Sec 12: Function of a complex

variable:
Let S be a set of complex numbers.
Then function f defined on S is a
rule that assigns to each z S a
unique complex number w, and we
write f (z) = w
The set S is called domain of
definition of f.
Let z = x+ i y &

w = u (x,y) +i v(x,y)

Then f(z) = w = u (x, y) + iv (x, y)

Re f(z) = u(x,y) & Im f(z) = v(x,y)

• In polar coordinates,

z = x+iy = re i ,

f (z) = u(r, ) + i v(r, ).

Limit:
lim f ( z )  w0  given   0,
z  z0

 a   0 such that
f(z)-w0  
whenever 0  z - z 0  
Theorems on limits:
Thm 1 Let f ( z )  u ( x, y )  iv( x, y ),
z0  x0  iy0 , w0  u0  iv0 ,
Then lim f ( z )  w0
z  z0

 (i) lim u(x, y)  u0

( x , y ) ( x0 , y0 )

(ii ) lim v(x, y)  v0

( x , y )  ( x0 , y 0 )
Thm 2 Let lim f ( z )  w0 ,
z  z0

lim g( z )  W0 . Then
z  z0

(i) lim [ f ( z )  g ( z )]  w0  W0 .
z  z0
 (ii ) lim [ f ( z ) g ( z )]  w0 W0 .
z  z0

 f ( z )  w0
(iii ) lim    , if W0  0.
z  z0
 g ( z )  W0
The point at infinity:
The point at infinity is denoted by
, and the complex plane
together with the point at infinity is
called the Extended complex
Plane.
Riemann Sphere & Stereographic
Projection
Theorem
1
1. lim f ( z )    lim  0.
zz 0 zz 0 f ( z )

1
2. lim f ( z )  w0  lim f    w0
z  z 0
z
1
3. lim f ( z )    lim 0
z  z 0 1
f 
z
 Sec 18. Continuity

1. A function f(z) is said to be

continuous at a point z 0 if

lim f ( z )  f ( z0 )
z  z0
i .e. for each   0,    0
such that

f(z) - f(z 0 )  
whenever z  z0   .
• The function f(z) is said to be
continuous in a region R if it is
continuous at all points of the
region R.
2.
If f ( z )  u ( x, y )  iv ( x, y ), then
f ( z ) is continuous iff
Re f ( z )  u ( x, y ) and
Im f ( z )  v( x, y )
are continuous.
3. If f(z) and g(z) are continuous , then
(a) f ( z )  g ( z )
(b) f ( z ) g ( z )
f ( z)
(c ) , g ( z)  0
g ( z)
are all continuous .
4. Composition of two
continuous map is
continuous
Qs. Let f (z) is continuous at z0
and f(z0)  0. Then show that
f(z)  0 throughout in some nbd
of z0.
• Solution: f (z) is continuous at z0

 lim f ( z )  f ( z0 )
z  z0

 For each >0,  a >0 s.t.

f (z) – f(z0) < 
whenever  z-z0  < . (1)
Note that f (z 0 )  0 & (1) is valid
for each   0.

1
Let   f ( z0 )  0.
2
If possible, let
 z  z  N(z 0 ,  ) : z - z 0  

such that f (z)  0

Then (1) gives
1
f(z) - f(z 0 )  f ( z0 ) ,
2
whenever z  z0  
 1
 f ( z0 )  f ( z0 )
2
whenever z  z0  
a contradiction
 f ( z )  0  z  N ( z0 ,  )
Result: Every continuous function
in a closed & bounded region is
bounded.
Let f (z) is continuous in a closed &
bounded region R
  M > 0 s. t f(z) M  z R.
 z
Ex1. If f ( z )  , then
z
lim f ( z ) does NOT exist.
z 0

Soln : Use two path test.

 2
z
Ex2. If f ( z )    , then
z
lim f ( z ) does NOT exist.
z 0

Soln : Use two path test.

Ex 3. Discuss the continuity of
f(z) at z = 0 if
Re z
(i ) f (z) 
1 z

1
(ii ) f (z)  z Re z
 Re z
Sol. (i) f(z) 
1 z
x

1 x  y
2 2
 x
lim f ( z )  lim
z 0 ( x , y ) ( 0 , 0 )
1 x  y
2 2

 0  f (0)

 f ( z) is continuous at z  0
 Re z x
(ii) f(z)  
z x  iy
We have

x
lim f ( z )  lim
z 0 ( x , y ) ( 0 , 0 ) x  iy
 x
 lim f ( z )  lim ,
z 0 ( x , y ) ( 0 , 0 ) x  imx
(along y  mx)
1

1  im
which is not unique
 f(z) is not continuous at z  0