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Problem: Prove the following identity about the product involving the nth roots of unity:

$$ \prod_{k=1}^{N-1}|z^k-1| = N $$

where $ z^k $ is the primitive nth root of unity.


Attempt:

$$ \begin{align} \prod_{k=1}^{N-1}|z^k-1| &= \prod_{k=1}^{N-1}\left|(\cos(\frac{2\pi k}{N})-1)+i\sin(\frac{2\pi k}{N})\right| \\ &=\prod_{k=1}^{N-1}\sqrt{\cos^2(\frac{2\pi k}{N})-2\cos(\frac{2\pi k}{N})+1+\sin^2(\frac{2\pi k}{N})} \\ &=\prod_{k=1}^{N-1}\sqrt{2-2\cos(\frac{2\pi k}{N})} \\ &=\prod_{k=1}^{N-1}2\sqrt{\frac{1}{2}-\frac{1}{2}\cos(\frac{2\pi k}{N}))} \\ &=2^{N-1}\prod_{k=1}^{N-1}\sin(\frac{k\pi}{N}) \end{align} $$

I found on Wikipedia that there is an identity for the last product: $ \prod_{k=1}^{N-1}\sin(\frac{k\pi}{N}) = N/2^{N-1} $. However I do not know how to prove it.

Could someone help me prove the last identity or perhaps suggest a different approach to the problem?

  • 0
    Have you tried pulling the modulus out of the product and simplifying the resulting polynomial? Another approach might be to give up on the trig and try representing $z_k = e^{2\pi i k/N}$.2011-09-19
  • 1
    Here is an alternative write up of the proof I wrote a while back: http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=3681392011-09-19

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Aha, I just solved it:

First consider the polynomial $$ \prod_{k=0}^{N-1}(x-z^k) $$ The roots of the polynomial are the nth roots of unity, which are precisely the roots of the polynomial $ x^n-1 $ and so the two are equal.

Dividing both sides by $ x-1 $, we get $$ \prod_{k=1}^{N-1}(x-z^k) = 1+x+\dots+x^{N-1} $$ Substituting $ x=1 $, we get that the product equals $ N $.

The product of the magnitudes is simply the magnitude of the product, so we get the desired result $$ \prod_{k=1}^{N-1}|1-z^k| = N $$

  • 2
    Note that, as a byproduct, you now also have a proof of that sine product identity! :)2011-09-19
  • 0
    Wait. Isn't this incorrect since the product is undefined at $ x=1 $ (since we divided by $x-1$)?2011-09-19
  • 1
    If you're uncomfortable with letting $x=1$, you can instead consider the limit of both sides as $x\to 1$.2011-09-19
  • 0
    Good point. Thanks :)2011-09-19
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The primitive N'th roots correspond to factors of $(X^n - 1)/(X-1)$.