Differential Equations and Complex Variables

GR Phaijoo, PhD
Department of Mathematics
School of Science, Kathmandu University
Kavre, Dhulikhel

Complex Variables
Lecture 16

September 13, 2022

Complex Function

Definition
Let S be a set of complex numbers. A function f defined on S is a rule
that assigns to each z in S, a complex number w . The number w is called
the value of f at z and is denoted by f (z). That is,

w = f (z)

Here z varies in S and is called a complex variable. The set S is called the
domain of definition of f , or, briefly, the domain of f .
The set of all values of a function f is called the range of f .

Example
Let w = f (z) = z 2 , then f (x + iy ) = (x + iy )2 = x 2 − y 2 + i2xy . Hence
Re f = u(x, y ) = x 2 − y 2 ; and Im f = v (x, y ) = 2xy .

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Limit of a Function

Definition
A function f (z) is said to be have the limit L as z approaches z0 , written

lim f (z) = L
z→z0

if given  > 0 (however small), there exists a number δ > 0 (depending

upon ) such that |f (z) − L| <  whenever 0 < |z − z0 | < δ.

If lim f (z) exists, prove that it is unique.

z→z0

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Examples

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Examples

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Continuity

Continuity of a Function at a Point

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Examples

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Examples

Is the function
3z 4 − 2z 3 + 8z 2 − 2z + 5
f (z) =
z −i
continuous at z = i? If not how can you redefine the function to
make it continuous at z = i?

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September
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Derivatives

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Analytic Function

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Analytic Function

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Cauchy Riemann Equations (C-R Equations)

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Cauchy Riemann Equations (C-R Equations)

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Cauchy Riemann Equations (C-R Equations)

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Harmonic Function

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Harmonic Conjugate Function

If two harmonic functions u and v satisfy the Cauchy-Riemann equations in

a domain D, they are the real and imaginary parts of an analytic function
f in D. Then v is said to be a harmonic conjugate function of u in D.

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Show that u(x, y ) = xy 3 − x 3 y is a harmonic function and find the
conjugate harmonic function v (x, y ).

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Harmonic Function

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Polar form of CR equations
We have f (z) = u(x, y ) + iv (x, y ), and ux = vy and uy = −vx . Since
x = r cos θ, y = r sin θ, z = r (cos θ + i sin θ). Also, z = re iθ
f (re iθ ) = u(r , θ) + iv (r , θ)
f (re iθ ) = u(r , θ) + iv (r , θ)
Differentiating partially with respect to r and θ
f 0 (re iθ )e iθ = ur + ivr
f 0 (re iθ )ire iθ = uθ + ivθ
uθ vθ iuθ vθ
f 0 (re iθ )e iθ = +i =− +
ir ir r r
vθ uθ
= −i
r r
Equating real and imaginary parts, we get
vθ uθ
ur = , vr = − .
r r
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Example
Show that f (z) = ln |z| + iArgz is analytic.
Solution: Let z = x + iy = re iθ
So |z| = r and Argz = θ. Then f (z) = ln |z| + iArgz = ln r + iθ.

u(r , θ) = ln r v (r , θ) = θ
1
ur = uθ = 0
r
vr = 0 vθ = 1.
vθ uθ
Since ur = , vr = − .
r r
C-R equations are satisfied except at origin where r = 0. So ln |z| + iArgz
s analytic in the whole complex plane except at origin. Thus z = 0 is the
singular point of the function.

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