University of Oxford Trinity Term 2012
Functions of a complex variable (S1)
Problem sheet 1
I. Complex numbers; elementary functions; sets in the complex plane
√
5
1. Determine all fifth roots of unity: w = 1.
2. Determine all cubic roots of z = i − 1: w = (i − 1)1/3 .
3. Solve the equation (z + i)5 + (z − i)5 = 0.
4. Find the real and imaginary parts of (a) cos i and (b) sin i.
5. Verify that for any two complex numbers z1 and z2
|z1 + z2 | ≤ |z1 | + |z2 | , |z1 + z2 | ≥ | |z1 | − |z2 | | (“triangle inequalities”) .
6. Solve the equations
(a) ez = −1 , (b) ez = −2 , (c) sinh z = 0 , (d) sin z = 3 .
7. Draw the curves in the complex z plane
(a) |z − 1| = 1 , (b) (Re z)2 + 2 (Im z)2 = 1 , (c) Im z 2 = 2 .
8. Find all the values of
(a) ii , (b) (1 + i)i , (c) (−1)1/π .
9. Find the real and imaginary parts of the principal branch of the logarithm of
(a) z = 1 − i , (b) z = 1 + i , (c) z = i .
10. Consider the set S = ni : n = 1, 2, . . . in the complex plane. (a) What are the limit points of
S? (b) What are the interior and boundary points of S? (c) State whether or not S is open;
closed; bounded; connected; compact.
II. Complex differentiation; holomorphic functions
11. Show that the function f (z) = z 2 is holomorphic in the entire complex plane, while the function
f (z) = |z|2 is holomorphic nowhere.
12. Determine the subsets of the complex z plane in which each of the following functions is holo-
morphic,
1 1
(a) , (b) , (c) cos z , (d) tan z ,
ez −1 (1 + z 2 )2
and calculate the derivative of each function in its region of holomorphy.
13. Let the function f be holomorphic on the domain D in C.
(a) Show that if f is real-valued then f must be constant.
(b) Show that if |f | is constant then f must be constant.
14. (a) Determine which of the following functions u(x, y) are harmonic:
(i) x2 − y 2 − x , (ii) sin x cosh y , (iii) e−x cos y + xy , (iv) sin x − cos y , (v) x − y .
(b) For each of the harmonic functions above, find a holomorphic function of which it is the real
part, and find a harmonic conjugate function v(x, y).
15. Take real-valued function u on domain D in C, u : D → R. Let u be harmonic on D. Show that
if u2 is harmonic on D then u is constant.
16. (a) Find the holomorphic function whose imaginary part is given by
e−x (x cos y + y sin y)
and which vanishes at the origin.
(b) Determine the family of curves in the xy plane which are orthogonal to the curves
e−x (x cos y + y sin y) = const. .
17. Locate and classify the singular points of the following functions, and determine whether they
are isolated:
cos z z2 1
(a) , (b) , (c) .
(z + i)3 (z 2 − 1)(z 2 + 4) sin 1/z
18. Classify the behaviour of the following functions at z = ∞:
1 + z2
(a) z(1 + z 2 ) , (b) ez , (c) .
z2
19. Consider the mapping specified by the function
1
f : z 7→ w = z + .
z
(a) Give the subset of the complex z plane in which f is holomorphic.
(b) Determine whether the mapping is conformal in the region of holomorphy.
(c) Onto which subset of the w plane does f map the upper half and lower half of circle |z| = 1?
(d) What is the image through f of a circle |z| = ρ with ρ 6= 1?
20. Consider the mapping specified by the function
i−z
f : z 7→ w = .
i+z
(a) Is the mapping conformal?
(b) What is the image through f of the real axis z = x?
(c) Onto which subset of the w plane does f map the upper half plane Im z > 0?
