Limit and Continuity

Complex variable:
A symbol such as 𝑧, which can be expressed for any one of a set of complex
number is called a complex variable.

Complex function:
A complex variable 𝑤 is said to be a function of the complex variable 𝑧. If, to
every value of 𝑧 in a certain domain D, there correspond one or more definite value
of 𝑤.
It w is function of 𝑧, it is written as, 𝑤= 𝑓 (𝑧).
The variable 𝑧 is sometimes called an independent variable and 𝑤 is dependent on
𝑧.

Singled valued function:

If only one value of 𝑤 correspond to each value of 𝑧, then we say that 𝑤 is a
singled valued function of 𝑧 or that 𝑓(𝑧) is single valued.
Example:
If 𝑤 = 𝑓(𝑧)= 𝑧 2 there is only one value of 𝑤, to each value of 𝑧, so 𝑤 = 𝑧 2 is a
single valued function.

Multiple Valued Function

If more than one value of w corresponded to each value of 𝑧, then we can say that
𝑤 is a multiple valued function of 𝑧.
Example
1
If 𝑤= 𝑓 (𝑧) = 𝑧 2 , then to each of 𝑧, there arise two values of 𝑤. So this function is
a multiple (here two) valued function.

Point Set
Any collection of points in the complex plane is called a (two dimensional) point
set and each point is called a member of element of the set.

Neighborhood of a Point
Let 𝑧0 be a point is the argand diagram, then the neighborhood of this point 𝑧0 is
defined as the set of those point 𝑧 such that |𝑧 − 𝑧0 | < 𝜀 , where 𝜀 is any arbitrary
small positive number. This 𝜀 is called the values of neighborhood of 𝑧0 .
Limit
Let 𝑓 (𝑧)be a single valued function in the neighborhood of some points 𝑧0 . Then
𝑓 (𝑧) has the limit 𝑙 as 𝑧 approaches to 𝑧0 if, for given any small positive number
𝜀0 , then there exists another positive number 𝛿 (depending on 𝜀) such that |𝑓(𝑧) −
𝑙| < 𝜀, whenever 0 < |𝑧 − 𝑧0 | < 𝛿,We denote this as,
lim 𝑓 (𝑧) = 𝑙
𝑧→𝑧0

Continuity
Let 𝑓 (𝑧) be defined and single valued in a neighborhood of 𝑧 = 𝑧0 as well as at
𝑧 → 𝑧0 . The function 𝑓 (𝑧) is said to be continuous at 𝑧 = 𝑧0 , if,. lim f  z   f  z0 
z  z0

Problem
Prove that, 𝑓(𝑧) = 𝑧 2 is continuous at 𝑧 = 𝑧0 .

Solution
Here, 𝑓(𝑧) = 𝑧 2
at 𝑧 = 𝑧0 , 𝑓 (𝑧0 ) = 𝑧02
Also,
lim 𝑧 2 = 𝑧02 = 𝑓(𝑧0 )
𝑧→0
∴ 𝑓 (𝑧) = 𝑧 2 is continuous at 𝑧 = 𝑧0 .

Derivative of a complex function

Let 𝑓(𝑧) be a single valued complex function then the derivative of 𝑓(𝑧) is
denoted by 𝑓 ′ (𝑧) and is defined by,
𝑓 (𝑧 + 𝑧0 ) − 𝑓 (𝑧)
𝑓 ′ (𝑧) = lim
∆𝑧→0 ∆𝑧

Problem
Using the definition find the derivative of the function, 𝑓 (𝑧) = 3𝑧 2 − 2𝑧 + 4.

