Write the negative power as a reciprocal
(cosθ+isinθ)−n=(cosθ+isinθ)n1 A negative index means the reciprocal of the positive power.
Use de Moivre's theorem on the positive power
=cosnθ+isinnθ1 The theorem has already been proved for positive integers.
Multiply the numerator and the denominator by the conjugate
=(cosnθ+isinnθ)(cosnθ−isinnθ)cosnθ−isinnθ This is the standard way of dividing by a complex number.
Simplify the denominator
cos2nθ+sin2nθ=1 The denominator is the squared modulus, which equals 1.
Note the modulus of the base
∣cosθ+isinθ∣=1 A unit modulus is what makes the denominator collapse to 1.
Recall the conjugate of a unit complex number
cosα+isinα=cosα−isinα The conjugate reflects the number in the real axis.
Rewrite using even and odd symmetry
cos(−nθ)=cosnθ,sin(−nθ)=−sinnθ This shows the answer is exactly the de Moivre form with −n in place of n.
Conclude that the theorem holds for negative integers
(cosθ+isinθ)m=cosmθ+isinmθ ∀m∈Z The result therefore holds for every integer index.
Quote de Moivre's theorem
(cosθ+isinθ)n=cosnθ+isinnθ This is the result quoted in the formula book; it holds for every integer n.
Recall modulus-argument form
z=r(cosθ+isinθ) Here r=∣z∣ and θ=argz.
Recall the power rule in modulus-argument form
[r(cosθ+isinθ)]n=rn(cosnθ+isinnθ) The modulus is raised to the power and the argument is multiplied by it.
Recall Euler's relation
eiθ=cosθ+isinθ Exponential form is the compact way of writing modulus-argument form.
Recall the power rule in exponential form
(reiθ)n=rneinθ A power of an exponential simply multiplies the exponent.
Recall the effect of a power on the modulus
∣zn∣=∣z∣n Moduli multiply, so a power of z raises the modulus to that power.
Select the correct simplified form
(cosθ+isinθ)−n=cos(nθ)−isin(nθ) This is the reciprocal written in de Moivre form.