Find the nth roots of unity.

Let me rephrase this question slightly:
 

"Find all the roots of the equation x^n - 1 = 0."

We know by the fundamental theorem of algebra that an nth degree polynomial has exactly n roots. So the excersice has now been reduced to something as simple as: can you find n different numbers  (call them x) such that  x^n = 1.

Well we know 1 works. Let us call it eoiπ from now on. We still need to find the (n-1) other roots. The key to this is using the fact that 1 = eoiπ, e2, e4, ... So long as our number when raised by n goes to any one of these numbers, we are done. Well, we can see e2iπ/n does the job, and we can also see e4/n does the job, so more generally e2riπ/n does the job for all positive integer r. Now we just need to find n of these numbers that are actually distinct (recall that there are infinitely many different ways of writing a number depending on how you write its argument, so while two numbers may be written differently they will actually be the same).
But fear not! If we look at e2riπ/n for 0 <= r < n, and r an integer, these are all distinct! (If they were not distinct then we could prove that eix = 1 for an x such that 0 < x < 2π, which is false).

ER
Answered by Edison R. Further Mathematics tutor

8296 Views

See similar Further Mathematics A Level tutors

Related Further Mathematics A Level answers

All answers ▸

Find all square roots of the number 3 + 4i.


Prove by induction that, for all integers n >=1 , ∑(from r=1 to n) r(2r−1)(3r−1)=(n/6)(n+1)(9n^2 -n−2). Assume that 9(k+1)^2 -(k+1)-2=9k^2 +17k+6


A curve C has equation y = x^2 − 2x − 24 x^(1/2), x > 0. Find dy/dx and d^2y/dx^2. Verify that C has a stationary point when x = 4


Find the general solution for the determinant of a 3x3 martix. When does the inverse of this matrix not exist?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning