complex ! different tricks invited !

\texttt{deduce that }

\prod_{k=1}^{n-1}{\sin \frac{k\pi}{n}}=\frac{n}{2^{n-1}}

11 Answers

62
Lokesh Verma ·

hint:

Take z=cos(\pi/n)+isin(\pi/n)

we have to find: \frac{1}{(2i)^n}(z-1/z)(z^2-1/z^2)....(z^n-z^{-n})

After this, there is still some work left to be done.... Which I am not giving away yet... I think it is not very difficult.. but you need to figure out...

1
student ·

i think after this we need to multipl numerator and denominator with a quantity
such that
the numerator collapses to a single term

just first thoughts

62
Lokesh Verma ·

good guess. but i think that will not happen unless n is a prime number... The proof of which, we should not get into right now....
I mean at your level.. If you are interested, read Multiplicative group of integers modulo n

But why i am suggesting you not to read that right now is because you will hardly use that

341
Hari Shankar ·

\prod_{k=1}^{n-1} \sin \frac{k \pi}{n} = \prod_{k=1}^{n-1} \left(\frac{e^{\frac{ik\pi}{n}} - e^{\frac{ik\pi}{n}}}{2i}\right) = \frac{1}{2^{n-1}} \frac{1}{i^{n-1}} \prod_{k=1}^{n-1} \left(e^{\frac{i2k\pi}{n}}-1\right) \prod_{k=1}^{n-1} \frac{1}{e^{\frac{ik\pi}{n}}}

Now, \prod_{k=1}^{n-1} \frac{1}{e^{\frac{ik\pi}{n}}} = \frac{1}{e^{\frac{i(n-1)\pi}{2}}} = \frac{1}{i^{n-1}}

Also \prod_{k=1}^{n-1} \left( e^{\frac{i2k\pi}{n}}-1 \right) = (-1)^{n-1} \prod_{k=1}^{n-1} \left(1- e^{\frac{i2k\pi}{n}} \right) = (-1)^{n-1} f(1)

where f(z) =1+z+z^2+...+z^{n-1}

and so we have f(1) = n.

Thus the product evaluates to

\frac{1}{2^{n-1}} \ \times \ (-1)^{n-1} \ \times \ \frac{1}{i^{n-1}} \ \times \ \frac{1}{i^{n-1}} \ \times \ n = \frac{1}{2^{n-1}} \ \times \ (-1)^{n-1} \ \times \ \frac{1}{(-1)^{n-1}} \ \times \ n

= \frac{n}{2^{n-1}} as required.

341
Hari Shankar ·

I remember that akari had asked this problem some weeks ago. This and a similar looking one in the same thread. I had tried to post the solution then, but I was logged out before I could post it, so gave up :D.

62
Lokesh Verma ·

awesome proof..

but a small thing from the rest of you..

Can you see prophet sir's work and complete the rest of the proof.?

1
student ·

elaboration :

roots of
z^n=1

are

e^{i\frac{2k\pi}{n}},k \in (1,n-1)

(z-1)(1+z+z^2+z^3+.....z^{n-1})=(z-1)(z-\alpha)(z-\alpha^2)........(z-\alpha^{n-1})

putting z=1

n=\prod_{k=1}^{n-1}{(1-e^{i\frac{2k\pi}{n}})}

1
student ·

another trick :

this was solution given in my book

341
Hari Shankar ·

Hey thats a mighty cool solution! Thanks RPF for sharing.

62
Lokesh Verma ·

awesome dude :)

23
qwerty ·

bookmarked [1] tnx rpf

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