Solution
We know by definition, the derivative of 𝑓(𝑧) at the point 𝑧 is,
𝑓 (𝑧 + 𝑧0 ) − 𝑓 (𝑧)
𝑓 ′ (𝑧) = lim … … … . (1)
∆𝑧→0 ∆𝑧
Given that,
 𝑓(𝑧) = 3𝑧 2 − 2𝑧 + 4
⇒ 𝑓 (𝑧 + ∆𝑧) = 3(𝑧 + ∆𝑧)2 − 2(𝑧 + ∆𝑧) + 4
= 3[𝑧 2 + 2𝑧∆z + (∆z)2 ] − 2𝑧 − 2∆z + 4
∴ 𝑓 (𝑧 + ∆z) − 𝑓 (𝑧) = 3𝑧 2 + 6𝑧 ∆z + 3(∆z)2 − 2z − 2∆z + 4 − 3z 2 + 2z − 4
= 6𝑧∆z + 3(∆z)2 − 2∆z ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ (2)
Using (2) we get from (1),
6𝑧∆z+3(∆z)2 −2∆z
∴ 𝑓 ′ (𝑧) = lim = 6𝑧 − 2
∆𝑧→0 ∆z

Problem:
Using the definition find the derivative of the function,
1) 𝑓 (𝑧) = 𝑧 3 + 2𝑧 + 𝑖 2) 𝑓 (𝑧) = 𝑧 3 − 2𝑧.

Solution:
1) Given that, 𝑓 (𝑧) = 𝑧 3 + 2𝑧 + 𝑖
⇒ 𝑓 (𝑧 + ∆z) = (𝑧 + ∆z)3 + 2(z + ∆z)2 + 𝑖
∴ 𝑓 (𝑧 + ∆z) − 𝑓 (𝑧)
= 𝑧 3 + 3𝑧 2 ∆z + 3z(∆z)2 + (∆z)3 + 2z 2 + 4z∆z + 2(∆z)2 + i − z 3
− 2z 2 − i
= 3𝑧 2 ∆z + 3z(∆z)2 + (∆z)3 + 4z∆z + 2(∆z)2 .
𝑓 (𝑧 + ∆z) − 𝑓 (𝑧) = [3𝑧 2 + 3𝑧∆z + (∆z)2 + 4𝑧 + 2∆z]∆z ……… (2)
[3𝑧 2 +3𝑧∆z+(∆z)2 +4𝑧+2∆z](∆z)
So we get from (1) and (2), 𝑓 ′ (𝑧) = lim
∆𝑧→0 ∇z
2 )2
= lim 3𝑧 + 3𝑧∆z + (∆z + 4z + 2∆z
∆z→0
∴ 𝑓 ′ (𝑧) = 3𝑧 2 + 4𝑧 .

2) Given that,
𝑓(𝑧) = 𝑧 3 − 2𝑧.
⇒ 𝑓 (𝑧 + ∆z) = (z + ∆z)3 − 2(𝑧 + ∆z)
= 𝑧 3 + 3𝑧 2 ∆z + 3z(∆z)2 + (∆z)3 − 2z − 2∆z
∴ 𝑓(𝑧 + ∆z) − 𝑓 (𝑧) = 𝑧 3 + 3𝑧 2 ∆z + 3z(∆z)2 + (∆z)3 − 2z − 2∆z − z 3 + 2z
= [3𝑧 2 + 3𝑧(∆z) + (∆z)2 − 2]∆z ……….. (2)
[3𝑧 2 +3𝑧(∆z)+(∆z)2 −2](∆z)
So we get from (1) and (2), 𝑓 ′ (𝑧) = lim
∆𝑧→0 ∇z
= lim 3𝑧 2 + 3𝑧(∆z) + (∆z)2 − 2
∆𝑧→0
𝑓 ′ (𝑧) = 3𝑧 2 − 2.
Problem:

Using the definition, find the derivative of the following functions at the indicated
points.
1) 𝑓 (𝑧) = 3𝑧 2 + 3𝑖𝑧 − 5 + 𝑖; 𝑎𝑡 𝑧 = 2.
2𝑧−𝑖
2) 𝑓 (𝑧) = 𝑧+2𝑖 , 𝑎𝑡 𝑧 = −𝑖.
3) 𝑓 (𝑧) = 3𝑧 −2 ; 𝑎𝑡 𝑧 = 1 + 𝑖.
4) 𝑓 (𝑧) = 𝑧 3 + 2𝑧 2 + 𝑖

Solution:

