Assignment-1

1. Verify Cauchy-Riemann equation for z 2 , z 3 .

Solution: f (z) = z 2 = (x2 − y 2 ) + 2ιxy. So u(x, y) = x2 − y 2 and v(x, y) = 2xy.
Clearly CR equations are satisfied.
f (z) = z 3 = (x + ιy)3 = (x3 − 3xy 2 ) + ι(3x2 y − y 3 ). So u(x, y) = x3 − 3xy 2 and
v(x, y) = 3x2 y − y 3 . Clearly CR equations are satisfied.

2. Which of the following maps are holomorphic? If so then write as a function of z.

(a) (T)P (x + ιy) = x3 − 3xy 2 − x + ι(3x2 y − y 3 − y)

(b) P (x + ιy) = x2 + ιy 2
(c) P (x + ιy) = 2xy + ι(y 2 − x2 )

Solution: In each cases u, v has continuous partial derivatives. So to check analyticity,

we only need to check the CR equations.
(a) CR equations satisfied. f (z) = z 3 − z
(b) Not analytic CR not satisfied.
(c) CR equations satisfieid. f 0 (z) = ux + ivx = 2y − 2ix = −2i(x + iy) = −2iz. So
f (z) = −iz 2
0
3. Suppose that f = u + ιv is analytic on region Ω and f (z) 6= 0 for all z ∈ Ω. Show that
the family of level curves u(x, y) = c1 , v(x, y) = c2 are orthogonal to each other. Verify
it for the example of f (z) = z 2 by drawing pictures. What happens in this case to the
level curves u(x, y) = 0, v(x, y) = 0?
Solution:
Suppose that u(x, y) = c1 , v(x, y) = c2 intersect at z0 = (x0 , y0 ) and f 0 (z0 ) 6= 0. Sincef =
u + ιv is analytic on region Ω, we have f 0 = ux + ιvx . Since f 0 (z0 ) 6= 0, assume without
loss of generality, that ux (x0 , y0 ) 6= 0. By CR equation vy (x0 , y0 ) 6= 0. Then ∇(u)(z0 ) =
(ux , uy ) 6= 0 and ∇(v)(z0 ) = (vx , vy ) 6= 0. Therefore these are normal vectors to the level
curves u = c1 and v = c2 respectively. Using CR equations ∇(u)(z0 ).∇(v)(z0 ) = 0.

4. (a) (T)Let z, w be two complex numbers such that zw 6= 1. Prove that

w−z
| | < 1 if |z| < 1 and |w| < 1,
1 − wz
and also that
w−z
| | = 1 if |z| = 1 or |w| = 1,
1 − wz
(b) (T)Prove that for a fixed w ∈ D = {z ∈ C : |z| < 1}, the mapping
w−z
F : z 7→
1 − wz
satisfy the following conditions:
 • F maps D to itself and F : D → D is holomorphic.
• F interchanges 0 and w, i.e., F (0) = w and F (w) = 0.
• |F (z)| = 1 if |z| = 1.
• F is bijective.

Solution:
(a) |w − z|2 − |1 − wz|2
= (w − z)(w − z) − (1 − wz)(1 − wz)
= ww + zz − wz − zw − 1 + wz + wz − zwzw
= (1 − zz)(1 − ww).
w−z
Thus if |z| < 1 and |w| < 1, then |w − z|2 − |1 − wz|2 < 0 which implies | 1−wz | < 1.
w−z
Also clearly, if |z| = 1 or |w| = 1, then |w − z|2 − |1 − wz|2 = 0 that is | 1−wz |=1.
(b) The first and third property follows from (a). The function F is complex differentiable
everywhere except z = w1 which lies outside the unit disc D. This F is holomorphic on
D. The second property is easy to verify.
For the last property, it is easy to check check that F ◦ F (z) = z. Thus F is bijective.

5. Suppose that f = u + ιv is holomorphic on an open connected set Ω. Prove that in each

one of the following cases f is constant.

(a) u is constant.
(b) v is constant.
(c) (T)|f | is constant.

