In Problems 2528, find an upper bound for the absolute value

of the given integral along the indicated contour.

30. Use Definition 18.1.1 to show for any smooth curve C between

z0 and zn that C z dz  12 (z n2  z02). [Hint: The integral exists,

so choose z*k  zk and z*k  zk1.]
31. Use the results of Problems 29 and 30 to evaluate C 16z 1 42 dz
where C is
(a) The straight line from 1  i to 2  3i, and
(b) The closed contour x4  y4  4.

e
dz, where C is the circle |z|  5
C
C z 1 1
1
26.
dz, where C is the right half of the circle |z|  6
2
C z 2 2i
from z  6i to z  6i
25.

In Problems 3235, compute the circulation and net flux for the
given flow and the indicated closed contour.
32. f (z)  1/z, where C is the circle |z|  2
33. f (z)  2z, where C is the circle |z|  1
34. f (z)  1/1z 2 12 , where C is the circle |z  1|  2
35. f (z)  z, where C is the square with vertices z  0, z  1,
z  1  i, z  i

27. C (z2  4) dz, where C is the line segment from z  0 to

z1i
1
28.
dz, where C is one quarter of the circle |z|  4 from
3
C z
z  4i to z  4

29. (a) Use Definition 18.1.1 to show for any smooth curve C

between z0 and zn that C dz  zn  z0.

(b) Use the result in part (a) to verify the answer to
Problem 14.

18.2 CauchyGoursat Theorem

Introduction In this section we shall concentrate on contour integrals where the contour C is
a simple closed curve with a positive (counterclockwise) orientation. Specifically, we shall see
that when f is analytic in a special kind of domain D, the value of the contour integral C f (z) dz
is the same for any simple closed curve C that lies entirely within D. This theorem, called the
CauchyGoursat theorem, is one of the fundamental results in complex analysis. Preliminary to
discussing the CauchyGoursat theorem and some of its ramifications, we first need to distinguish
two kinds of domains in the complex plane: simply connected and multiply connected.

(a) Simply connected domain

(b) Multiply connected domain

FIGURE 18.2.1 Two kinds of domains

Simply and Multiply Connected Domains In the discussion that follows, we shall concentrate
on contour integrals where the contour C is a simple closed curve with a positive (counterclockwise) orientation. Before doing this, we need to distinguish two kinds of domains. A domain D is
said to be simply connected if every simple closed contour C lying entirely in D can be shrunk
to a point without leaving D. In other words, in a simply connected domain, every simple closed
contour C lying entirely within it encloses only points of the domain D. Expressed yet another
way, a simply connected domain has no holes in it. The entire complex plane is an example
of a simply connected domain. A domain that is not simply connected is called a multiply connected domain; that is, a multiply connected domain has holes in it. See FIGURE 18.2.1. As in
Section 9.9, we call a domain with one hole doubly connected, a domain with two holes
triply connected, and so on.
Cauchys Theorem In 1825, the French mathematician Louis-Augustin Cauchy proved one
of the most important theorems in complex analysis. Cauchys theorem says:
Suppose that a function f is analytic in a simply connected domain D and that f is
continuous in D. Then for every simple closed contour C in D, C f 1z2 dz 5 0.

The proof of this theorem is an immediate consequence of Greens theorem and the CauchyRiemann
equations. Since f is continuous throughout D, the real and imaginary parts of f (z)  u  iv and
their first partial derivatives are continuous throughout D. By (2) of Section 18.1 we write C f (z) dz
in terms of real-line integrals and use Greens theorem on each line integral:

C
C

f (z) dz 

C
C

u(x, y) dx  v(x, y) dy  i

C
C

v(x, y) dx  u(x, y) dy

0v
0u
0u
0v
5 6 a2 2
b dA 1 i 6 a
2
b dA.
0x
0y
0x
0y
D

802

79665_CH18_FINAL.indd 802

(1)

CHAPTER 18 Integration in the Complex Plane

11/2/09 3:09:53 PM

Now since f is analytic, the CauchyRiemann equations, u/x  v/y and u/y  v/x,

imply that the integrands in (1) are identically zero. Hence, we have C f (z) dz  0.
In 1883, the French mathematician Edouard Goursat proved Cauchys theorem without the
assumption of continuity of f . The resulting modified version of Cauchys theorem is known
as the CauchyGoursat theorem:

Theorem 18.2.1

CauchyGoursat Theorem

Suppose a function f is analytic in a simply connected domain D. Then for every simple closed
contour C in D, C f (z) dz  0.

Since the interior of a simple closed contour is a simply connected domain, the CauchyGoursat
theorem can be stated in the slightly more practical manner:
If f is analytic at all points within and on a simple closed contour C, then
C f 1z2 dz 5 0.

