de Moivre's Theorem. For any complex number cosθ+isinθ (modulus 1) and any integer n,
(cosθ+isinθ)n=cosnθ+isinnθ.
In Euler form this is simply the exponent law (eiθ)n=einθ. It converts a power of a trigonometric expression into a single trigonometric expression at a multiplied angle — the tool that carries trigonometry "out of geometry and into analysis."
Corollaries (each following by substituting −θ or −n, or both, into the theorem):
(cosθ−isinθ)n=cosnθ−isinnθ
(cosθ+isinθ)−n=cosnθ−isinnθ
(cosθ−isinθ)−n=cosnθ+isinnθ
sinθ+icosθ=i(cosθ−isinθ)
Working method for a general complex number. To raise z=x+iy to a power n: (1) convert z to polar form r(cosθ+isinθ) (find r=∣z∣ and the correct-quadrant θ); (2) apply de Moivre's theorem to get rn(cosnθ+isinnθ); (3) reduce the angle nθ modulo 2π (or 360°) to a standard range and convert back to rectangular form if required.
Common applications:
Simplifying a high power directly, e.g. (1+i)18: convert 1+i to 2cis(π/4), then (1+i)18=29cis(18π/4)=29cis(π/2)=512i. …
Recovers z1 and z2 from the given conjugate relations, simplifies their ratio to −i, raises it to the 2026th power using periodicity, and takes the multiplicative inverse.
z1=1+i means z1 is defined as the conjugate of 1+i: z1=1−i.
z2=1−i means the conjugate of z2 equals 1−i; taking the conjugate of both sides (z2=z2): z2=1−i=1+i.
Compute z2z1=1+i1−i. Multiply numerator and denominator by the conjugate of the denominator, 1−i:
1+i1−i×1−i1−i=(1+i)(1−i)(1−i)2=1−i21−2i+i2=1−(−1)1−2i−1=2−2i=−i