1. We know, by definition the derivative of 𝑓 (𝑧)at any point 𝑧 is

𝑓 (𝑧 + 𝑧0 ) − 𝑓 (𝑧)
𝑓 ′ (𝑧) = lim ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ (1)
∆𝑧→0 ∆𝑧
Given that,
𝑓 (𝑧) = 3𝑧 2 + 3𝑖𝑧 − 5 + 𝑖 ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ (2)
Or,𝑓 (𝑧 + ∆𝑧) = 3(z + ∆𝑧)2 + 4i(z + ∆𝑧) − 5 + i
= 3z 2 + 6z∆𝑧 + 3(∆𝑧)2 + 4iz + 4i∆𝑧 − 5 + i
= (3z 2 + 4iz − 5 + i) + 6z∆𝑧 + 3(∆𝑧)2 + 4i∆𝑧
Or, 𝑓 (𝑧 + ∆𝑧) = 𝑓 (𝑧) + (6𝑧 + 3∆𝑧 + 4𝑖)
∴ 𝑓 (𝑧 + ∆𝑧) − 𝑓 (𝑧) = [6z + 3∆𝑧 + 4i]∆𝑧 ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ (2)

Using (2) in (1), we get

[6z + 3∆𝑧 + 4i]∆𝑧

𝑓 ′ (𝑧) = lim
∆𝑧→0 ∆𝑧
= lim (6z + 3∆𝑧 + 4i)
∆𝑧→0
𝑓 ′ (𝑧) = 6𝑧 + 4𝑖
At, 𝑧 = 2, 𝑓 ′ (𝑧) = 6(2) + 4𝑖
= 12 + 4𝑖
2. We know, by definition the derivative of 𝑓 (𝑧)at any point 𝑧 is

𝑓 (𝑧 + 𝑧0 ) − 𝑓 (𝑧)
𝑓 ′ (𝑧) = lim ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ (1)
∇𝑧→0 ∇𝑧
2𝑧−𝑖
Given that, 𝑓 (𝑧) = 𝑧+2𝑖
2(𝑧+∆𝑧)−𝑖
or, 𝑓 (𝑧 + ∆𝑧) = (𝑧+∆𝑧)+2𝑖
2(𝑧 + ∆𝑧) − 𝑖 2𝑧 − 𝑖
∴ 𝑓 (𝑧 + ∆𝑧) − 𝑓 (𝑧) = −
(𝑧 + ∆𝑧) + 2𝑖 𝑧 + 2𝑖
2𝑧 2 + 2𝑧∆𝑧 − 𝑖𝑧 + 4𝑖𝑧 − 2𝑖 2 − 2𝑧 2 − 2𝑧∆𝑧 − 4𝑖𝑧 + 𝑖𝑧 + 𝑖∆𝑧 + 2𝑖 2
=
(𝑧 + ∆𝑧 + 2𝑖 )(𝑧 + 2𝑖 )
5𝑖∆𝑧
∴ 𝑓 (𝑧 + ∆𝑧) − 𝑓(𝑧) = ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ (2)
(𝑧 + ∆𝑧 + 2𝑖 )(𝑧 + 2𝑖 )
Using (2)we get from (1)
5𝑖∆𝑧 1
𝑓 ′ (𝑧) = lim [ ]
∆𝑧→0 (𝑧 + ∆𝑧 + 2𝑖 )(𝑧 + 2𝑖) ∆𝑧
5𝑖
= lim (𝑧+∆𝑧+2𝑖)(𝑧+2𝑖)
∆𝑧→0
5𝑖
=
(𝑧 + 2𝑖 )(𝑧 + 2𝑖)
5𝑖
∴ 𝑓 ′ (𝑧) =
(𝑧 + 2𝑖)2
At 𝑧 = −𝑖,
5𝑖
𝑓 ′ (𝑧) =
(−𝑖 + 2𝑖)2
5𝑖
= 2
𝑖
= −5𝑖
3. We know, by definition the derivative of 𝑓 (𝑧)at any point 𝑧 is

𝑓(𝑧+𝑧0 )−𝑓(𝑧)
𝑓 ′ (𝑧) = lim ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ (1)
∆𝑧→0 ∆𝑧

