Complex Analysis:

Solution of Homework 3

Problem 1
Use the Cauchy-Riemann equations to show that f (z) = 2y − ix are nowhere differentiable.

solution:
We know that the Cauchy-Riemann equations are the necessary condition of the differentiability. There-
fore, if f (z) doesn’t satisfy the Cauchy-Riemann equations, then it is not differentiable consequentially.

First, f (z) = 2y − ix = u(x, y) + iv(x, y) where u(x, y) = 2y and v(x, y) = −x

⇒ ux = 0, uy = 2, vx = −1, vy = 0 and ux = vy , uy ̸= −vx for any z ∈ C
⇒ f (z) is nowhere differentiable.

Problem 2
Show that h(z) = x3 + 3xy 2 − 3x + i(y 3 + 3x2 y − 3y) is differentiable on the coordinate axes but nowhere
else.

solution:
Using the similar approach as Problem 1, we can use the Cauchy-Riemann equations to check the region
at which the h(z) might be differentiable:

⇒ u(x, y) = x3 + 3xy 2 − 3x and v(x, y) = y 3 + 3x2 y − 3y

⇒ ux = 3x2 + 3y 2 − 3, uy = 6xy, vx = 6xy, vy = 3y 2 + 3x2 − 3
⇒ ux = vy (always true) and uy = −vx ≡ xy = 0 ≡ x = 0 or y = 0

From above discussion, we know that h(z) is not differentiable unless on the coordinate axes.

Then, we need to show that h(z) is actually differentiable on the coordinate axes. Refer the theo-
rem about the sufficient condition of the differentiability in Sec.23 in Chap.2. We can know that we
just need to check whether the first-order partial derivatives i.e. ux , uy , vx , vy exists everywhere in the
neighborhood of the coordinate axes.

Obviously, all first-order partial derivatives are well-defined on the entire complex plane. Therefore,
we prove h(z) is differentiable on the coordinate axes but nowhere else.

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Problem 3
Suppose that f (z0 ) = g(z0 ) = 0 and that f ′ (z0 ) and g ′ (z0 ) exist, where g ′ (z0 ) ̸= 0. Use the definition of
derivative to show that
f (z) f ′ (z0 )
lim = ′ .
z→z0 g(z) g (z0 )

solution:
f ′ (z0 ) f ′ (z0 )
Because f ′ (z0 ), g ′ (z0 ) exist and g ′ (z0 ) ̸= 0, we know g ′ (z0 ) exist. Using the definition of derivative, g ′ (z0 )
becomes:
f (z)−f (z0 )
f ′ (z0 ) limz→z0 z−z0
=
g ′ (z0 ) limz→z0 g(z)−g(z0 )
z−z0
f (z)−f (z0 )
z−z0 g(z) − g(z0 )
= lim g(z)−g(z0 )
(∵ g ′ (z0 ) = lim ̸= 0)
z→z0 z→z0 z − z0
z−z0
f (z) − f (z0 )
= lim
g(z) − g(z0 )
z→z0

f (z)
= lim (∵ f (z0 ) = g(z0 ) = 0)
z→z0 g(z)

Problem 4
Show that each of these functions is nowhere analytic: (a) f (z) = xy + iy; (b) f (z) = 2xy + i(x2 − y 2 );
(c) f (z) = ey eix .

solution:
Use the similar approach as Problem 1 to check the functions because satisfying Cauchy-Riemann equa-
tions is also the necessary condition of the analyticity.
(a) f (z) = xy + iy i.e. u(x, y) = xy and v(x, y) = y
⇒ ux = y, vx = 0, uy = x, vy = 1
If we require this function satisfying Cauchy-Riemann equations, then
⇒ y = 1 and x = 0. (only one point)
It means that f (z) could satisfy Cauchy-Riemann equations only at (0, 1) and couldn’t be differen-
tiable at other points. Therefore, this function is nowhere analytic.
(b) f (z) = 2xy + i(x2 − y 2 ) i.e. u(x, y) = 2xy and v(x, y) = x2 − y 2
⇒ ux = 2y, vx = 2x, uy = 2x, vy = −2y
If we require this function satisfying Cauchy-Riemann equations, then
⇒ y = 0 and x = 0. (only one point)
Because of the same reason as (a), we can know that this function is nowhere analytic.
(c) f (z) = ey eix = ey cos x + iey sin x i.e. u(x, y) = ey cos x and v(x, y) = ey sin x
⇒ ux = −ey sin x, vx = ey cos x, uy = ey cos x, vy = ey sin x.
If we require this function satisfying Cauchy-Riemann equations, then
⇒ ey sin x = 0 and ey cos x = 0
⇒ no point satisfies these conditions!
Therefore, we know this function is nowhere analytic.

