Brandon Behring

Complex Variables Midterm

1 Let f = u + iv be an analytic function with real part u and imaginary part v.
(a) If u = 3x2 y − y 3 , what is v and what is f (z)?
Solution: As f is analytic, it’s real and imaginary parts must satisfy
the Cauchy Riemann equations.
Thus
vy = ux = 6xy
vx = −uy = 3y 2 − 3x2 .

first relation, we have v = 6xy dy = 3xy 2 + C1 (x)

R
Integrating
R the
and v = 3y 2 − 3x2 dx = 3xy 2 − x3 + C2 (y). Comparing we see that
v = 3xy 2 − x3 + C. Up to a constant we have

f (z) = (3x2 y − y 3 ) + i(3xy 2 − x3 )

= −ix3 + 3x2 y + i3xy 2 − y 3
= −i(x3 + i3x2 y − 3xy 2 − iy 3 )
= −i(x + iy)3 = −iz 3 .

Had we been clever enough to begin with the analytic function f (z) =
−iz 3 + C we could quickly conclude that u = 3x2 y − y 3 has harmonic
conjugate 3xy 2 − x3 .
(b) Is u = xy 2 possible? Explain. If so, what is v and what is f (z)?
Solution: Repeating our approach from part (a) yields

vy = ux = y 2
vx = −uy = −2xy.

The first relation gives v = y 3 /3 + C1 (x) and the second v = −x2 y +

C2 (y). There is no possible v(x, y) that satisfies this relationship.
Futher, we know both components of an analytic function must be
harmonic. However, ∆u = uxx + uyy = 0 + 2x = 2x . (note: this
requires the result that the second derivatives of a differentiable func-
tion are continuous which we don’t have- yet).
There is no everywhere analytic function with u = xy 2 .

1
2 (a) Define the notion of uniform convergence of a sequence of functions
{fn (z)} over a set E.
Solution: For any  > 0, there exists a natural number N such that
for all z ∈ E and all n ≥ N we have |fn (z) − f (z)| < .
P∞ 2n
(b) Find the region of convergence of n=1 (z+2)n4 4n . P
Solution: The ratio test tells us that a series bn converges if
lim supn→∞ |bn+1 /bn | < 1. That is

(z + 2)2n+2 n4 4n
lim sup | 4 n+1
| < 1
n→∞ (n + 1) 4 (z + 2)2n
(z + 2)2 n4
lim sup | | < 1
n→∞ 4 (n + 1)4
|z + 2|2
< 1
4

Thus we have convergence for |z + 2| < 2.

Alternatively, we can use the Cauchy-Hadamard Theorem to find the
radius of convergence of
∞ ∞
X X (z + 2)n
cn (z − a)n =
n=1 n=1
n4 4n

which is given by
1
= lim sup(|cn |)1/n
R n→∞
1
= lim sup(| |)1/n
n→∞ n4 4 n
1
= .
4

cn (z − a)2n . By problem 3 (i) in

P
So R = 4. Our given series√is
homework set 4 is given by R = 2 which agrees (as it should) with
the result we obtained by the ratio test.
(Solution
P∞ for Homework
P∞ Set 4 problem 3 (i) for reference: We have
2n n
n=0 an z = n=0 b n z where bn = 0 for n odd and bn/2 = an for
n even. Then using the root test

1 p
n
= lim sup |bn |
R̄ n→∞
2 1
= lim sup(bn/2 ) n 2
n→∞

2
 q
1
= lim sup (an ) n
n→∞
1
= √ .
R

Using the ratio test

an+1 z 2n+2
lim sup | |<1
an z 2n
√
Implies |z|2 < lim sup |an+1 /an | = R or R̄ = R.)
(c) Determine directly if the series in (b) converges uniformly on |z + 2| =
2.
Solution: Let us proceed directly from the definition in part (a) with
Pk 2n
fk (z) = n=1 (z+2)
n4 4n Pand E consisting of z in the circle |z + 2| = 2.
First note that since n n14 converges it’s tail can be made
P∞arbitrarily
small, i.e. for any  > 0 there exists an N such that N +1 n14 < .
Choosing this N , we have for all  > 0 there exists N such that for
all z ∈ E and all k ≥ N that

