506 Functions of a Complex Variable

7
Functions of a Complex Variable

7.1 INTRODUCTION
The theory of functions of a complex variable is of atmost importance in solving a large
number of problems in the field of engineering and science. Many complicated integrals of
real functions are solved with the help of functions of a complex variable.
7.2 COMPLEX VARIABLE
x + iy is a complex variable and it is denoted by z.

(1) z = x + iy where i = −1 (Cartesian form)

(2) z = r (cos θ + i sin θ) (Polar form)

(3) z = rei θ (Exponential form)

7.3 FUNCTIONS OF A COMPLEX VARIABLE
f (z) is a function of a complex variable z and is denoted by w.
w = f (z)
  w = u + iv
where u and v are the real and imaginary parts of f (z).
7.4 NEIGHBOURHOOD OF Z0
Let z0 is a point in the complex plane and let z be any positive number, then the set of points
z such that
|z – z0| < ∈
is called ∈ -neighbourhood of z0.
Closed set
A set S is said to be closed if it contains all of its limits point.
Interior Point
A point z0 is called a interior point of a point set S if there exists a neighbourhood of z0
lying wholly in S,
Functions of a Complex Variable  507

7.5 LIMIT OF A FUNCTION OF A COMPLEX VARIABLE

Let f (z) be a single valued function defined at all points in some neighbourhood of point z0.
Then f (z) is said to have the limit l as z approaches z0 along any path if given an arbitrary real
number ∈ > 0, however small there exists a real number d > 0, such that
| f (z) – l | < ∈ whenever 0 < | z – z0 | < d
i.e. for every z ≠ z0 in d-disc (dotted) of z-plane, f (z) has a value lying in the ∈ -disc of w-plane
In symbolic form, Lim f ( z ) = l
z → z0

Note: (I) d usually depends upon ∈.

(II) z → z0 implies that z approaches z0 along any path.
The limits must be independent of the manner in which z
approaches z0
If we get two different limits as z → z0 along two different paths
then limits does not exist.
( z 2 + 4 z + 3)
Example 1. Prove that lim = 4−i
z →1−i z +1 O
2
z + 4z + 3 ( z + 1) ( z + 3)
Solution. lim = lim = lim ( z + 3) = (1 − i ) + 3 = 4 − i Proved.
z →1−i z +1 z →1−i ( z + 1) z →1−i

z
Example 2. Show that lim does not exist.
z →0 | z|
z x + iy
Solution. lim = lim
z →0 | z | x →0 2 2
y →0 x + y
Let y = mx,
x + imx 1 + im 1 + mi
= lim = lim =
2 2 2
x →0
x +m x x →0
1+ m 1 + m2
1 + mi
The value of are different for different values of m.
1 + m2
Hence, limit of the function does not exist. Proved.
z
Example 3. Prove that lim does not exist.
z →0 z
z x + iy  x + iy 
Solution. Case I. lim = lim = lim  lim 
z →0 z x →0 x − iy x →0  y →0 x − iy 
y →0

x
= lim =1
x →0 x
Here the path is y → 0 and then x → 0
z  x + iy  iy
Case II. Again lim = lim  lim  = ylim = −1
z →0 z y →0  x →0 x − iy  →0 −iy
508 Functions of a Complex Variable

In this case, we have a different path first x → 0, then y → 0

As z → 0 along two different paths we get different limits.
Hence the limit does not exist. Proved.
iz 3 + iz − 1
Example 4. Find the limit of the following lim
z →∞ ( 2 z + 3i )( z − i ) 2

Solution. On dividing numerator and denominator by z3, we get

 i 1 
iz 3 + iz − 1 i + 2 − 3 
lim = lim  z z  = i
z →∞ ( 2 z + 3i )( z − i ) 2 2 Ans.
z →∞
 3i   i  2
 2 +   1 − 
 z   z

z2 − z +1− i
Example 5. Find the limit of the following lim
z →1+ i z2 − 2z + 2
Solution.
z2 +1− z − i ( z + i )( z − i ) − 1( z + i ) ( z + i ) ( z − i − 1) z +i
lim 2 = lim = lim = lim
z →1+ i z − 2 z + 2 z →1+ i ( z − 1 − i ) ( z + 1 + i ) z →1+ i ( z − 1 − i ) ( z − 1 + i ) z →1+ i z − 1 + i

