De Moivre’s theorem is used in the computation of the $n^{\text{th}}$ power of a complex number. In this theorem, the polar (or trigonometric) form of the complex number is used.
De Moivre’s theorem states that for any positive integer $n,$ \[[r(\cos\theta+i\sin\theta) ]^n=r^n(\cos n\theta+i\sin n \theta)\] \[\text{or,}\;\;\; (\cos\theta+i\sin\theta)^n = \cos n\theta+i\sin n\theta\]
Proof: We prove this theorem by using mathematical induction.
If $n=1$, then, \[[r(\cos\theta+i\sin\theta)]^1 = r(\cos\theta+i\sin\theta)\]
Therefore, theorem is true for $n=1$.
If $n=2$, then, \[\begin{array}{l} & [r(\cos\theta+i\sin\theta)]^2 \\ =& r^2(\cos^2\theta+i^2\sin^2\theta+2i\sin \theta\cos\theta) \\ =& r^2 (\cos^2\theta-\sin^2\theta+i\sin 2\theta) \\ =& r^2(\cos 2\theta+i\sin 2\theta)\end{array}\]
Therefore, theorem is true for $n=2$.
Suppose, this theorem is true for $n=k$ \[[r(\cos\theta+i\sin\theta)]^k=r^k(\cos k\theta+i\sin k\theta)\]
Multiplying both sides by $r(\cos\theta+i\sin\theta)$, we get, \[\begin{array}{l} [r(\cos\theta+i\sin\theta) ]^{k+1} \\ \;\;\;\;\; = r^{k+1}(\cos k\theta+i\sin k\theta)(\cos\theta+i\sin\theta) \\ \;\;\;\;\; =r^{k+1}[\cos(k\theta+\theta)+i\sin(k\theta+\theta)] \\ \;\;\;\;\; =r^{k+1}[\cos(k+1)\theta+\sin(k+1)\theta] \end{array}\]
Thus, the theorem is true for $n=k+1$ whenever it is true for $n=k$. Hence, by mathematical induction, the theorem is true for all positive integers $n$. In fact, the theorem is true not only for a positive integer but also for any real number $n$.
De Moivre’s theorem is applied to compute the integral powers of complex numbers.