Instructor:

Complex Variables & Transforms (MATH- 232)

Dr. Naila Amir
Special Power Functions
 Complex Functions and Mappings
Book: A First Course in Complex Analysis with Applications by
Dennis G. Zill and Patrick D. Shanahan.

• Chapter: 2
• Sections: 2.4
 Example: An inverse of 𝒇𝒇(𝒛𝒛) = 𝒛𝒛𝟐𝟐
 We now proceed to show that this inverse function is the principal square root
function 𝑧𝑧1/2 . In order to do so, let 𝑧𝑧 = 𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 and 𝑤𝑤 = 𝜌𝜌𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 where 𝜃𝜃 and 𝜑𝜑 are the
principal arguments of 𝑧𝑧 and 𝑤𝑤 respectively.

 Suppose that 𝑤𝑤 = 𝑓𝑓 −1 (𝑧𝑧). Since the range of 𝑓𝑓 −1 is the domain of 𝑓𝑓, the principal
argument 𝜑𝜑 of 𝑤𝑤 must satisfy: −𝜋𝜋/2 < 𝜑𝜑 ≤ 𝜋𝜋/2 . On the other hand,
𝑓𝑓(𝑤𝑤) = 𝑤𝑤 2 = 𝑧𝑧.

 Hence, 𝑤𝑤 is one of the two square roots of 𝑧𝑧. That is, either 𝑤𝑤 = 𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖/2 or
𝑤𝑤 = 𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖(𝜃𝜃+2𝜋𝜋)/2 . Assume that:

𝑤𝑤 = 𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖(𝜃𝜃+2𝜋𝜋)/2 (∗∗∗)

 Example: An inverse of 𝒇𝒇(𝒛𝒛) = 𝒛𝒛𝟐𝟐
 Since, 𝜃𝜃 = Arg(𝑧𝑧), we have −𝜋𝜋 < 𝜃𝜃 ≤ 𝜋𝜋, and so, 𝜋𝜋/2 < (𝜃𝜃 + 2𝜋𝜋)/2 ≤ 3𝜋𝜋/2.
From this and (∗∗∗) we conclude that the principal argument 𝜑𝜑 of 𝑤𝑤 must
satisfy the relation:
𝜋𝜋 3𝜋𝜋
< 𝜑𝜑 ≤ .
2 2

 However, this cannot be true since −𝜋𝜋/2 < 𝜑𝜑 ≤ 𝜋𝜋/2, and so our assumption in
(∗∗∗) must be incorrect. Therefore, we conclude that 𝑤𝑤 = 𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖/2 , which is
the value of the principal square root function 𝑧𝑧1/2 .
 Example: An inverse of 𝒇𝒇(𝒛𝒛) = 𝒛𝒛𝒏𝒏

 By modifying the argument that the function 𝑓𝑓(𝑧𝑧) = 𝑧𝑧 2 is one-to-one on the set
defined by −𝜋𝜋/2 < arg(𝑧𝑧) ≤ 𝜋𝜋/2, we can show that the complex power function
𝑓𝑓(𝑧𝑧) = 𝑧𝑧 𝑛𝑛 , 𝑛𝑛 > 2, is one-to-one on the set defined by:
𝜋𝜋 𝜋𝜋
− < arg 𝑧𝑧 ≤ . (∗∗∗∗)
𝑛𝑛 𝑛𝑛

 It is also easy to see that the image of the set defined by (∗∗∗∗) under the mapping
𝑤𝑤 = 𝑧𝑧 𝑛𝑛 is the entire complex plane ℂ excluding 𝑤𝑤 = 0. Therefore, there is a well-
defined inverse function for 𝑓𝑓.