1+ i + i 1 + 2i (1 + 2i ) (−i ) −i + 2 2 − i i
= = = = = = 1− Ans.
1+ i −1+ i 2i 2(i ) (−i ) 2(1) 2 2

EXERCISE 7.1
Show that the following limits do not exist:
Im( z )3 z2 Re( z ) 2 z
1. lim 2. lim 3. lim 4. lim
z →0 Re( z )3 z →− i z + i z →0 Im z z →0 ( z ) 2

Find the Limits of the following:

Re( z ) 2 2z3 z2 + 6z + 3 3
5. lim Ans. 0 6. lim Ans. 2(–1 + i) 7. lim Ans.
z →0 | z | z →1+ i Im( z ) 2 z →0 2
z + 2z + 2 2
7.6 CONTINUITY
The function f (z) of a complex variable z is said to be continuous at the point z0 if for
any given positive number ∈ , we can find a number δ such that | f (z) – f (z0)| < ∈
for all points z of the domain satisfying
| z – z0 | < d
f (z) is said to be continuous at z = z0 if
lim f ( z ) = f ( z0 )
z → z0

7.7 CONTINUITY IN TERMS OF REAL AND IMAGINARY PARTS

If w = f (z) = u (x, y) + iv (x, y) is continuous function at z = z0 then u (x, y) and v (x, y) are
separately continuous functions of x, y at (x0, y0) where z0 = x0 + i y0.
Conversely, if u(x, y) and v(x, y) are continuous functions of x, y at (x0, y0) then f (z) is
continuous at z = z0.
Example 6. Examine the continuity of the following
 z 3 − iz 2 + z − i
 , z≠i
f ( z) =  z −i at z = i
 0 , z = i

Functions of a Complex Variable  509

z 3 − iz 2 + z − i z 2 ( z − i ) + 1( z − i )
Solution. lim = lim
z→i z −i z →i z −i
( z − i )( z 2 + 1)
= lim = lim( z 2 + 1) = −1 + 1 = 0
z →i z −i z →i
f(i) = 0

lim f ( z ) = f (i )
z →i
Hence f (z) is continuous at z = i Ans.
Example 7. Show that the function f(z) defined by
 Re( z )
 , z≠0
f ( z ) =  z
 0 , z=0
is not continuous at z = 0
Re( z )
Solution. Here f (z) = when z ≠ 0
z
Re( z ) x  x  x
lim = lim = lim  lim  = xlim =1
z →0 z x →0 x + iy x →0  y →0 x + iy  →0 x
y →0
Re( z )  x 
Again lim = lim  lim =0
z →0 z y →0  x →0 x + iy 

As z → 0, for two different paths limit have two different values. So, limit does not exist.
Hence f (z) is not continuous at z = 0 Proved.

EXERCISE 7.2
Examine the continuity of the following functions.
 Im( z )
 ,z≠0
1. f ( z ) =  | z | at z = 0 Ans. Not Continuous
 0 z = 0


z 2 + 3z + 4
2. f ( z) = at z = 1 – i Ans. Continuous
z2 + i
3. Show that the following functions are continuous for z
(i) cos z        (ii) e2z
7.8 DIFFERENTIABILITY
Let f (z) be a single valued function of the variable z, then
f ( z + δz ) − f ( z )
   f ′( z ) = lim
δz →0 δz
provided that the limit exists and is independent of the path
along which dz → 0.
Let P be a fixed point and Q be a neighbouring point. The
point Q may approach P along any straight line or curved path.
Example 8. Consider the function
f (z) = 4x + y + i(–x + 4y)
df
   and discuss .
dz