Why f(x) = x^n - r e^{i \theta}? Seeking Analytic Explanation

[ggb123]

I'd like to figure out why

f(x) = x^n - r e^{i \theta} = \prod_{j = 0}^{n - 1} ( x - r^{1/n} e^{i \theta / n} e^{2 \pi i j / n} ),

as I've seen it used as an identity in a few courses but I cannot figure it out. Could somebody shed some light? I understand they are the roots of the function, but I'd like some kind of analytic description.

Thanks a lot!

 

[dodo]

Hi,
I think you may have answered your own question: if you are willing to accept that the RHS above can be rewritten as
<br /> \prod_{j = 0}^{n - 1} ( x - a_j )<br />
where a_j (with j=0,1,...,n-1) are the n-th roots of the complex number in polar form r e^{i \theta}, then your question can be rephrased as: "can somebody point me to a proof of the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra"?

My 2 cents.

 

[AlephZero]

You have $x^n = re^{i\theta}$, so taking the n'th root of each side you get
$$x = \sqrt[n]{re^{i\theta}}\,\omega_k, \quad k = 0,\dots,n-1$$
where the $\omega_k$ are the n'th roots of unity.