Question:medium

Let \(M = \begin{pmatrix} \cos\theta & -\sin\theta \\ \sin\theta & \cos\theta \end{pmatrix}\) be a \(2 \times 2\) matrix, where \(\theta = \dfrac{2\pi}{5}\), and \(I_2 = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 \end{pmatrix}\).
Which of the following options is equal to \(M^{2026}\)?

Show Hint

\(M\) is a rotation matrix by \(\theta\), so \(M^k\) is rotation by \(k\theta\), which only depends on \(k\theta \bmod 2\pi\), i.e., on \(k \bmod 5\) here. Find \(2026 \bmod 5\).
Updated On: Jul 22, 2026
  • \(M^2\)
  • \(M\)
  • \(M^{-1}\)
  • \(I_2\)
Show Solution

The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Represent the rotation using a complex exponential.
A rotation matrix by angle $\theta$ corresponds exactly to multiplication by the complex number $e^{i\theta} = \cos\theta + i\sin\theta$ on the complex plane, if we think of a vector $(x,y)$ as the complex number $x + iy$. Multiplying by $M$ once is the same as multiplying by $e^{i\theta}$ once.

Step 2: Translate $M^{2026}$ into this complex number language.
Applying $M$ a total of $2026$ times corresponds to multiplying by $e^{i\theta}$ a total of $2026$ times, which is:
\[ \left(e^{i\theta}\right)^{2026} = e^{i \cdot 2026\theta} \]

Step 3: Reduce the exponent modulo $2\pi$.
Since $\theta = \dfrac{2\pi}{5}$, we get $2026\theta = 2026 \times \dfrac{2\pi}{5}$. A complex exponential $e^{i\phi}$ repeats with period $2\pi$ in $\phi$, that is, $e^{i(\phi + 2\pi k)} = e^{i\phi}$ for any integer $k$.
So we only need $2026\theta \bmod 2\pi$. Because $\theta = \dfrac{2\pi}{5}$, this is equivalent to reducing $2026 \bmod 5$.
$2026 = 5(405) + 1$, so $2026 \equiv 1 \pmod 5$.

Step 4: Simplify.
\[ e^{i \cdot 2026\theta} = e^{i(405 \cdot 2\pi + \theta)} = e^{i \cdot 405 \cdot 2\pi} \cdot e^{i\theta} = 1 \cdot e^{i\theta} = e^{i\theta} \]
Since $e^{i \cdot 405 \cdot 2\pi} = 1$ ($405$ full turns bring us back to the start).

Step 5: Translate back to matrix form.
$e^{i \cdot 2026\theta} = e^{i\theta}$ means $M^{2026}$ is the same rotation as $M^1$, so:
\[ M^{2026} = M \] \[ \boxed{M^{2026} = M} \]
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