Sunday, April 23, 2017

calculus - Why does Euler's formula have to be $e^{ix} = cos(x) + isin(x)$




In part one of this youtube video the uploader goes on to explain the calculus proof for Euler's Formula.



The Formula
$$e^{ix} = \cos(x) + i\sin(x)$$
Differentiate
$$ie^{ix} = f'(x) + i g'(x)$$
Multiply original formula by $i$
$$ie^{ix} = if(x) - g(x)$$
Equate the differentiation and the multiplied version

$$f'(x) + ig'(x) = if(x) - g(x)$$
Equate real and imaginary (and cancel the i)
$$f'(x) = -g(x) \qquad g'(x) = f(x)$$



Then he goes on to explain $f(x) = \cos(x)$ and $g(x) = \sin(x)$. My question is why can't $f(x) = \sin(x)$ and $g(x) = -\cos(x)$? Can further proof be added to this proof to eliminate $f(x) = \sin(x)$ and $g(x) = -\cos(x)$?


Answer



Because we know the initial condition $e^{i0}=1$ holds. As with most differential equations, there's an family of answers that you need to use the initial condition to find the correct one for.


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