cos\theta=\frac12$ and $\frac{\sqrt3}2=R\sin\theta$

Squaring & adding we get, $R^2=1\implies R=1$

On division, $\tan\theta=\sqrt 3$ so that $\theta=\frac \pi3$ as both $\sin\theta,\cos\theta>0$

So, $\frac12+i\frac{\sqrt3}2=\cos\frac \pi3+i\sin\frac \pi3$

Using de Moivre's formula/identity, $(\frac12+i\frac{\sqrt3}2)^3=(\cos\frac \pi3+i\sin\frac \pi3)^3=\cos\pi+i\sin\pi=-1$

Hence, $(\frac12+i\frac{\sqrt3}2)^{100}=\{(\frac12+i\frac{\sqrt3}2)^3\}^{33}(\frac12+i\frac{\sqrt3}2)=(-1)^{33}(\frac12+i\frac{\sqrt3}2)=-(\frac12+i\frac{\sqrt3}2)$

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The Euler's formula says that $$e^{i\phi}=\cos(\phi)+i\sin(\phi)$$ So we get that $$\frac{1+i\sqrt3}{2}=e^{i\pi/3}$$ So raising both sides to the power $100$, remembering $e^{i2\pi}=1$, yields \begin{align} \left(\frac{1+i\sqrt3}{2}\right)^{100} &=e^{i\pi100/3}\\ &=e^{i\pi4/3}\\ &=e^{i\pi}\frac{1+i\sqrt3}{2}\\ &=-\frac{1+i\sqrt3}{2} \end{align}

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How did you get $e^{i\pi100/3}$ to $e^{i\pi4/3}$ –  Rob Dec 6 '12 at 15:30
@Rob $(e^{i2\pi})^{16}\times e^{i\pi\frac43}$ –  Mike Dec 6 '12 at 15:48