EXAMPLE 1
Evaluate

C
C

(2)

Applying the CauchyGoursat Theorem

ez dz, where C is the curve shown in FIGURE 18.2.2.

FIGURE 18.2.2 Contour in Example 1

y

Solution The function f (z)  ez is entire and C is a simple closed contour. It follows from
the form of the CauchyGoursat theorem given in (2) that C ez dz  0.

EXAMPLE 2
Evaluate

Applying the CauchyGoursat Theorem

x

1 y 2 52 2
dz
2
,
where
C
is
the
ellipse
(x

2)

 1.
2
4
C
C z

Solution The rational function f (z)  1/z2 is analytic everywhere except at z  0. But z  0
is not a point interior to or on the contour C. Thus, from (2) we have C dz/z2  0.

EXAMPLE 3

FIGURE 18.2.3 flow f 1z2 5 cos z

Applying the CauchyGoursat Theorem

Given the flow f (z)  cos z, compute the circulation around and net flux across C, where C
is the square with vertices z  1, z  i, z  1, and z  i.
Solution We must compute C f 1z2 dz  C cos z dz and then take the real and imaginary
parts of the integral to find the circulation and net flux, respectively. The function cos z is
analytic everywhere, and so C f 1z2 dz  0 from (2). The circulation and net flux are therefore
both zero. FIGURE 18.2.3 shows the flow f (z)  cos z and the contour C.

CauchyGoursat Theorem for Multiply Connected Domains If f is analytic in a multiply

connected domain D, then we cannot conclude that C f (z) dz  0 for every simple closed contour C in D. To begin, suppose D is a doubly connected domain and C and C1 are simple closed
contours such that C1 surrounds the hole in the domain and is interior to C. See FIGURE 18.2.4(a).
Suppose, also, that f is analytic on each contour and at each point interior to C, but exterior to C1.
When we introduce the cut AB shown in Figure 18.2.4(b), the region bounded by the curves is
simply connected. Now the integral from A to B has the opposite value of the integral from B
to A, and so from (2) we have C f (z) dz  C1 f (z) dz  0 or

C1

D
C
(a)

C
C

f 1z2 dz 5

C
C1

f 1z2 dz.

(3)
(b)

The last result is sometimes called the principle of deformation of contours, since we can
think of the contour C1 as a continuous deformation of the contour C. Under this deformation
of contours, the value of the integral does not change. Thus, on a practical level, (3) allows us
to evaluate an integral over a complicated simple closed contour by replacing that contour with
one that is more convenient.
18.2 CauchyGoursat Theorem

79665_CH18_FINAL.indd 803

FIGURE 18.2.4 Doubly connected

domain D

803

11/2/09 3:09:54 PM

 EXAMPLE 4

y
2 + 4i

4i

Evaluate
2 + 3i
C

C1
i
x

Applying Deformation of Contours

dz
, where C is the outer contour shown in FIGURE 18.2.5.
z
2i
C
C

Solution In view of (3), we choose the more convenient circular contour C1 in the figure. By
taking the radius of the circle to be r  1, we are guaranteed that C1 lies within C. In other words,
C1 is the circle |z  i|  1, which can be parameterized by x  cos t, y  1  sin t, 0  t  2p,
or equivalently by z  i  eit, 0  t  2p. From z  i  eit and dz  ieit dt we obtain

2 2i

2i

FIGURE 18.2.5 We use the simpler

contour C1 in Example 4

2p

2p

dz
dz
ieit
5
5
dt 5 i dt 5 2pi.
eit
0
0
C
C z 2 i
C
C1 z 2 i
The result in Example 4 can be generalized. Using the principle of deformation of contours (3)
and proceeding as in the example, we can show that if z0 is any constant complex number interior
to any simple closed contour C, then

dz
2pi, n 5 1
(4)
n 5 e
0,
n an integer 2 1.
C
C 1z 2 z02
The fact that the integral in (4) is zero when n is an integer 1 follows only partially from
the CauchyGoursat theorem. When n is zero or a negative integer, 1/(z  z0)n is a polynomial
(for example, n  3, 1/(z  z0)3  (z  z0)3) and therefore entire. Theorem 18.2.1 then implies C dz/(z  z0)n  0. It is left as an exercise to show that the integral is still zero when n is
a positive integer different from one. See Problem 22 in Exercises 18.2.

