How do you simplify # i^5#?

2 Answers
Feb 10, 2016

This is the same as i

Explanation:

The complex i repeats after 4 powers

This can be seen with
i^1 = i
i^2 = #sqrt(-1)^2# = -1
i^3 = i^2 * i = -1 * i => -i
i^4 = i^2 * i^2 => -1 * -1 >>> 1

After this, we can take the mod 4 of the exponent
(in this case we can just do the next exponent, try it out and of course the answer will be the same as i ^ 1 )

Thus, the answer is i.

Feb 10, 2016

#"simplified "->" "i#

Explanation:

Write as #" "i^2xxi^2xxi#

But #i^2=-1" "#so we have:

#(-1)xx(-1)xxi" "=" "i#