 Analogous to the case 𝑛𝑛 = 2, this inverse function of 𝑓𝑓(𝑧𝑧) = 𝑧𝑧 𝑛𝑛 is called the

principal 𝒏𝒏th root function 𝑧𝑧1/𝑛𝑛 . The domain of 𝑧𝑧1/𝑛𝑛 is the set of all nonzero
complex numbers, and the range of 𝑧𝑧1/𝑛𝑛 is the set of complex numbers 𝑤𝑤 satisfying
− 𝜋𝜋/𝑛𝑛 < arg(𝑤𝑤) ≤ 𝜋𝜋/𝑛𝑛.
 Multiple-Valued Functions
 We saw that a nonzero complex number 𝑧𝑧 has 𝑛𝑛 distinct 𝑛𝑛th roots in the complex
plane.

 This means that the process of “taking the 𝑛𝑛th root” of a complex number 𝑧𝑧 does not
define a complex function because it assigns a set of 𝑛𝑛 complex numbers to the
complex number 𝑧𝑧.

 Similarly, 𝑧𝑧1/𝑛𝑛 represents the set consisting of the 𝑛𝑛 𝑛𝑛th roots of 𝑧𝑧.

 A similar type of process is that of finding the argument of a complex number 𝑧𝑧.
Because the symbol arg(𝑧𝑧) represents an infinite set of values, it also does not
represent a complex function.
 These types of operations on complex numbers are examples of multiple-valued
functions.
 Multiple-Valued Functions
 This term often leads to confusion since a multiple-valued function is not a function; a
function, by definition, must be single-valued. However, the term multiple-valued
function is a standard one in complex analysis and so we shall use it from this point on.

 A multiple-valued function can be considered as a collection of single-valued functions,

each member of which is called a branch of the function.
 It is customary to consider one particular member as a principal branch of multiple-
valued function and the value of the function corresponding to this branch as the
principal value.
Examples:
1. If 𝑤𝑤 = 𝑧𝑧 2 , then to each value of 𝑧𝑧 there is only one value of 𝑤𝑤. Hence 𝑤𝑤 = 𝑓𝑓 𝑧𝑧 = 𝑧𝑧 2 is a
single-valued function of 𝑧𝑧.
2. If 𝑤𝑤 = 𝑧𝑧1/2 , then to each value of 𝑧𝑧 there are two values of 𝑤𝑤. Hence 𝑤𝑤 = 𝑓𝑓 𝑧𝑧 = 𝑧𝑧1/2 is a
multiple-valued (in this case two-valued) function of 𝑧𝑧.
 Notation: Multiple-Valued Functions
 We will adopt the following functional notation for multiple-valued functions.

 When representing multiple-valued functions with functional notation, we will use

uppercase letters such as 𝐹𝐹(𝑧𝑧) = 𝑧𝑧1/2 or 𝐺𝐺(𝑧𝑧) = arg(𝑧𝑧).

 Lowercase letters such as 𝑓𝑓 and 𝑔𝑔 will be reserved to represent functions.

 This notation will help avoid confusion associated to the symbols like 𝑧𝑧1/𝑛𝑛 .

 For example, we should assume that 𝑔𝑔(𝑧𝑧) = 𝑧𝑧1/3 refers to the principal cube root
function whereas, 𝐺𝐺(𝑧𝑧) = 𝑧𝑧1/3 represents the multiple-valued function that
assigns the three cube roots of 𝑧𝑧 to the value of 𝑧𝑧.
 Practice Questions
Book: A First Course in Complex Analysis with Applications by Dennis
G. Zill and Patrick D. Shanahan.

Chapter: 2

Exercise: 2.4
Q # 1 – 38
Reciprocal Function
 Complex Functions and Mappings
Book: A First Course in Complex Analysis with Applications by
Dennis G. Zill and Patrick D. Shanahan.

• Chapter: 2
• Sections: 2.5
 Reciprocal Function
 Analogous to real functions, we define a complex rational function to be a
function of the form 𝑓𝑓(𝑧𝑧) = 𝑝𝑝(𝑧𝑧)/𝑞𝑞(𝑧𝑧) where both 𝑝𝑝(𝑧𝑧) and 𝑞𝑞(𝑧𝑧) are complex
polynomial functions.