∞
X (z + 2)2n
|f (z) − fk (z)| = | |
n4 4 n
n=k+1
∞
X |z + 2|2n
≤
n4 4 n
n=k+1
∞
X 4n
=
n4 4 n
n=k+1
∞
X 1
= <
n4
n=k+1

This result could be found quicker by employing the Weierstrass M -

Test on the set E by choosing Mn by

(z + 2)2n 1
|fn (z)| = | 4 n
| = 4 ≡ Mn
n 4 n
P
and noting n Mn < ∞. However, this argument is really the same
as the one previously given when one notes how the Weierstrass M -
Test is proven.
√
3 (a) Find all solution of the equation z 4 = −2 3 − 2i and locate them graph-
ically in the complex plane.

3
 Solution: We have

√ !
4 2 3 1
z = −2 + i
2 2
= 22 eπieπi/6+2πN
= 22 e7πi/6+2πiN

where N is an integer. Then

√
z = 2e7πi/24+πiN/2

where N = 0, 1, 2, 3.
Graphically, √
these 4 points represent a square inscribed in a circle
with radius 2. The points are spaced 90o apart at 52.5o , 142.5o ,
232.5o and 322.5o .
(b) Represent graphically the set of values of z for which |z + 2| > 1 +
|z − 2|.
Solution: Let us first examine the equality |z + 2| = 1 + |z − 2|.
We must carefully remove the square roots implicit in the absolute
values.
Squaring both sides

|z + 2|2 = (1 + |z − 2|)2
2
|z + 2| = 1 + 2|z − 2| + |z − 2|2
(x + 2)2 + y 2 = 1 + 2|z − 2| + (x − 2)2 + y 2
x2 + 4x + 4 + y 2 = 1 + 2|z − 2| + x2 − 4x + 4 + y 2
8x − 1 = 2|z − 2|.

Now, squaring again

(8x − 1)2 = (2|z − 2|)2

64x2 − 16x + 1 4 (x − 2)2 + y 2


=
64x2 − 16x + 1 = 4x2 − 16x + 16 + 4y 2
2 2
60x − 4y = 15
2
x y2
− √ = 1
(1/2)2 ( 15/2)2

√
Thus our boundary is hyperbola with asymptotes y = ± 15 and
vertices x = ± 21 .

4
 Let us now find the appropriate regions by analyzing our inequality
when y = 0 and z = x is real
|x + 2| − |x − 2| > 1.

We have three cases: x ∈ (−∞, −2],x ∈ (−2, 2) and x ∈ [2, ∞). In

the first case, the relation ships is −(x + 2) + (x − 2) = −4 > 1 which
is not possible. In the second we have (x + 2) + (x − 2) = 2x > 1 or
x > 1/2 In the final case we have (x + 2) − (x − 2) = 4 > 1 which is
always true. Thus x > 1/2 which means our region is everything to
the right of the right branch of the hyperbola.
4 Find the following limits
(a)
 n
1+i
lim n
n→∞ 2
1+i
Solution: Noting that √
2
= eiπ/4 we have

 n  n
1+i 1 1+i
lim n = n √ √
n→∞ 2 2 2
n iπn/4
= = √ ne → 0.
2

For the last step we use that we |eiπn/4 | = 1 so our sequence is

bounded by √n2n which goes to 0.
(b)
∞
X sin kθ
2k
k=1

Solution: Using de Moivre’s formula eikθ = cos kθ + sin kθ we can

analyze the complex sum

∞  iθ k ∞
X e X 1
= (cos kθ + i sin kθ)
2 2k
k=1 k=1
∞ ∞
X cos kθ X sin kθ
= + i .
2k 2k
k=1 k=1

Then as |eiθ /2| < 1/2 for all θ the series converges absolutely and
∞  iθ k
X e eiθ 1
= .
2 2 1 − eiθ /2
k=1

