Problem Sheet-9

1. Determine whether z = 0 is a removable singularity, pole or an essential singularity. In

the case of a pole determine the principal part.
cos z cos z − 1
(i) f (z) = (ii) f (z) = (iii) f (z) = exp z −1
z z
1
Simple pole. P0 (z) = Removable singularity. Essential singularity.
z

cot z Ln (z + 1) 1
(iv) f (z) = (v)f (z) = (vi) f (z) = z n sin
z2 z2 z
1 1 1
Pole of order 3. P0 (z) = 3 + Simple pole. P0 = Essential singularity.
z 3z z

1
2. Let f (z) = . Give the Laurent series at z = 0, z = 1 and z = 2.
z(z − 1)(z − 2)
Solution. By partial fractions method:

1 1 1
f (z) = − +
2z z − 1 2(z − 2)
At z = 0:  
1 −1 3 7 15 2 1
f (z) = z + + z + z + · · · + 1 − n+2 z n + · · ·
2 4 8 16 2
At z = 1:

f (z) = −(z − 1)−1 − (z − 1) − (z − 1)3 − (z − 1)5 − · · · − (z − 1)2n+1 − · · ·

At z = 2:
 
1 −1 3 7 15 2 n+1 1
f (z) = (z − 2) − + (z − 2) − (z − 2) + · · · + (−1) 1 − n+2 (z − 2)n + · · ·
2 4 8 16 2

3. Let f have an isolated singularity at a. Show that a is a pole of f if and only if

1
lim |f (z)| = ∞. Hint: In one direction you have to consider .
z→a f (z)
Solution. If a is a pole of order m say, then ` = lim (z − a)m f (z) is a non zero complex
z→a

number. And g(z) = (z − a)m f (z) is analytic at a, |g(a)| = |`| > 0.

|g(z)|
Therefore, lim |f (z)| = lim = ∞.
z→a z→a |z − a|m
1
Conversely, if the limit is infinite, then in z ∈ Iδ (a)0 =⇒ |f (z)| ≥ 1 =⇒ is analytic
f (z)

1
 1 1
in Iδ (a)0 and lim = 0 =⇒ removable singularity and is analytic in Iδ (a) and
z→a f (z) f (z)
1
vanishes at a. Hence, = (z − a)m h(z), h(a) 6= 0 =⇒ (z − a)−m f (z) → h(a)−1 6= 0.
f (z)
Thus a is a pole of order m > 0.

1
4. Give Laurent’s expansion near each of the poles of f (z) = .
(z − 1)2 (z − 3)
Solution. The poles are at z = 1 (double) and z = 3 (simple). By partial fractions

1 1 1
f (z) = − 2
− + .
2(z − 1) 4(z − 1) 4(z − 3)
At z = 1:
1 1 1 1 1
f (z) = − (z − 1)−2 − (z − 1)−1 − − (z − 1) − · · · − n+3 z n − · · · .
2 4 8 16 2
At z = 3: deferred.
1 1 1 1
f (z) = (z − 3)−1 − − (z − 1) − · · · − n+3 z n − · · · .
4 8 16 2

π
5. Show that tan z is analytic in C except for simple poles at z = nπ+ , n ∈ Z. Determine
2
the principal part of tan z at each of these poles.
Solution. In the following lim denotes lim .
z z→nπ+ π2

 π (z − nπ − π/2) sin z
lim z − nπ − tan z = lim (= 0/0)
z 2 z cos z
sin z + (z − nπ − π/2) cos z
= lim (L’Höspital’s rule)
z − sin z
= −1 6= 0.

Hence simple pole and the principal part at nπ + π/2 is −(z − nπ − π/2)−1 .

6. Let p ∈ D and f be analytic in D \ {p}. Let Ĉ = C ∪ {∞} denote the extended complex
plane as usual.

(a) Let p be a pole of a function f (z). Define fˆ : D −→ Ĉ as follows:


f (z) z 6= p

ˆ
f (z) =
∞

z = p.

2
 Show that fˆ(z) is analytic at all points of D.
Solution. f is analytic at all z 6= p. To check analyticity at p we note that f (z)−1

is analytic in a punctured disc Iδ (p)0 (where e.g. |f (z)| ≥ 1) and converges to 0 i.e.
a removable singularity at p. By definition of analyticity for Ĉ-valued functions, f
is analytic at p also.