 Our task is to study the most basic complex rational function, the reciprocal
function 1/𝑧𝑧, as a mapping of the complex plane.

 An important property of the reciprocal mapping is that it maps certain lines onto
circles.

 The function 1/𝑧𝑧, whose domain is the set of all nonzero complex numbers, is
called the reciprocal function.
 Reciprocal Function
 To study the reciprocal function as a complex mapping 𝑤𝑤 = 1/𝑧𝑧, we begin by
expressing this function in exponential notation. Given 𝑧𝑧 ≠ 0, if we set 𝑧𝑧 = 𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 ,
then we obtain:
1 1 1 −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖
𝑤𝑤 = = 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 = 𝑒𝑒 . (I)
𝑧𝑧 𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑟𝑟
 From (I), we see that the modulus of 𝑤𝑤 is the reciprocal of the modulus of 𝑧𝑧 and
that the argument of 𝑤𝑤 is the negative of the argument of 𝑧𝑧.

 Therefore, the reciprocal function maps a point in the 𝑧𝑧 −plane with polar
coordinates (𝑟𝑟, 𝜃𝜃) onto a point in the 𝑤𝑤 −plane with polar coordinates (1/𝑟𝑟, −𝜃𝜃).
 Reciprocal Function

A simple way to visualize the reciprocal function as a complex mapping is as a composition

of inversion in the unit circle followed by reflection across the real axis.
 Inversion in the Unit Circle
1 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖
 The function: 𝑔𝑔 𝑧𝑧 = whose domain is the set of all nonzero complex
𝑒𝑒 ,
𝑟𝑟
numbers, is called inversion in the unit circle.

 We can describe this mapping by considering separately the images of points on

the unit circle, points outside the unit circle, and points inside the unit circle.

 Let us first consider a point 𝑧𝑧 on the unit circle. Since 𝑧𝑧 = 𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝜃𝜃 , it follows that
𝑔𝑔(𝑧𝑧) = 𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝜃𝜃 = 𝑧𝑧. Therefore, each point on the unit circle is mapped onto itself by
the mapping 𝑔𝑔(𝑧𝑧).
 Inversion in the Unit Circle
On the other hand, if 𝑧𝑧 is a nonzero complex number that does not lie on the unit
circle, then we can write 𝑧𝑧 as 𝑧𝑧 = 𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝜃𝜃 with 𝑟𝑟 ≠ 1.
 When 𝑟𝑟 > 1 (that is, when 𝑧𝑧 is outside of the unit circle), we have that:
1 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 1
𝑔𝑔 𝑧𝑧 = 𝑒𝑒 = < 1.
𝑟𝑟 𝑟𝑟
So, the image under 𝑔𝑔 of a point 𝑧𝑧 outside the unit circle is a point inside the
unit circle.

1
 Conversely, if 𝑟𝑟 < 1 (that is, if 𝑧𝑧 is inside the unit circle), then 𝑔𝑔 𝑧𝑧 = > 1,
𝑟𝑟
and we conclude that if 𝑧𝑧 is inside the unit circle, then its image under g is
outside the unit circle.
 Inversion in the Unit Circle

