1. ## Euler's identity

Euler's identity basically states that $e^{x\imath}=-1$ which is derived from $e^{x\imath}=\cos(x)+{\imath}\sin(x)$. (I'm using $\imath=$ i. Which I think is the correct use, though am unsure.)

I don't understand how they are getting to the latter form of the equation $e^{x\imath}=\cos(x)+{\imath}\sin(x)$. If someone could explain this to me it would be greatly appreciated.

2. ## Re: Euler's identity

Originally Posted by Xeritas
Euler's identity basically states that $e^{x\imath}=-1$ which is derived from $e^{x\imath}=\cos(x)+{\imath}\sin(x)$. (I'm using $\imath=$ i. Which I think is the correct use, though am unsure.)

I don't understand how they are getting to the latter form of the equation $e^{x\imath}=\cos(x)+{\imath}\sin(x)$. If someone could explain this to me it would be greatly appreciated.
It's actually $\displaystyle e^{i\pi} = -1$ which you get from letting $\displaystyle x = \pi$ in the equation $\displaystyle e^{ix} = \cos{x} + i\sin{x}$.

Anyway, in order to derive $\displaystyle e^{ix} = \cos{x} + i\sin{x}$, start by defining a complex number $\displaystyle z = \cos{x} + i\sin{x}$. Then

\displaystyle \begin{align*} z &= \cos{x} + i\sin{x} \\ \frac{dz}{dx} &= -\sin{x} + i\cos{x} \\ \frac{dz}{dx} &= i^2\sin{x} + i\cos{x} \\ \frac{dz}{dx} &= i\left(\cos{x} + i\sin{x}\right) \\ \frac{dz}{dx} &= i\,z \\ \frac{1}{z}\,\frac{dz}{dx} &= i \\ \int{\frac{1}{z}\,\frac{dz}{dx}\,dx} &= \int{i\,dx} \\ \int{\frac{1}{z}\,dz} &= i\,x + C_1 \\ \ln{|z|} + C_2 &= i\,x + C_1 \\ \ln{|z|} &= i\,x + C \textrm{ where }C = C_1 - C_2 \\ |z| &= e^{i\,x + C} \\ |z| &= e^Ce^{i\,x} \\ z &= \pm e^Ce^{i\,x} \\ z &= A\,e^{i\,x} \textrm{ where } A = \pm e^C \end{align*}

We know that when $\displaystyle x = 0, z = \cos{0} + i\sin{0} = 1$, so $\displaystyle 1 = Ae^0 \implies A = 1$

Therefore $\displaystyle z = e^{i\,x}$, and so $\displaystyle e^{i\,x} = \cos{x} + i\sin{x}$.