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Problem 5
√
The function g(z) = reiθ/2 (r > 0, −π < θ < π) is analytic in its domain of definition, with derivative
g ′ (z) = 2g(z)
1
. Show that the composite function G(z) = g(2z − 2 + i) is analytic in the half plane x > 1,
with derivative
1
G′ (z) = .
g(2z − 2 + i)

solution:
First, we can know that the analytic region of g(z) from problem’s statement is:

⇒ C − (x, 0) x ≤ 0 i.e. entire complex plane except the negative real axis and the origin.

Set Z = 2z − 2 + i and Z is analytic on entire complex plane obviously. If we want to apply the chain
rule on G(z) = g(2z − 2 + i) = g(Z), we should require Z at the analytic region of function g:

⇒ The excluded region of Z for g(Z) = Z = 2x − 2 + i(2y + 1) Re Z ≤ 0 and Im Z = 0

= z = (x, −1/2) x ≤ 1

Therefore, the half plane x > 1 is analytic for g(2z − 2 + i). Thus we can apply the chain rule on
G(z) = g(2z − 2 + i) safely:

d d
⇒ G(z) = G′ (z) = g(Z)
dz dz
d dZ
= g(Z) ×
dZ dz
dZ
= g ′ (Z) ×
dz
1
= ×2
2g(Z)
1
=
g(Z)
1
= for z ∈ the half plane x > 1
g(2z − 2 + i)

Problem 6
(a) Recall that if z = x + iy, then x = (z + z)/2 and y = (z − z)/(2i). By formally applying the chain
rule in calculus to a function F (x, y) of two real variables, derive the expression
 
∂F ∂F ∂x ∂F ∂y 1 ∂F ∂F
= + = +i .
∂z ∂x ∂z ∂y ∂z 2 ∂x ∂y

(b) Define the operator

 
∂ 1 ∂ ∂
= +i ,
∂z 2 ∂x ∂y

suggested by part (a), to show that if the first-order partial derivatives of the real and imaginary com-
ponents of a function f (z) = u(x, y) + iv(x, y) satisfy the Cauchy-Riemann equations,then

∂f 1
= [(ux − vy ) + i(vx + uy )] = 0.
∂z 2

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solution:
(a) We just need to apply the chain rule with the relation (z + z)/2 and (z − z)/(2i) directly (in this
process, z and z are regarded as independent variables):

∂ ∂ ∂x ∂ ∂y
⇒ = +
∂z ∂x ∂z ∂y ∂z
   
∂ ∂ z+z ∂ ∂ z−z
= +
∂x ∂z 2 ∂y ∂z 2i
∂ 1 ∂ −1
= × + ×
∂x 2 ∂y 2i
 
1 ∂ ∂
= +i
2 ∂x ∂y
 
∂F 1 ∂F ∂F
⇒ = +i
∂z 2 ∂x ∂y

(b) Now consider a function f (z) = u(x, y) + iv(x, y) satisfying the Cauchy-Riemann equations:

⇒ ux (x, y) − vy (x, y) = 0 and uy (x, y) + vx (x, y) = 0.

Then we apply the derivative operator on the function f (z):

∂f 1
⇒ = [(ux + ivx ) + i(uy + ivy )]
∂z 2
1
= [(ux − vy ) + i(vx + uy )]
2
1
= [0 + i0] = 0
2