Note that for inversion in the unit circle the arguments of 𝑧𝑧 and 𝑔𝑔(𝑧𝑧) are equal. It
follows that if 𝑧𝑧 ≠ 0 is a point with modulus 𝑟𝑟 and argument 𝜃𝜃 in the 𝑧𝑧 −plane, then
𝑔𝑔(𝑧𝑧) is the unique point in the 𝑤𝑤 −plane with modulus 1/𝑟𝑟 lying on a ray emanating
from the origin making an angle 𝜃𝜃 with the positive 𝑢𝑢 −axis.
 Complex Conjugation
 The second complex mapping that is helpful for describing the reciprocal mapping is a
reflection across the real axis. Under this mapping the image of the point (𝑥𝑥, 𝑦𝑦) is
(𝑥𝑥, −𝑦𝑦).
 It is easy to verify that this complex mapping is given by the function 𝑐𝑐(𝑧𝑧) = 𝑧𝑧,̅ which
we call the complex conjugation function. By replacing the symbol 𝑧𝑧 with 𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 we can
also express the complex conjugation function as:
̅ −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 = 𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 .
𝑐𝑐 𝑧𝑧 = 𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 = 𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑒
 Reciprocal Mapping as a Composition Mapping
1 1
The reciprocal function 𝑓𝑓 𝑧𝑧 = = can be written as the composition of
𝑧𝑧 𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖
inversion in the unit circle and complex conjugation. Using the exponential
forms 𝑐𝑐 𝑧𝑧 = 𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 and 𝑔𝑔 𝑧𝑧 = 𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 /𝑟𝑟 of these functions we find that the
composition 𝑐𝑐 ◦ 𝑔𝑔 is given by:

𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 1
𝑐𝑐 𝑔𝑔(𝑧𝑧) = 𝑐𝑐 = = = 𝑓𝑓(𝑧𝑧).
𝑟𝑟 𝑟𝑟 𝑧𝑧

This implies that, as a mapping, the reciprocal function first inverts in the unit
circle, then reflects across the real axis.
 Example: Image of a semicircle under 𝒘𝒘 = 𝟏𝟏/𝒛𝒛
Find the image of the semicircle |𝑧𝑧| = 2, 0 ≤ arg(𝑧𝑧) ≤ 𝜋𝜋, under the reciprocal
mapping 𝑤𝑤 = 1/𝑧𝑧.
Solution:
Let 𝐶𝐶 denote the semicircle and let 𝐶𝐶 ′ denote its image under
𝑤𝑤 = 1/𝑧𝑧. In order to find 𝐶𝐶 ′ , we first invert 𝐶𝐶 in the unit circle,
then we reflect the result across the real axis. Under inversion in
the unit circle, points with modulus 2 have images with modulus
1/2. Moreover, inversion in the unit circle does not change
arguments. So, the image of the 𝐶𝐶 under inversion in the unit
1
circle is the semicircle: 𝑤𝑤 = , 0 ≤ arg(𝑤𝑤) ≤ 𝜋𝜋. Reflecting this set across the real axis
2
negates the argument of a point but does not change its modulus. Hence, the image
after reflection across the real axis is the semicircle given by:
1
𝑤𝑤 = , −𝜋𝜋 ≤ arg(𝑤𝑤) ≤ 0.
2
 Example:
Determine the image curves for 𝑥𝑥 = 1 and 𝑦𝑦 = 1 under reciprocal function:
1
𝑤𝑤 = 𝑓𝑓 𝑧𝑧 = .
𝑧𝑧
Solution: For a mapping 𝑤𝑤 = 𝑓𝑓 𝑧𝑧 = 1/𝑧𝑧, we have:
𝑥𝑥 −𝑦𝑦
𝑢𝑢 𝑥𝑥, 𝑦𝑦 = 2 2
and 𝑣𝑣 𝑥𝑥, 𝑦𝑦 = 2 2
.
𝑥𝑥 + 𝑦𝑦 𝑥𝑥 + 𝑦𝑦
Therefore, we get the image of 𝑥𝑥 = 1 as:
1 −𝑦𝑦
𝑢𝑢 1, 𝑦𝑦 = 2
and 𝑣𝑣 1, 𝑦𝑦 = 2
,
1 + 𝑦𝑦 1 + 𝑦𝑦
which can be recognized as follows:
𝑢𝑢2 + 𝑣𝑣 2 = 𝑢𝑢
2 2
1 2
1
⟹ 𝑢𝑢 − + 𝑣𝑣 = ,
2 2
which is a circle of radius 1/2 centered at (1/2,0) in the 𝑤𝑤 −plane.
 Example:
Similarly, for 𝑦𝑦 = 1 we get:
2 2
2
1 1
𝑢𝑢 + 𝑣𝑣 + = ,
2 2
which is a circle of radius 1/2 centered at (0, −1/2) in the 𝑤𝑤 −plane.
 Observations
From the example we make two important observations:
 an infinite line is mapped to a closed bounded (finite) circle.
 the angle is preserved under complex mappings.

