# Equality of matrix of trigonometric functions in n-power

Could you help me please and give some tips on how should I start solving this problem. How can one prove, that this equation is right, when n from $\mathbb{Z}$ and $\alpha$ is from $\mathbb{R}$?

$\begin{pmatrix} \cos \alpha & -\sin \alpha\\ \sin \alpha & \cos \alpha \end{pmatrix}^{n} = \begin{pmatrix} \cos n\alpha & -\sin n\alpha\\ \sin n\alpha & \cos n\alpha \end{pmatrix}$

Should I use induction?

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Accepting answers is easy. Just click on the empty tick mark to the left of the most helpful answer –  Dima Thefencingdude Lukhtai Nov 2 '11 at 2:04

Yes, induction should work. ${}$

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Thank you for response. Can you give me please some more tips on how should I move on? I used to prove by induction when n is from natural numbers, so I knew, where the start is. I'm a little bit confused by integers. –  Lissa Nov 2 '11 at 2:11
First prove it by induction for positive $n$. Then either prove it by induction for negative $n$, or use what you know about the form of the inverse of a 2 x 2 matrix to prove the negative result from the positive. And please learn how to accept answers, or else people will stop giving any. –  Gerry Myerson Nov 2 '11 at 3:28
Thank you. I've done it per induction. Will try later to do it by "positive result --> negative result". –  Lissa Nov 2 '11 at 16:30