# Roots of unity

• June 17th 2011, 01:39 PM
domenfrandolic
Roots of unity
Hello guys...we know that the roots of unity are for that example z^n=1 possible just for n = all positive numbers
what would happen if n = 0 or any non positive number?

thanks
• June 17th 2011, 01:56 PM
Also sprach Zarathustra
Re: Roots of unity
Quote:

Originally Posted by domenfrandolic
Hello guys...we know that the roots of unity are for that example z^n=1 possible just for n = all positive numbers
what would happen if n = 0 or any non positive number?

thanks

$z^{-n}=\frac{1}{z^n}$
• June 17th 2011, 01:59 PM
Plato
Re: Roots of unity
Quote:

Originally Posted by domenfrandolic
Hello guys...we know that the roots of unity are for that example z^n=1 possible just for n = all positive numbers
what would happen if n = 0 or any non positive number?

First, realize that n is an integer.

Second, if $n=0$ then $\frac{1}{n}$ is not defined. So that is take n care of.

Third, if $n\in\mathbb{Z}^-$ we deal the nth root of the multiplicative inverse.
• June 18th 2011, 11:01 AM
domenfrandolic
Re: Roots of unity
hm...ok that makes sense that it comes to be 1/z^n=1...but like what happens then?how do i find solutions?are the same rools of the roots of unity applied?will we have for z^n=1 where n=-3 as an example three answers in a unit circle?
thanks
• June 18th 2011, 12:51 PM
Also sprach Zarathustra
Re: Roots of unity
Quote:

Originally Posted by domenfrandolic
hm...ok that makes sense that it comes to be 1/z^n=1...but like what happens then?how do i find solutions?are the same rools of the roots of unity applied?will we have for z^n=1 where n=-3 as an example three answers in a unit circle?
thanks

1/z^n=1 <==> z^n=1