Solution:
(a) Sine u = constant, we have vx = vy = 0 by CR equations. Since Ω is connected we
get v = constant. Hence f is constant.
(c) Here u2 + v 2 = c. If c = 0, then |f | is zero and so f = 0. When c 6= 0, differentiating
partially w.r.t x and y we get uux + vvx = 0 uuy + vvy = 0. Using CR equations, the
second relation becomes vux − uvx = 0. Then solving for ux and vx , we get ux = vx = 0.
Using CR equations ux = uy = vx = vy = 0. So u, v are constants. Hence f is constant.

6. Suppose f = u + ιv ∈ H(C) satisfy u(x, y) = u(−y, x). Show that f (z) = f (ιz) for all
z ∈ C.
Solution:
Let g(z) = f (z) − f (ιz). Then g ∈ H(C). Note that Re(f (ιz)) = u(−y, x). Thus
Re(g) = 0 by the given condition. Hence g(z) = constant by the previous exercise. But
g(0) = 0. So g(z) = 0.

7. For Ω ⊆ C define Ω̃ = {z ∈ C : z ∈ Ω} (It is the reflection of Ω about x-axis).

 (a) For Ω = {z ∈ C : |z − i| < 1}, draw Ω̃.
(b) If Ω is open and connected then so is Ω̃.
(c) If Ω is open and f ∈ H(Ω) then show that g ∈ H(Ω̃) where g(z) = f (z). Find g 0 (z).

Solution:
(b) The reflection of an open nbd in Ω will give open nbd in Ω̃. Similarly for path. The
reflection map is actually a homeomorphism.
(c) f (z) = f (x + ιy) = u(x, y) + ιv(x, y). So f (z) = f (x − ιy) = u(x, −y) + ιv(x, −y).
Hence g(z) = u(x, −y) − ιv(x, −y). Let U (x, y) = u(x, −y) and V (x, y) = −v(x, −y).
Then Ux (x, y) = ux (x, −y) and Vy (x, y) = vy (x, −y). By CR equations of f we see that
U, V satisfies CR equations. Also they have continuous partial derivatives. Hence g is
holomorphic.
∂ ∂
8. (T)Define differential operators ∂z
and ∂z
by setting:

∂ 1 ∂ ∂ ∂ 1 ∂ ∂
= ( − ι ); = ( + ι ).
∂z 2 ∂x ∂y ∂z 2 ∂x ∂y
Show that f = u + ιv satisfy CR-equations if and only if ∂f /∂z = 0. Moreover, if f is
holomorphic, then f 0 (z) = ∂f /∂z. Further show that for a real valued function u(x, y)
with continuous second order partial derivatives,

∂ 2u ∂ 2u ∂ 2u
4 = + .
∂z∂z ∂x2 ∂y 2

Solution:
∂
∂z
f= 21 ( ∂x
∂ ∂
+ ι ∂y )(u + ιv) = 12 {(ux − vy ) + ι(vx + uy )}. Hence ∂
∂z
f = 0 if and only if f
satisfies CR equations.
∂
∂z
= 12 ( ∂x
f ∂ ∂
− ι ∂y )(u + ιv) = 1
2
{(ux + vy ) + ι(vx − uy )} Using CR equations we get
= ux + ιvx = f 0 (z).
∂2 ∂ 1 1 ∂ ∂ 1 1
∂z∂z
u = ∂z 2
{ux + ιuy } = (
2 ∂x
− ι ∂y ) 2 {ux + ιuy } = 4
(uxx + uyy + ι(uyx − uxy )) =
1
4
(uxx + uyy ).
Since u has continuous second order partial derivatives, uyx = uxy

9. (T)Let f (x + ιy) be a polynomial with complex coefficients in x and y. Show that f is

holomorphic if and only if it can be expressed as a polynomial in the single variable z.
Solution:
Use the substitutions z = x + iy and z = x − iy to express f as polynomial in z and z.
We write f (x + ιy) = p0 (z) + p1 (z)z + p2 (z)z 2 + · · · pn (z)z n , where pi are polynomials
∂
in z. Now, by the previous exercise polynomial f is holomorphic if and only if ∂z f = 0.
∂ n−1
So ∂z f = p1 (z) + 2p2 (z)z + · · · npn (z)z must be a zero polynomial in z. Hence the
coefficients are zero: p1 = p2 = · · · = pn = 0. Hence f (z) = p0 (z).
10. Consider the function (
xy(x+ιy)
x2 +y 2
if z 6= 0
f (z) =
0 if z = 0
Show that f satisfies the Cauchy-Riemann equations at the origin z = 0, yet f is not
complex differentiable at the origin.
Solution:
2 2
Here u(x, y) = x2x+yy 2 and v(x, y) = x2xy+y2 for (x, y) 6= (0, 0) and u(0, 0) = v(0, 0) = 0.
Let us now calculate the partial derivatives at the origin:
u(h,0)−u(0,0) 0−0
ux (0, 0) = lim h
= lim h
= 0. Similarly, uy (0, 0) = vx (0, 0) = vy (0, 0) = 0.
h→0 h→0

