If ${{x}}_k=\cos \Bigg{(}\frac{2\pi k}{n}\Bigg{)}+i\sin \Bigg{(}\frac{2\pi k}{n}\Bigg{)}$ , then $\sum ^n_{k=1}({{x}}_k)=?$
🎥 Video solution / Text Solution of this question is given below:
Sum of Complex Roots of Unity
Given:
\[
x_k = \cos\left(\frac{2\pi k}{n}\right) + i \sin\left(\frac{2\pi k}{n}\right) = e^{2\pi i k/n}
\]
Required: Find:
\[
\sum_{k=1}^{n} x_k
\]
This is the sum of all \( n^\text{th} \) roots of unity (from \( k = 1 \) to \( n \)).
We know:
\[
\sum_{k=0}^{n-1} e^{2\pi i k/n} = 0
\]
So shifting index from \( k = 1 \) to \( n \) just cycles the same roots:
\[
\sum_{k=1}^{n} e^{2\pi i k/n} = 0
\]