MATH 322 CoViiix //isis

10. Logarithm identities and powers

1 Review
J a
z
a
x
a
ij
(z = x + ij),
J a
z+2i
= a
z
periodic
J a
z
can be negative
J log z ln : + i ( + 2:) : Z <
J a
log z
= z
J Log z ln |z| + i Arg(z)
J log a
z
= z + 2:i (: = 0, 1, 2, )
J
J
Jz
log z =
1
z
2 Complex logarithm
2.1 A product identity
log(z
1
z
2
) = log z
1
+ log z
2
(1)
What does this mean? Let us start with arg. The statement arg(z
1
z
2
) = arg(z
1
) + arg(z
2
) involves a
multiple-valued function, and we interpret it as follows:
For a given z
1
and z
2
there exists a values of arg(z
1
), arg(z
2
) and arg(z
1
z
2
) so that
the equation holds. Furthermore, if I x two of the values, I can nd an appropriate
value for the third.
Example. Take z
1
= 2i and z
2
= 1,2i. Take the values arg(z
1
) = ,2 and arg(z
2
) = 3,2, then
,2 + 3,2 = 2, which is a possible value for arg(z
1
z
2
) = arg(1) = 0, 2, 4, .
The identity in Equation (1) is proved by
1. expanding the denition of log;
2. applying arg(z
1
z
2
) = arg(z
1
) + arg(z
2
);
3. applying ln x
1
x
2
= ln x
1
+ ln x
2
;
4. regrouping.
Dr. M. Mishna, Fall 2013 10. Logarithm identities and powers 1
MATH 322 CoViiix //isis
Warning! the interpretation is important. For example, consider Log:
Log((1)(1)) = Log(1) = 0 BUT Log(1) + Log(1) = i + i = 2i = 0
The interpretation for log is that we can choose the value log(1) = i and then log(1) = i. Then,
the equation is true.
Exercise. Show that under the condition that z
1
and z
2
are real, then Log does satisfy the product
identity.
2.2 A quotient identity
The quotient identity is similar, with a similar interpretation.
log(z
1
,z
2
) = log z
1
log z
2
2.3 :-th roots
We can deduce from these identities that log z
:
= :log z for any integer :, and consequently dene :-th
power.
z
:
= :
:
a
i:
= a
:ln :
a
i:
= a
:(ln :+i)+:2i|
= a
:log(z)
Exercise. Similarly show z
1,:
= exp(
1
:
log z).
We can use this to compute :-th roots
z
1,:
= exp

1
:
log z

= exp

1
:
ln : +
i( + 2|)
:

Thus,
z
1,:
=
:

: exp [i (,: + 2|,:)]

3 Complex Exponents
In fact, we can dene a consistent exponent function, via this denition:
z
t
a
t log z

It will be multivalued.
Example. i
i
We rst compute
log i = ln 1 + i(,2 + 2:) = i(2: + 1,2) : = 0, 1, 2,
Dr. M. Mishna, Fall 2013 10. Logarithm identities and powers 2
MATH 322 CoViiix //isis
Then
i
i
= exp(i log i) = exp(i i(2: + 1,2)) = exp((2: + 1,2)), : = 0, 1, 2,
These are REAL numbers! How unlikely!
3.1 Derivative
If we x a branch of log, (choosing a ray at angle as before, and enforcing that < < +2) then z
t
is single valued. It is continuous, and analytic in that region. We use the chain rule to get the derivative.
J
Jz
z
t
=
J
Jz
exp(t log z) =
t
z
exp(t log z) = tz
t1

Here, |z| 0, < arg z < + 2.

The Principal value of z
t
is dened by our favourite branch, that is we Log, in
place of log. The book denotes this by PV.
Example. PV i
i
= exp(,2).
Exercise. Why are real powers of real numbers real valued in this denition? Exercise. What is PV
z
1,2
for real z?
Remark: We can also use this to dene
J
Jz
t
z
= t
z
log t.
4 Skills
J Be able to compute complex powers of complex numbers
J Compute derivatives of powers of complex numbers
Dr. M. Mishna, Fall 2013 10. Logarithm identities and powers 3