Leonhard Euler

Euler’s Indentity

 Euler’s identity is an equality found in mathematics that has been

compared to a Shakespearean sonnet and described as "the
most beautiful equation."
The five constants are:
 The number 0.
 The number 1.
 The number π, an irrational number (with unending digits) that is the ratio of
the circumference of a circle to its diameter. It is approximately 3.14159…
 The number e, also an irrational number. It is the base of natural
logarithms that arises naturally through study of compound interest
and calculus. The number e pervades math, appearing seemingly from
nowhere in a vast number of important equations. It is approximately
2.71828….
 The number i, defined as the square root of negative one: √(-1). The most
fundamental of the imaginary numbers, so called because, in reality, no
number can be multiplied by itself to produce a negative number (and,
therefore, negative numbers have no real square roots). But in math, there are
many situations where one is forced to take the square root of a negative. The
letter i is therefore used as a sort of stand-in to mark places where this was
done.

Discovery
It was around 1740, and mathematicians were interested
in imaginary numbers.

An imaginary number, when squared gives a negative result

This is normally impossible (try squaring any number,

remembering that multiplying negatives gives a positive), but just
imagine that you can do it, call it i for imaginary, and see where
it carries you:

i2 = −1

Leonhard Euler was enjoying himself one day, playing with

imaginary numbers (or so I imagine!), and he took this Taylor
Series which was already known:
 ex = 1 + x + x22! + x33! + x44! + x55! + ...
And he put i into it:

eix = 1 + ix + (ix)22! + (ix)33! + (ix)44! + (ix)55! + ...

And because i2 = −1, it simplifies to:

eix = 1 + ix − x22! − ix33! + x44! + ix55! − ...

Now group all the i terms at the end:

eix = ( 1 − x22! + x44! − ... ) + i( x − x33! + x55! − ... )

And here is the miracle ... the two groups are quite neatly the
Taylor Series for cos and sin

cos x = 1 − x22! + x44! − ...

sin x = x − x33! + x55! − ...

And so it simplifies to:

eix = cos x + i sin x

He must have been so happy when he discovered this!

And it is now called Euler's Formula.

Let's give it a try:

Example: when x = 1.1

eix = cos x + i sin x
e1.1i = cos 1.1 + i sin 1.1
e1.1i = 0.45 + 0.89 i (to 2 decimals)
Note: we are using radians, not degrees.

The answer is a combination of a Real and an Imaginary Number,

which together is called a Complex Number.

We can plot such a number on the complex plane (the real

numbers go left-right, and the imaginary numbers go up-down):

Here we show the number 0.45 + 0.89 i

Which is the same as e1.1i

Let's plot some more!

A Circle!
Yes, putting Euler's Formula on that graph produces a circle:

eix produces a circle of radius 1

Include a radius of r and we can turn any point (such as 3 + 4i)

into reix form (by finding the correct value of x and r)

Example: the number 3 + 4i

To turn 3 + 4i into reix form we do a Cartesian to Polar
conversion:

 r = √(32 + 42) = √(9+16) = √25 = 5

 x = tan-1 ( 4 / 3 ) = 0.927 (to 3 decimals)

So 3 + 4i can also be 5e0.927 i

It is Another Form
It is basically another way of having a complex number.

This turns out to very useful, as there are many cases (such as
multiplication) where it is easier to use the reix form rather than
the a+bi form.

Plotting eiπ
Lastly, when we calculate Euler's Formula for x = π we get:

eiπ = cos π + i sin π

eiπ = −1 + i × 0 (because cos π = −1 and sin π = 0)
eiπ = −1

And here is the point created by eiπ (where our discussion

began):
And eiπ = −1 can be rearranged into:

eiπ + 1 = 0
The famous Euler's Identity.

 Euler’s Formula had a great impact on the branch of Quantum Mechanics under the field of
Physics.
Euler’s Identity - https://www.livescience.com/51399-eulers-identity.html

- mathsisfun.com/algebra/eulers-formula.html
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Euler’s Formula - https://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/eulers-formula.html