3
Given that, 𝑓(𝑧) = 3𝑧 −2 = 𝑧 2
3
Or,𝑓(𝑧 + ∆𝑧) = (𝑧+∆𝑧)2
3 3
∴ 𝑓(𝑧 + ∆𝑧) − 𝑓(𝑧) = (𝑧+∆𝑧)2 − 𝑧 2
 𝑧 2 − (𝑧 + ∆𝑧)2
= 3[ ]
(𝑧 + ∆𝑧)2 𝑧 2
(𝑧 + 𝑧 + ∆𝑧)(𝑧 − 𝑧 − ∆𝑧)
= 3[ ]
(𝑧 + ∆𝑧)2 𝑧 2
−3(2𝑧+∆𝑧)∆𝑧
∴𝑓(𝑧 + ∆𝑧) − 𝑓(𝑧) = (𝑧+∆𝑧)2 𝑧 2 ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ (2)
Using (2)we get from (1)
−3(2𝑧 + ∆𝑧)∆𝑧 1
𝑓′(𝑧) = 𝑙𝑖𝑚 [ ]
∆𝑧→0 (𝑧 + ∆𝑧)2 𝑧 2 ∆𝑧
−3(2𝑧 + ∆𝑧)
= 𝑙𝑖𝑚
∆𝑧→0 (𝑧 + ∆𝑧)2 𝑧 2
−3(2𝑧 + 0)
=
𝑧 2. 𝑧2
−6𝑧
= 4
𝑧
−6
∴ 𝑓′(𝑧) = 3
𝑧

At, 𝑧 = (1 + 𝑖)
−6
∴
(1 + 𝑖)3
−6
= 3
1 + 312 . 𝑖 + 3𝑖 2 . 1 + 𝑖 3
−6
=
1 + 3𝑖 − 3 − 𝑖
−6
=
−2 + 2𝑖
−6
=
−2(1 − 𝑖)
3
=
(1 − 𝑖)
Again at 𝑧 = 1 + 𝑖
−6(1 + 𝑖)
𝑓′(𝑧) =
(1 + 𝑖)4
−6(1 + 𝑖)
=
1 + 4𝑖 + 6𝑖 2 + 4𝑖 2 + 𝑖 4
−6(1 + 𝑖)
=
1 + 4𝑖 − 6 − 4𝑖 + 1
 3
= (1 + 𝑖)
2

4. We know, by definition the derivative of 𝑓 (𝑧)at any point 𝑧 is

𝑓 (𝑧 + ∆z) − 𝑓 (𝑧)
𝑓 ′ (𝑧) = lim ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ (1)
∆𝑧→0 ∇𝑧

Given that,
𝑓 (𝑧) = 𝑧 3 + 2𝑧 2 + 𝑖
⇒ 𝑓(𝑧 + ∆𝑧) = (𝑧 + ∆𝑧)3 + 2(𝑧 + ∆𝑧)2 + 𝑖
∴ 𝑓 (𝑧 + ∆𝑧) − 𝑓 (𝑧) = (𝑧 + ∆𝑧)3 + 2(𝑧 + ∆𝑧)2 + 𝑖 − 𝑧 3 − 2𝑧 2 − 𝑖
= 𝑧 3 + 3𝑧 2 ∆𝑧 + 3𝑧(∆𝑧)2 + (∆𝑧)3 + 2𝑧 2 + 4𝑧∆𝑧 + 2(∆𝑧)2 + 𝑖 − 𝑧 3 −
2𝑧 2 − 𝑖
= 3𝑧 2 ∆𝑧 + 3𝑧(∆𝑧)2 + (∆𝑧)3 + 4𝑧∆𝑧 + 2(∆𝑧)2
⇒ 𝑓 (𝑧 + ∆𝑧) − 𝑓 (𝑧) = [3𝑧 2 + 3𝑧∆𝑧 + (∆𝑧)2 + 4𝑧 + 2∆𝑧]∆𝑧 ………….. (2)
Using (2) we get form (1),
[3𝑧 2 +3𝑧∆𝑧+(∆𝑧)2 +4𝑧+2∆𝑧]∆𝑧
𝑓′(𝑧) = 𝑙𝑖𝑚 ∆𝑧
∆𝑧→0
= 𝑙𝑖𝑚 3𝑧 + 3𝑧∆𝑧 + (∆𝑧)2 + 4𝑧 + 2∆𝑧
2
∆𝑧→0

∴ 𝑓 ′ (𝑧) = 3𝑧 2 + 4𝑧