EXAMPLE 5
Evaluate

Applying Formula (4)

5z 1 7
dz, where C is the circle |z  2|  2.
C
C z 1 2z 2 3

Solution Since the denominator factors as z2  2z  3  (z  1)(z  3), the integrand fails
to be analytic at z  1 and z  3. Of these two points, only z  1 lies within the contour C,
which is a circle centered at z  2 of radius r  2. Now by partial fractions,
5z 1 7
2
3
1
5
z21
z13
z 1 2z 2 3
2

5z 1 7
dz
dz
12
.
(5)
dz 5 3
2
z
2
1
z
1
3
z
1
2z
2
3
C
C
C
C
C
C
In view of the result given in (4), the first integral in (5) has the value 2pi. By the Cauchy
Goursat theorem, the value of the second integral is zero. Hence, (5) becomes

and so

5z 1 7
dz 5 312pi2 1 2102 5 6pi.
2
z
1
2z 2 3
C
C
If C, C1, and C2 are the simple closed contours shown in FIGURE 18.2.6 and if f is analytic on each of
the three contours as well as at each point interior to C but exterior to both C1 and C2, then by introducing cuts, we get from Theorem 18.2.1 that C f (z) dz  C1 f (z) dz  C2 f (z) dz  0. Hence,

C1

C2

f 1z2 dz 5 f 1z2 dz 1 f 1z2 dz.

C
C
C
C1
C
C2
The next theorem will summarize the general result for a multiply connected domain with n holes:

FIGURE 18.2.6 Triply connected domain D

Theorem 18.2.2

CauchyGoursat Theorem for Multiply Connected Domains

Suppose C, C1, , Cn are simple closed curves with a positive orientation such that C1, C2, , Cn
are interior to C but the regions interior to each Ck, k  1, 2, , n, have no points in common. If f is analytic on each contour and at each point interior to C but exterior to all the
Ck, k  1, 2, , n, then
n

C
C

804

79665_CH18_FINAL.indd 804

f 1z2 dz 5 a
k51

C
Ck

f 1z2 dz.

(6)

CHAPTER 18 Integration in the Complex Plane

11/2/09 3:09:55 PM

 EXAMPLE 6
Evaluate

Applying Theorem 18.2.2

dz
, where C is the circle |z|  3.
2
z
11
C
C

Solution In this case the denominator of the integrand factors as z2  1  (z  i)(z  i).
Consequently, the integrand 1/(z2  1) is not analytic at z  i and z  i. Both of these points
lie within the contour C. Using partial fraction decomposition once more, we have

C
i

1>2i
1>2i
1
2
5
z2i
z1i
z2 1 1

x
i

dz
1
1
1
c
2
d dz.
5
2
2i
z
2
i
z
1
i
z
1
1
C
C
C
C

and

C1

C2

We now surround the points z  i and z  i by circular contours C1 and C2, respectively,
that lie entirely within C. Specifically, the choice |z  i|  12 for C1 and |z  i|  12 for C2 will
suffice. See FIGURE 18.2.7. From Theorem 18.2.2 we can then write

FIGURE 18.2.7 Contour in Example 6

dz
1
1
1
1
1
1
c
2
d dz 1
c
2
d dz
5
2i C
z1i
2i C
z1i
C
C z 1 1
C1 z 2 i
C2 z 2 i

1
dz
1
dz
1
dz
1
dz
2
1
2
.
2iC
2i C
2i C
2i C
C1 z 2 i
C1 z 1 i
C2 z 2 i
C2 z 1 i

(7)

Because 1/(z  i) is analytic on C1 and at each point in its interior and because 1/(z  i) is
analytic on C2 and at each point in its interior, it follows from (4) that the second and third
integrals in (7) are zero. Moreover, it follows from (4), with n  1, that
dz
dz
5 2piand
5 2pi.
z
2
i
z
1i
C
C1
C
C2

dz
5 p 2 p 5 0.
C
C z 1 1

Thus (7) becomes

Remarks
Throughout the foregoing discussion we assumed that C was a simple closed contour; in other
words, C did not intersect itself. Although we shall not give the proof, it can be shown that the
CauchyGoursat theorem is valid for any closed contour C in a simply connected domain D.
As shown in FIGURE 18.2.8, the contour C is closed but not simple. Nevertheless, if f is analytic
in D, then C f (z) dz  0.

18.2

Exercises

sin z
ez
6.
f
(z)

1z2 2 252 1z2 1 92
2z2 1 11z 1 15
z2 2 9
7. f (z)  tan z
8. f (z) 
cosh z
5. f (z) 

18.2 CauchyGoursat Theorem

79665_CH18_FINAL.indd 805

FIGURE 18.2.8 Contour C is

closed but not simple

Answers to selected odd-numbered problems begin on page ANS-000.

In Problems 18, prove that C f (z) dz  0, where f is the given

function and C is the unit circle |z|  1.
1
1. f (z)  z3  1  3i
2. f (z)  z2 
z24
z
z23
3. f (z) 
4. f (z)  2
2z 1 3
z 1 2z 1 2

805

11/2/09 3:09:56 PM