Understanding Euler's Formula for Complex Numbers - Tips for Evaluating e^ix

[AndersHermansson]

I just started studying complex numbers. It says complex numbers in polar form can be expressed as a power of e:

e^ix = cosx + isinx

I don't quite understand how this equation works.
How do i evaluate e^ix? And how does taking e to the power of ix get me a complex number a + bi or even in polar form?

 

[NateTG]

To get all complex numbers, you need the somewhat more general form:
re^{i\theta}=r\sin{\theta}+ir\cos{\theta}

Now, the other direction is also not bad
z=x+iy=\sqrt{x^2+y^2} e^{i\arctan{\frac{x}{y}}}

If you think of r as the radius, and \theta as the angle anti-clockwise from the postive axis, you'll find that this corresponds to switching between polar and rectangular coordinates.

 

[AndersHermansson]

So re^{i\theta} is merely a convenience in writing?

 

[mathman]

It is more than a convenience. One way to look at it is by power series of e^ix and compare to power series for sinx and cos x. You will see that e^ix=cosx+isinx.

 

[AndersHermansson]

Ok, yes i think I'm beginning to understand. How do one evaluate xⁱ? For example, what's 3²ⁱ?

 

[krab]

If you are thinking of x^n being the product of n x's, and want to apply that here, you are out of luck. When the exponent is imaginary, it doesn't really carry over. Think of it as a generalization.

Are you familiar with Taylor series?

e^x=1+x+{x^2\over 2}+{x^3\over 3!}+{x^4\over 4!}+...

\sin x=x-{x^3\over 3!}+{x^5\over 5!}-...

\cos x=1-{x^2\over 2}+{x^4\over 4!}-...

The result follows from these.

 

[NateTG]

Well, you can do the following:

3^{2i}=e^{\ln{3} *2i}=\cos{2\ln{3}}+i\sin{2\ln{3}}

If you're feeling a bit more adventerous, there is a power series for 3^x which is going to give you the same result.

 

[AndersHermansson]

Ok, thanks! So the only way of evaluating x^iy is by using Euler's formula, which we know to be true? I can see the use of the formula more clearly now.

 

[Hurkyl]

For the record, x^y is usually a multivalued function.

 

[NateTG]

Originally posted by AndersHermansson
Ok, thanks! So the only way of evaluating x^iy is by using Euler's formula, which we know to be true? I can see the use of the formula more clearly now.

Think of it as a way to calculate x^{iy}.

 

[phoenixthoth]

Originally posted by NateTG
To get all complex numbers, you need the somewhat more general form:
re^{i\theta}=r\sin{\theta}+ir\cos{\theta}

Now, the other direction is also not bad
z=x+iy=\sqrt{x^2+y^2} e^{i\arctan{\frac{x}{y}}}

If you think of r as the radius, and \theta as the angle anti-clockwise from the postive axis, you'll find that this corresponds to switching between polar and rectangular coordinates.

should that be arctan(y/x)?