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Exercise 2106Algebra › Complex numbersOlympiadAdded 3 Nov 2026

A product formula for sines

#product formula#sine#roots of unity

Statement

Prove the identity
∏k=1n−1sin⁡kπn=n2n−1.\prod_{k=1}^{n-1}\sin\frac{k\pi}{n}=\frac{n}{2^{n-1}}.

Hint

Factor Xn−1X^n-1 and evaluate at X=1X=1.

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Solution

Factorization. Xn−1=∏k=0n−1(X−ωk)X^n-1=\prod_{k=0}^{n-1}(X-\omega^k) with ω=e2iπ/n\omega=e^{2i\pi/n}.

Divide by X−1X-1. Xn−1X−1=∏k=1n−1(X−ωk)\frac{X^n-1}{X-1}=\prod_{k=1}^{n-1}(X-\omega^k).

Evaluate at X=1X=1. lim⁡X→1Xn−1X−1=n\lim_{X\to1}\frac{X^n-1}{X-1}=n. And ∏k=1n−1(1−ωk)=n\prod_{k=1}^{n-1}(1-\omega^k)=n.

Modulus. ∣1−ωk∣2=2−2cos⁡(2kπ/n)=4sin⁡2(kπ/n)|1-\omega^k|^2=2-2\cos(2k\pi/n)=4\sin^2(k\pi/n), so ∣1−ωk∣=2sin⁡(kπ/n)|1-\omega^k|=2\sin(k\pi/n) (positive for k=1,…,n−1k=1,\ldots,n-1).

Conclusion. ∏k=1n−12sin⁡(kπ/n)=n\prod_{k=1}^{n-1}2\sin(k\pi/n)=n, i.e. ∏k=1n−1sin⁡(kπ/n)=n2n−1\prod_{k=1}^{n-1}\sin(k\pi/n)=\frac{n}{2^{n-1}}.