(b) Let p be an essential singularity of f (z). Show that no value can be assigned to
fˆ(p) to make fˆ : D −→ Ĉ analytic.
Solution. If a finite value fˆ(p) gives analyticity, then p will be a removable singular-
1 1
ity. If fˆ(p) = ∞ works then will be analytic at p and = 0. By finiteness
f (z) f (p)
of the order of the zero of an analytic function, f will have p as a pole of the same
order.

7. Find the indicated residue Resz0 f (z) by expanding in a Laurent’s series:

2 1
(i) f (z) = , z0 = 1 (ii) f (z) = 3 , z0 = 0
(z − 1)(z + 4) z (1 − z)3
∞
2 2 X (n + 1)(n + 2) n−3
Pr. part is (z − 1)−1 , Res1 f (z) = . z , Res0 f (z) = 6
5 5 n=0
2

2 e−z
(iii) f (z) = (z + 3)2 sin , z0 = −3 (iv) f (z) = , z0 = 2
z+3 (z − 2)2
∞ ∞
X (−2)2n+1 4 X (−1)n 1
(z + 3)−2n+1 Res−3 f (z) = − e −2
(z − 2)n−2 , Res2 f (z) = − 2 .
n=0
(2n + 1)! 3 n=0
n! e

8. Find the poles, their orders and the residues by differentiating after killing the poles.
z 1
(i) f (z) = 2 (ii) f (z) = 2
z + 16 (z − 2z + 2)2
1 ∓ı
Res±4ı f (z) = Res1±ı f (z) =
2 4
cos z 1
(iii) f (z) = (iv) f (z) =
z 2 (z
− π)3 z sin z
3 1 3 (−1)n
Res0 f (z) = − 2 , Resπ f (z) = 2 − 4 Res0 f (z) = 0, Resnπ f (z) =
π 2π π nπ
Solution. Details:
z(z ∓ 4ı) z 1
(i) z = ±4ı are simple poles. Res±4ı f (z) = lim 2
= lim =
z→±4ı z + 16 z→±4ı z ± 4ı 2

3
 (ii) z = 1 ± ı are double poles.

(z − 1 ∓ ı)2
 
d
Res1±ı f (z) = lim
z→1±ı dz (z 2 − 2z + 2)2

d
= lim (z − 1 ± ı)−2
z→1±ı dz
∓ı
= lim −2(z − 1 ± ı)−3 = .
z→1±ı 4

(iii) z = 0 is a double pole. z = π is a triple pole.

 
d 2 cos z
Res0 f (z) = lim z 2
z→0 dz z (z − π)3
cos 0 3
= 0−3 4
=− 4
(−π) π

d2
 
1 3 cos z
Resπ f (z) = lim (z−π) 2


3
2! z→π dz 2 z(z−π)
 


− cos π 6 cos π 1 3
= − 0 + = −
2π 2 2! π 4 2π 2 π 4

(iv) Double pole at z = 0 and simple poles at nπ, n 6= 0 integer.

Since f (z) is an even function, only even powers of z occur.
In particular b−1 = 0 =⇒ Res0 f (z) = 0.

z − nπ
n ∈ Z \ {0}, Resnπ f (z) = lim (= 0/0)
z sin z
z→nπ
1 (−1)n
= lim = .
z→nπ 0 + nπ.(−1)n nπ

9. Evaluate
‰ using Cauchy’s residue theorem along the given contours:
dz 1 3
(i) 2
C 1 : |z| = C 2 : |z| = C3 : |z − 3| = 1
Cj (z − 1)(z + 2) 2 2
1 1 2πı
Res1,−2 f (z) = , − 0 0
9 9 9


2
(ii) z 3 e−1/z dz C1 : |z| = 5 C2 : |z + ı| = 2 C3 : |z| = 3
Cj
1
Res0 f (z) = πı πı πı
2

4
 ‰
10. Evaluate ‰
tan z dz tan z dz
(i) (ii)
{|z−1|=2} z {|z|=1/2} z
Res±π/2 = −1, Integral=0 Analytic inside C, hence integral=0.
‰ ‰
zez
 
2 1/πz
(iii) z e + 4 dz (iv) e4/(z−2) dz
‰ C:{4x2 +y 2 =16} z − π4  {|z−1|=3}
zez

ı 1
z 2 e1/πz dz = 2 , Res±πı 4 4
= 2. Ess. sing. at z = 2, Res2 f (z) = 4
C 3π z −π 4π
‰ ‰
zez ı ı ı
4 4
dz = =⇒ I = 2 + =⇒ f (z)dz = 8πı.
C z −π 2π 3π 2π C