But lim f (z)−f

z
(0) xyz
= lim z|z| xy
2 = lim x2 +y 2 – which does not exist, since along y = mx, the
z→0 z→0 z→0
limit is m/(1 + m2 ).

11. (T)Show that the set of natural numbers N can not be partitioned into finite number of
subsets that are in arithmetic progression with distinct common difference.
Solution:
Suppose N is partitioned into n disjoint arithmetic progressions {(ai , di ), 1 ≤ i ≤ n)},
where ai is the first element and di is the common difference. Then the power series
∞
z
z n converges uniformly in |z| < 1, it can be rearranged as:
P
1−z
=
n=1

∞
z X
= z n = (z a1 + z a1 +d1 + z a1 +2d1 · · · ) + · · · + (z an + z an +dn + z an +2dn · · · ), |z| < 1.
1−z n=1

Summing up the different series on the right hand side,

z z a1 z a2 z an
= + + ··· + , |z| < 1.
1−z 1 − z d1 1 − z d2 1 − z dn

Since the common differences are distinct, there is UNIQUE k such that dk = max{d1 , · · · , dn }.
Let ω be the primitive dk -th root of unity. Then if we take the limit as z → ω from
inside the unit disk, the left hand side is finite. But on the right hand side, one term
goes to infity and other terms are finite so overall the right side goes to infinity. This is
a contradiction.

12. (T)Show that it is impossible to define a total ordering on C. In other words, there does
not exist a relation  between complex numbers so that:

• For any two z, w ∈ C one and only one of the following is true: z  w, w  z, z =
w.
• For all z1 , z2 , z3 ∈ C the relation z1  z2 implies z1 + z3  z2 + z3 .
• For all z1 , z2 , z3 ∈ C with z3  0 the relation z1  z2 implies z1 z3  z2 z3 .
 Solution: If possible suppose we can define a total ordering on C.
CaseI: ι  0. Using the third property, we multiply both side by ι and obtain −1 = ι2 
0.ι = 0. We again multiply both side by ι  0. We get −ι  0.ι = 0. Adding both side ι
we get 0  ι. This is a contradiction to our assumption ι  0.
CaseII: 0  ι. Proceeding as above, we obtain a contradicition.
Case III: ι = 0. Then z.ι = z.0 = 0. Repeating we have z = 0 for any z ∈ C. This is a
contradiction.

13. Determine if there exist an analytic function with u as real part. (a)(T)u = x2 y 2 . (b)
u = sin x cosh y. (c) u = x/(x2 + y 2 ) (d)(T)u = xy + 3x2 y − y 3
Solution:
(a) Not harmonic
(b) Harmonic on C. So harmonic conjugate exists. vx = −uy = − sin x sinh y =⇒ v =
cos x sinh y + φ(y)
vy = ux = cos x cosh y =⇒ φ0 (y) = 0 =⇒ φ = c
Thus v = cos x sinh y + c
f = u + ιv = sinh(z) + c
(c) u is harmoninc on C∗ = C − 0. So the theorem does not tell us if harmoninc
conjugate exists or not. By inspection 1/z = xx−ιy ∗
2 +y 2 is analytic on C . Thus u has
harmonic conjugate on C∗ .
(d) uxx = 6y, uyy = −6y. So u harmonic on C and hence harmoninc conjugate exists.
vx = −uy = −x − 3x2 + 3y 2 =⇒ v = −x2 /2 − x3 + 3y 2 x + φ(y)
vy = ux = y + 6xy =⇒ φ0 (y) = y =⇒ φ(y) = y 2 /2 + c

Thus f = xy + 3x2 y − y 3 + i(−x2 /2 − x3 + 3y 2 x + y 2 /2 + c) = (ιz)3 + ιz 2 /2.