Use \(n\)th roots of unity to show that \[ 2^{n-1} \sin\qty{\pi \over n} \sin\qty{2\pi \over n} \cdots \sin\qty{(n-1)\pi \over n} = n .\]
Hint: \[ 1 - \cos(2\theta) &= 2\sin^2(\theta) \\ 2 \sin(2\theta) &= 2\sin(\theta) \cos(\theta) .\]
- \(\zeta_n \da e^{2\pi i \over n}\)
- \(\Phi_n(z) \da \prod_{1\leq j \leq n-1}(z-\zeta_n^j)\)
- \(\Phi_n(1) = n\), since \(\Phi_n(z) = {z^n-1\over z-1} = \sum_{0\leq j\leq n-1} z^j\).
- \(\sin(z) = \qty{e^{iz} - e^{-iz} \over 2i}\).
- \(\prod_k \exp(c_k) = \exp\qty{\sum_k c_k}\).
Solution: Newer
\[ \prod_{1\leq k \leq n-1} \sin\qty{k\pi\over n} &= \prod_{1\leq k \leq n-1} {\omega_n^k - \omega_n^{-k} \over 2i} \\ &= \qty{1\over 2i}^{n-1} \prod_{1\leq k \leq n-1} \omega_n^{k} \qty{1 - \zeta_n^{-k}} \\ &= \qty{1\over 2i}^{n-1} \prod_{1\leq k \leq n-1} \exp\qty{i\pi k\over n} \prod_{1\leq k \leq n-1} \qty{1 - \zeta_n^{-k}} \\ &= \qty{1\over 2i}^{n-1} \exp\qty{ {i\pi\over n} \displaystyle\sum_{1\leq k \leq n-1} k } \prod_{1\leq k \leq n-1} \qty{1 - \zeta_n^{-k}} \\ &= \qty{1\over 2i}^{n-1} e^{i\pi n(n-1)\over 2n} \prod_{1\leq k \leq n-1} \qty{1 - \zeta_n^{-k}} \\ &= \qty{1\over 2}^{n-1}\qty{1\over i}^{n-1} \qty{ e^{i\pi \over 2} }^{n-1} \prod_{1\leq k \leq n-1} \qty{1 - \zeta_n^{-k}} \\ &= 2^{1-n} \prod_{1\leq k \leq n-1} \qty{1 - \zeta_n^{-k}} \\ &= 2^{1-n} \prod_{1\leq k \leq n-1} \qty{1 - \zeta_n^{k}} \\ &= 2^{1-n} { \Phi_n(z) \over z-1}\evalfrom_{z=1} \\ &= 2^{1-n} \qty{ \sum_{0\leq k \leq n-1} z^k}\evalfrom_{z=1} \\ &= n2^{1-n} .\]
Solution: Older
\[ \prod_{1\leq j\leq n-1} \sin \left(\frac{j \pi}{n}\right) &=\prod_{1\leq j\leq n-1} \frac{1}{2 i} \qty{\zeta_n^{j\over 2} - \zeta_n^{- {j \over 2} }} \\ &=\left(\frac{1}{2 i}\right)^{n-1} \prod_{1\leq j\leq n-1} \zeta_n^{j\over 2} \prod_{1\leq j \leq n-1} \qty{1 - \zeta_n^{-j}} \\ &=\left(\frac{1}{2 i}\right)^{n-1} \prod_{1\leq j\leq n-1} \exp\qty{ij\pi \over n} \prod_{1\leq j \leq n-1} \qty{1 - \zeta_n^{-j}} \\ &=\left(\frac{1}{2 i}\right)^{n-1} \exp \left(\sum_{1\leq j\leq n-1} \frac{i j \pi}{n}\right) \Phi_{n}(1)\\ &=\left(\frac{1}{2 i}\right)^{n-1} \exp \left(\frac{(n-1) i \pi}{2}\right) \Phi_{n}(1)\\ &=\left(\frac{1}{2 i}\right)^{n-1}\left(e^{i \pi / 2}\right)^{n-1} \Phi_{n}(1)\\ &=\left(\frac{1}{2 i}\right)^{n-1} i^{n-1} \Phi_{n}(1)\\ &=\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)^{n-1} \Phi_{n}(1)\\ &=\frac{n}{2^{n-1}} .\]