Complex Analysis Notes

November 15, 2024

Preface
These notes include a summary of the course material for Math 1560 at the University of
Pittsburgh. Concepts covered in these notes are not necessarily one to one with notes from
lecture, but the overall gist of elementary complex analysis will be covered nonetheless.

1 Number Systems
1.1 Recall
Let us first recall on familiar number systems and some of their properties.
• Natural Numbers N = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, . . . }
• Integers Z = {. . . − 3, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, 3 . . . }
n o
• Rational Numbers Q = pq : p, q ∈ Z and q ̸= 0

• Real Numbers R
• Irrational Numbers (examples)
Solutions to x2 − 2 = 0
• Algebraic Numbers (solutions to polynomials with integer coefficients)
• Transcendental Numbers (examples)
e ≈ 2.718 or sin 1

1.2 Real Numbers and Properties

For the real numbers R, we have the following definitions.
Definition 1 (Well Ordering Principle). If a, b ∈ R with a ̸= b, then either a > b or a < b
Definition 2 (Open Interval). (a, b) = {x ∈ R : a < x < b}
Definition 3 (Closed Interval). [a, b] = {x ∈ R : a ≤ x ≤ b}
(
a, if a ≥ 0
Definition 4 (Absolute Value). |a| =
−a, if a < 0

1
 It is beneficial to acknowledge that the real numbers form a field under addition and
multiplication
F = (R, + , 0 , i1 , · , 1 , i2 )
where i1 is the additive inverse and i2 is the multiplicative inverse. It is important to think
of the real numbers as a field since it gives us the following properties. For a, b, c ∈ R
1. Associative
(a + b) + c = a + (b + c)
(ab)c = a(bc)
2. Commutative
a+b=b+a
ab = ba
3. Distributive
a(b + c) = ab + ac

2 Complex Numbers
2.1 Introduction and Terminology
Let’s start with the definition of a complex number.
Definition 5. A complex number z is of the form z = a + bi, where a, b ∈ R and i2 = −1
C = {a + bi : a, b ∈ R, i2 = −1}
Re(z) = a Im(z) = b
It is useful top adjoin the complex axis to the real number line. The figure below depicts
the graphical representation of the rectangular form of complex numbers.
4i

3i

2i 3 + 2i

1i

−4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4

−1i

−2i 3 − 2i

−3i

−4i

2
We define the modulus of z and complex conjugate of z as follows. Let

z = a + bi w = c + di

Definition 6 (Modulus). The modulus of z, denoted by |z|

p
|z| = a2 + b2

Definition 7 (Conjugate). z̄ is known as the complex conjugate where

z = a + bi z̄ = a − bi

2.2 Fundamental Operations in C

1. Addition
(a + bi) + (c + di) = (a + c) + (b + d)i

2. Subtraction
(a + bi) − (c + di) = (a − c) + (b − d)i
3. Multiplication
(a + bi)(c + di) = (ac − bd) + (ad + bc)i
4. Division
a + bi ac + bd bc − ad
= 2 + 2 i
c + di c + d2 c + d2
5. If z = a + bi then z z̄ = a2 + b2

Proof. (4) This proof shows shows the benefit of multiplying by the complex conjugate,
which which is a common way of simplifying complex expressions.
a + bi a + bi c − di
= ·
c + di c + di c − di
(a + bi)(c − di)
=
(c + di)(c − di)

(ac + bd) + (bc − ad)i

=
c2 + d2
ac + bd bc − ad
= 2 + 2 i
c + d2 c + d2

It is important to note that C is not an ordered set. Complex numbers cannot be positive
or negative. Also R ⊂ C, as every real number is just a complex number with b = 0.

3
2.3 Absolute Value and Conjugates
Recall on definition 4 and definition 7, we will be using these ideas heavily in this section
to solve various equations and to prove some identities.
√
Proposition 1. |z| = z z̄
Proof.
√ p
(a + bi)(a − bi)
z z̄ =
p
= a2 + b2 = |z|

1 z̄
Proposition 2. = 2
z |z|
Proof.
z̄ |z|2
z· 2
= 2 =1
|z| |z|
1 z̄
=⇒ = 2
z |z|

Note: z z̄ = |z|2 from proposition 1

Proposition 3. | Re(z)| ≤ |z|

Proof.

| Re(z)| = |a|
√
= a2
p
≤ a2 + b2
= |z|

Proposition 4. zw = z̄ w̄
Proof.

zw = (ac − bd) + i(ad + bc)

= ac − bd − i(ad + bc)
= (a − bi)(c − di)
= z̄ w̄