˛
1
11. Compute cot πz dz for C a rectangle defined by x = , x = 1, y = −1, y = 1.
C 2
Solution. cot πz has simple poles at z = n ∈ Z. and z = 1 lies on the boundary. None is
(z − 1) cos πz 1
inside. Let Cδ be a semi-circular indentation at 1. Res1 f (z) = lim = .
z→1 sin πz π
1
Hence h(z) = f (z) − is analytic in a neighbourhood of the rectangle (in fact
π(z − 1)
the vertical strip {0 < x < 2}) =⇒
‰ ‰ ‰
dz
h(z) = 0 =⇒ f (z)dz = .
R R R π(z − 1)
‰ ‰
dz dz
Now by shifting of contours = = ı by direct calcula-
R π(z − 1) Cδ +[1−δ,1+δ]ı π(z − 1)
tions (Principal Value). Hence ‰
cot πz dz = ı.
R

˛
(2z − 1) dz
12. Evaluate by residue theorem , C is the rectangle defined by x = −2, x =
C z 2 (z 3 + 1)
1
1, y = − , y = 1.
2
Solution. There are 4 poles namely 0 (a double pole), and −1, −ω, −ω̄(= −ω 2 ) (simple
√
−1 + 3ı
poles) where ω = is a complex cube root of unity. Of these 0, −1, −ω̄ are
2
inside the contour and −ω is outside.

 
d 2z − 1
Res0 f (z) = lim z2 × = 2.
z→0 dz z (z 3 + 1)
2

5
  
2z − 1
Res1 f (z) = lim (z − 1) ×
z→1 z (z 3 + 1)
2

2z − 1
= lim = 1.
z→1 z 2 (z + ω)(z + ω̄)

 
2z − 1
Resω̄ f (z) = lim (z − ω̄) ×
z→ω̄ z (z 3 + 1)
2

2z − 1
= lim = 2 − ω.
z→ω̄ z 2 (z + ω)(z + 1)

The sum of residues is S = 5 − ω and the integral is 2πı(5 − ω)

z4 √
13. Consider the function f (z) = √ , where z is principal branch of the square root
1− z
function. Does f have a pole at z = 1. If so find the residue.
√
Solution. Yes f (z) has a simple pole at z = 1 since 1 = 1 in the principal branch.

(z − 1)z 4
Res1 f (z) = lim √ (= 0/0)
z→1 1 − z
5z 4 − 4z 3
= lim = −2.
z→1 − 2√1 z

g(z)
14. Let g(z) and h(z) be analytic and h(z) have a simple zero at z0 . If f (z) = , show
h(z)
g(z0 )
that Resz0 f (z) = .
h0 (z0 )
What is the formula if h(z) has a double zero at z0 .
Solution. f (z) has a simple pole at z0 .

(z − z0 )g(z)
Resz0 f (z) = lim (= 0/0)
z→z0 h(z)
g(z) + (z − z0 )g 0 (z)
= lim
z→z0 h0 (z)
g(z0 )
∵ h0 (z0 ) 6= 0.


= 0
h (z0 )

f (z) has a double pole at z0 . Since h(z) has a double zero at z0 therefore,

h(z) h00 (z0 )

lim = 6= 0.
z→z0 (z − z0 )2 2

6
 d (z − z0 )2 g(z)
 
Resz0 f (z) = lim
z→z0 dz h(z)
0
(z − z0 )2 0 (z − z0 )2
  
= lim g (z) + g(z)
z→z0 h(z) h(z)
0
2g 0 (z0 ) (z − z0 )2

= + g(z0 ) lim
h00 (z0 ) z→z0 h(z)

h(z) h00 (z0 ) 0 h000 (z0 )

Let r(z) = . Then r(z0 ) = , r (z0 ) = .
(z − z0 )2 2 6
d r0 (z) d h000 (z0 )/6 2h000 (z0 )
r(z)−1 = − −1

Hence =⇒ lim r(z) = − = − .
dz r(z)2 z→z0 dz h00 (z0 )2 /4 3h00 (z0 )2
Substituting above gives

2g 0 (z0 ) 2g(z0 )h000 (z0 )

Resz0 f (z) = −
h00 (z0 ) 3h00 (z0 )2

1
15. Let p(z) have a simple zero at z0 . Let f (z) = . Show that
p(z)2

p00 (z0 )
Resz0 f (z) = − .
[p0 (z0 )]3

Solution. In the second part of the previous problem put g(z) ≡ 1, h(z) = p(z)2 .

2 6p0 (z0 )p00 (z0 )

p00 (z0 )
Resz0 f (z) = 0 −
2 = − 0 .
3 2p0 (z0 )2 p (z0 )3