Therefore, we conclude that :

 A complex mapping can be used to map un-bounded regions to bounded
regions.
𝑧𝑧 −plane Domain curves Straight lines: 𝑤𝑤 −plane Image Pattern: Circles
𝑥𝑥 = ±1, ±2, ±3 …

𝑧𝑧 −plane Domain curves: Straight lines 𝑤𝑤 −plane Image Pattern: Circles

 The Reciprocal Function on the Extended Complex Plane
The reciprocal function on the extended complex plane is the function defined by:

1⁄𝑧𝑧 , if 𝑧𝑧 ≠ 0 or ∞
𝑓𝑓 𝑧𝑧 = � ∞, if 𝑧𝑧 = 0
0, if 𝑧𝑧 = ∞
The reciprocal function on the extended complex plane maps:
a) The vertical line 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑘𝑘 with 𝑘𝑘 ≠ 0 onto the circle:
1 1
𝑤𝑤 − = ,
2𝑘𝑘 2𝑘𝑘
and

b) The horizontal line 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑘𝑘 with 𝑘𝑘 ≠ 0 onto the circle:

1 1
𝑤𝑤 + 𝑖𝑖 = .
2𝑘𝑘 2𝑘𝑘
The vertical lines 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑘𝑘, 𝑘𝑘 ≠ 0, are mapped by 𝑤𝑤 = 1/𝑧𝑧 onto the circles centered
on the real axis. The image of the line 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑘𝑘, 𝑘𝑘 ≠ 0, contains the point (1/2𝑘𝑘, 0).
Thus, we see that the vertical line 𝑥𝑥 = 2 maps onto the circle centered on the real
axis containing (1/4,0) and so on.
Similarly, the horizontal lines 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑘𝑘, 𝑘𝑘 ≠ 0, are mapped onto the circles centered on
the imaginary axis by the mapping 𝑤𝑤 = 1/𝑧𝑧 . Since the image of the line 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑘𝑘,
𝑘𝑘 ≠ 0, contains the point (0, −1/2𝑘𝑘), we have that the line 𝑦𝑦 = 2 is the circle
centered on the imaginary axis containing the point (0, −1/4) and so on.
 Practice
1. Find the image of the semicircle |𝑧𝑧| = 3, 0 ≤ arg(𝑧𝑧) ≤ 𝜋𝜋/2, under the reciprocal
mapping 𝑤𝑤 = 1/𝑧𝑧 on the extended complex plane.

2. Find the image of the semicircle |𝑧𝑧| = 1/2, 𝜋𝜋/2 ≤ arg(𝑧𝑧) ≤ 3𝜋𝜋/2, under the
reciprocal mapping 𝑤𝑤 = 1/𝑧𝑧 on the extended complex plane.

3. Find the image of the semicircle |𝑧𝑧| = 4, 𝜋𝜋/2 ≤ arg(𝑧𝑧) ≤ 𝜋𝜋, under the reciprocal
mapping 𝑤𝑤 = 1/𝑧𝑧 on the extended complex plane.

4. Find the image of a line 𝑥𝑥 = 1/2 under the reciprocal mapping 𝑤𝑤 = 1/𝑧𝑧 on the
extended complex plane.

5. Find the image of the region 1 ≤ 𝑧𝑧 ≤ 2, 0 ≤ arg 𝑧𝑧 ≤ 2𝜋𝜋/3, under the

reciprocal mapping 𝑤𝑤 = 1/𝑧𝑧 on the extended complex plane.
 Practice Questions

Book: A First Course in Complex Analysis with Applications by Dennis

G. Zill and Patrick D. Shanahan.

Chapter: 2

Exercise: 2.5
Q # 1 – 22