Complex Analysis
Math 185A, Winter 2010
Midterm: Solutions
1. If a, b are complex numbers such that |a| < 1, |b| < 1, prove that
a−b
< 1.
1 − āb
Solution.
• We have
2
a−b (a − b)(ā − b̄) |a|2 − (ab̄ + āb) + |b|2
= = . (1)
1 − āb (1 − āb)(1 − ab̄) 1 − (ab̄ + āb) + |a|2 |b|2
• If x, y < 1, then
0 < (1 − x)(1 − y) = 1 − (x + y) + xy.
It follows that
x + y < 1 + xy.
• Using this inequality with x = |a|2 < 1 and y = |b|2 < 1, we get
|a|2 − (ab̄ + āb) + |b|2 < 1 − (ab̄ + āb) + |a|2 |b|2 .
• Since 1 − (ab̄ + āb) + |a|2 |b|2 = |1 − āb|2 > 0, division of this inequality
by the right hand side gives
|a|2 − (ab̄ + āb) + |b|2
< 1.
1 − (ab̄ + āb) + |a|2 |b|2
Using this in (1) proves the result.
1
2. Let T ⊂ C be the interior of the triangle with vertices at 0, 1, 1 + i shown
in the figure. Find the image of T under the map w = z 2 and draw a picture.
Which angles of the triangle are preserved by the mapping?
Solution.
• The line segment from 0 to 1, z = t where 0 ≤ t ≤ 1, maps to the same
line segment from 0 to 1, w = s where 0 ≤ s ≤ 1 and s = t2 .
√
• The line segment from 0 to 1 + i, z = teiπ/4 where 0 ≤ t ≤ 2, maps
to the line segment from 0 to 2i, w = seiπ/2 = is where 0 ≤ s ≤ 2 and
s = t2 .
• The line segment from 1 to i + i, z = 1 + it with 0 ≤ t ≤ 1 maps to
w = 1 − t2 + 2it. Writing w = u + iv and eliminating t, we find that
this is a segment of the parabola 4u = 4 − v 2 from the vertex w = 0 to
the intercept with the positive imaginary axis at w = 2i.
• The map takes the interior T of the triangle to the interior S of the
region bounded by the line segments from 0 to 1 and 0 to 2i and the
parabola from 1 to 2i. For example, eiπ/6 ∈ T maps to eiπ/3 ∈ S.
• The map is conformal except at the origin, since z 7→ z 2 is analytic
with nonzero derivative except at z = 0. The map therefor preserves
the angles of the triangle at z = 1 and z = 1 + i, but doubles the angle
at z = 0.
2
3. (a) State the Cauchy-Riemann equations satisfied by the real and imagi-
nary parts of an analytic function f (z) = u(x, y) + iv(x, y).
(b) Prove that there are two values of the constant c ∈ R such that
u(x, y) = ecy cos x
is the real part of an analytic function. Find the analytic function f (z) in
each case.
Solution.
• (a) The Cauchy-Riemann equations are
ux = vy , uy = −vx .
• (b) The real part of an analytic function is harmonic, so we must have
uxx + vyy = −ecy cos x + c2 ecy cos x = c2 − 1 ecy cos x = 0.
Hence, f is only analytic if c = ±1.
• If c = 1, the harmonic conjugate v of u satisfies
vx = −ey cos x, vy = −ey sin x.
Integrating these equations, we get
v = −ey sin x + q(y), v = −ey sin x + p(x)
where p(x), q(y) are real-valued functions of integration. It follows that
p(x) = q(y) = k where k is an arbitrary real constant, and therefore
f (z) = ey cos x − iey sin x + ik = e−i(x+iy) + ik.
Hence,
f (z) = e−iz + ik,
where k ∈ R is an arbitrary constant of integration.
• Similarly, if c = −1, then the harmonic conjugate v of u satisfies
vx = e−y cos x, vy = −e−y sin x,
and v = e−y sin x + k. It follows that f (z) = ei(x+iy) + ik or
f (z) = eiz + ik.
• Alternatively, one can verify directly that these analytic functions have
the correct real parts.
3
4. Let γ be the positively oriented circle with radius 1 and center i. Stating
clearly any theorems you use, evaluate the following contour integrals:
Z Z Z
1 1
(a) z̄ dz; (b) 2
dz; (c) 2
dz.
γ γ z +2 γ z −2
Solution.
• (a) Since z̄ is not an analytic function of z, we evaluate the contour inte-
gral directly. A parametrization of the curve is given by γ : [0, 2π] → C
where
γ(t) = i + eit .
It follows that
Z Z 2π
z̄ dz = (i + eit ) ieit dt
γ 0
Z 2π
eit + i dt
=
0
2π
1 it
= e + it
i 0
= 2πi.
• (b) We write the integral as
Z Z
1 f (z) 1
2
dz = √ dz, f (z) = √ .
γ z +2 γ z − 2i z + 2i
The function f is analytic inside and on γ, so Cauchy’s integral formula
implies that
1
Z
f (z) √ 1
√ dz = f ( 2i) = √ .
2πi γ z − 2i 2 2i
Thus, Z
1 π
dz = √ .
γ z2 +2 2
4
• (c) The function z 7→ 1/(z 2 − 2) is analytic everywhere except at the
points √
z = ± 2,
which lie outside γ. Hence,
Z
1
dz = 0
γ z2 −2
by Cauchy’s theorem.
5
5. Define a function f : A → C by
√
f (z) = e z , A = {z ∈ C : z 6= 0 and arg z 6= π}
where we take the principle brach of the square root, and a function g : B →
C by
ez
g(z) = , B = {z ∈ C : z 6= 0} .
z
Is there an analytic function F : A → C such that F 0 = f on A? Is there an
analytic function G : B → C such that G0 = g on B? Justify your answers,
but do not try to find F or G explicitly if they exist.
Solution.
• The domain A is simply connected and the function f is analytic on
A. Hence, by the ‘antiderivative theorem’ (c.f. Theorem 2.2.5 in the
text) f has an antiderivative on A.
√
• To prove that A is simply connected, observe that the map z 7→ z,
where we take the principle branch of the square root function, is a
homeomorphism (i.e. a continuous, one-to-one, onto map with contin-
uous inverse) of A onto the right-half plane R = {z ∈ C : Re z > 0}.
The right-half plane is simply connected since it is convex, and any
set that is homeomorphic to a simple connected set is also simply con-
nected. (Note that A itself is not convex; for example, the line segment
from −1 + i ∈ A to −1 − i ∈ A is not contained in A.)
• The domain B is connected but not simply connected, so we cannot
apply the antiderivative theorem even though g is analytic on B. In
fact, we claim that g does not have an antiderivative on B.
• To prove this, observe that if γ is the positively oriented unit circle
centered at 0, which is a closed curve in B, then by Cauchy’s integral
formula Z z
e
dz = 2πie0 6= 0.
γ z
Therefore by the ‘path independence theorem’ (c.f. Theorem 2.1.9 in
the text) g does not have an antiderivative on B.
