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Euler's identity

math Maturity 5-7 Next article →

Some math rules are very special. They link many ideas together. A man named Leonhard Euler found a way. His rule is very pretty.

ExpIPi
ExpIPi

This rule is called Euler's identity. It is a very famous equation. It connects five basic numbers. These numbers are very important in math.

The first is zero. Zero is the additive identity. This means adding it changes nothing. The second is one. One is the multiplicative identity. This means multiplying by it changes nothing. The third is pi. Pi is a constant for circles. It is the ratio of a circle's edge to its width.

Euler's formula
Euler's formula

The fourth is e. This is Euler's number. It is used in many math studies. The fifth is i. This is the imaginary unit.

Many people find this rule beautiful. A poll called it the most beautiful theorem. It uses three math steps. These are adding, multiplying, and powers. It is like a great painting. It shows how deep math can go. Even some experts find it a mystery. They know it is true, but it is hard to understand.

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