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Euler relation (Definition)

Euler's relation (also known as Euler's formula) is considered the first bridge between the fields of algebra and geometry, as it relates the exponential function to the trigonometric sine and cosine functions.

Euler's relation states that $$ e^{ix} = \cos{x}+i\sin{x $$

Start by noting that

$\displaystyle i^k=\begin{cases} 1 & \mbox{if\; } k\equiv 0\!\!\pmod 4\ i & \m... ...; } k\equiv 2\!\!\pmod 4\ -i & \mbox{if\; } k\equiv 3\!\!\pmod 4 \end{cases} $

Using the Taylor series expansions of $e^x$ , $\sin x$ and $\cos x$ (see the entries on the complex exponential function and the complex sine and cosine), it follows that \begin{eqnarray*} e^{ix} & = \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{i^n x^n}{n!}\\ & = \sum_{n=0}^{\infty}\left(\frac{x^{4n}}{(4n)!}+ \frac{ix^{4n+1}}{(4n+1)!} -\frac{x^{4n+2}}{(4n+2)!}-\frac{ix^{4n+3}}{(4n+3)!}\right) \end{eqnarray*}Because the series expansion above is absolutely convergent for all $x$ , we can rearrange the terms of the series as \begin{eqnarray*} e^{ix} &= \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} (-1)^n\frac{x^{2n}}{(2n)!}+ i\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} (-1)^n\frac{x^{2n+1}}{(2n+1)!}\\ &= \cos{x}+i\sin{x} \end{eqnarray*} As a special case, we get the beautiful and well-known identity, often called Euler's identity: $$ e^{i\pi}=- $$




"Euler relation" is owned by rm50. [ full author list (5) | owner history (4) ]
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See Also: Taylor series, de Moivre identity, complex sine and cosine

Other names:  Euler's formula
Also defines:  Euler identity, Euler's identity

Attachments:
limerick on Euler's identity (Feature) by PrimeFan
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Cross-references: identity, absolutely convergent, series, complex sine and cosine, complex exponential function, Taylor series, functions, cosine, sine, exponential function, geometry, algebra
There are 16 references to this entry.

This is version 13 of Euler relation, born on 2001-11-08, modified 2008-06-22.
Object id is 714, canonical name is EulerRelation.
Accessed 39298 times total.

Classification:
AMS MSC30B10 (Functions of a complex variable :: Series expansions :: Power series )

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Proof of Euler's Relation using Taylor's Series by DJ Craig on 2005-06-06 17:15:56
For a more detailed proof of Euler's Relation using Taylor's Series see:
http://www.DJTricities.com/eulers
-DJ Craig
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