Trigonometry and Complex Numbers

Jubayer Rahman Nirjhor

Class 10, Annada Govt. High School, Bangladesh

Introduction

This document is a short introduction to the relation between complex numbers

and trigonometry, and shows how to approach trigonometrical problems using
complex numbers. This is not completely complete, maybe Ill add something
else later. The targets of this document are beginner Olympiad problem solvers
who have begun studying complex numbers. It is assumed that the reader has
the basic knowledge of trigonometry (definitions, periods, addition formulas and
related identities).

Basic Facts

We define the complex numbers C as



C = a + bi | (a, b) R2 , i2 = 1.
In a complex number z = a + bi, a is called the real part and written <(z) = a and
b is called the imaginary part and written =(z) = b. One good thing about dealing
with complex numbers in equations is that one can equate the real and imaginary
parts. For some real parameters A, B, C, D we have
A + Bi = C + Di A = C, B = D.
Another helpful thing is the distributivity or linearity of the < or = functions
X X
X X
<
=
<, =
=
=.
1

Eulers Formula

The following formula was given by Leonhard Euler and is a very useful one
relating complex numbers and trigonometry. For any complex x we have
eix = cos x + i sin x.
There are many ways to prove this. One outline is included here: first, rewrite the
equation as
cos x + i sin x
= 1,
eix
consider the function y = eix (cos x + i sin x), differentiate it. The works are not
shown here, but the derivative is 0 so the function must be constant. Sub x = 0
to get y = 1, hence y = 1 for all x. Note that setting x = we get a beautiful
identity ei + 1 = 0.

De Moivres Formula

De Moivres Formula helps ease out computations a lot. It states that for any
complex x and integer n
(cos x + i sin x)n = cos nx + i sin nx.
The proof is one liner if we apply Eulers formula twice

n
(cos x + i sin x)n = eix = ei(nx) = cos nx + i sin nx.
Notice that if z = eix = cos x + i sin x is a complex number, then <(z) = cos x
and =(z) = sin x.

Complex Approaches to Trig Problems!

Example 1. Derive the addition formulas of sine and cosine.

Solution. Just notice that by applications of Eulers formula
cos(x + y) + i sin(x + y) = ei(x+y)
= eix eiy
= (cos x + i sin x)(cos y + i sin y)
= (cos x cos y sin x sin y)
+ i(sin x cos y + cos x sin y)
Now equating real and imaginary part of both sides, we have
cos(x + y) = cos x cos y sin x sin y
sin(x + y) = sin x cos y + cos x sin y
deriving the formulas. 

Example 2. Prove that

n1
X

cos

k=0

2k
=0
n

n N {1}.

2
2
Solution. Let z = e2i/n = cos
+ i sin . Then z n = e2i = 1 = z n 1 =
n
n
0. Since z 6= 1
n

z 1 = (z 1)

n1
X

z = 0 =

k=0

n1
X
k=0

z = 0 = <

n1
X

z k = 0.

k=0

Now by application of De Moivres theorem

k



2
2k
2k
2k
2
+ i sin
= cos
+ i sin
= < z k = cos
.
z = cos
n
n
n
n
n
k

Therefore by the linearity of < function we finally have

0=<

n1
X

z =

k=0

n1
X

< z

n1
X

cos

k=0

k=0

2k
.
n

Example 3. Show the following (take it granted that the sum converges absolutely)

X
cos n
n=0

2n

4 2 cos
.
5 4 cos

Solution. Consider ein = cos n + i sin n, so that < ein = cos n. Hence by
the linearity of < function

 i n

X
X
cos n X < ein
e
=
=
<
2n
2n
2
n=0
n=0
n=0
which is an infinite geometric series sum. Evaluating we have





 i n
X
X
cos n
e
1
2
=<
=<
=<
.
n
i /2
i
2
2
1

e
2

e
n=0
n=0
Finally use the identity <(z) = (z + z)/2, replace ei using Eulers formula and
simplify to get





X
cos n
2
2
1
2
4 2 cos
=
<
+
=
=
2n
2 ei
2 2 ei 2 ei
5 4 cos
n=0
as desired. 

Problems to Try

Problem 1. (IMO 1963/5) Show that

cos

2
3
1
cos
+ cos
= .
7
7
7
2

Problem 2. (Proofathon) Show that for all odd k 3

cos

3
(k 2)
1
+ cos
+ + cos
= .
k
k
k
2

(Can you see how this is a generalization of Problem 1?)

Problem 3. Show the following (take it granted that the sum is absolutely convergent)

X
7 5 cos 2
cos2 n
=
.
n
2
5

4
cos
2
n=0
(You may use the result proven in Example 3.)