5
 Now, let us remove the complex factor from the denominator by
multiplying the top and bottom by the conjugate 2 − e−iθ .
eiθ 2 − e−iθ 2eiθ − 1
=
2 − eiθ 2 − e−iθ 4 − 2eiθ − 2e−iθ + 1
2eiθ − 1
= 
iθ −iθ

5 − 4 e +e 2
2 cos θ − 1 + i2 sin θ
=
5 − 4 cos θ

Taking the imaginary and real parts we find

∞
X cos kθ 2 cos θ − 1
=
2k 5 − 4 cos θ
k=1
∞
X sin kθ 2 sin θ
=
2k 5 − 4 cos θ
k=1
.
(c)
  1
sin z z2
lim
z→0 z
Solution: As sin z/z → 1 this of the form 1∞ so we will apply l’

1
Hopital’s rule. Let w = sinz z z2 then
log(sin z/z)
log w = lim
z→0 z2
0
which is of the indeterminate form 0 so we apply l’ Hopital’s rule.
log(sin z) − log z
log w = lim
z→0 z2
cot z − 1/z
= lim
z→0 2z
z cos z − sin z
= lim
z→0 2z 2 sin z

This is of the indeterminate form 00 so we again apply l’ Hopital’s

rule.
cos z − z sin z − cos z
log w = lim
z→0 4z sin z + 2z 2 cos z
− sin z
= lim
z→0 4 sin z + 2z cos z

6
 0
This is again of the indeterminate form 0 so we apply l’ Hopital’s
rule (again?!)

cos z − z sin z − cos z

log w = lim
z→0 4z sin z + 2z 2 cos z
− cos z 1
= lim =−
z→0 4 cos z + 2 cos z − 2z sin z 6

1
so w = e− 6 .
Suggestive Solution: Let us note that

lim f (z) = w0
z→0

if and only if  
1
lim f = w0 .
z→∞ z
(Brown and Churchill Section 17, page 51) Then we have
2
w = lim (z sin(1/z))z
z→∞

However,  
1 1 1
sin(1/z) = − +O
z 3!z 3 z5
so

2
w = lim (z sin(1/z))z
z→∞
   z2
1 1 1
= lim z − +O
z→∞ z 3!z 3 z5
  z2
1 1
= lim 1 − +O
z→∞ 3!z 2 z4
  n
−1/3! 1
= lim 1 + +O
n→∞ n n2
= e−1/6 .

Where we used that limn→∞ (1 + z/n)n = ez

I don’t think this solution is rigorous since I don’t know how properly
deal with the O(1/n2 ) so only grade my first solution!

7
 (d)
 
z
lim (z − eiπ/3 ) 3
z→eiπ/3 z +1

Solution: Let us first write z 3 = (z − eiπ/3 )(z − eiπ )(z − ei5π/3 ).

Then

 
iπ/3 z z
lim (z − e ) 3
= lim
z→eiπ/3 z +1 z→eiπ/3 (z − eiπ )(z − ei5π/3 )
iπ/3
e
=
(eiπ/3 − eiπ )(eiπ/3 − ei5π/3 )
ei2π/3 eiπ/3
= i2π/3 iπ/3
e (e − e )(eiπ/3 − ei5π/3 )
iπ

−1
= i5π/3
(−1 − e )(−1 − eiπ/3 )
1
=
(1 + ei5π/3 )(1 + eiπ/3 )
1
=
2 + ei5π/3 + eiπ/3
1
= √ √
2 + 1/2 − i 3/2 + 1/2 + i 3/2
1
=
3

5 Let the complex points A, B, C and D be the vertices of a quadrilateral.

Prove that it is a parallelogram if and only if A − B − C + D = 0.
Proof: Assume all 4 points are unique and we do indeed have a quadri-
lateral. Further, we will take it as a given that a quadrilateral is a
parallelogram if and only if the distance of the parallel sides are equal
|A − B| = |C − D| and |A − C| = |B − D|.
Assume A − B − C + D = 0, then A − B = C − D and A − C = B − D
and thus |A − B| = |C − D| and |A − C| = |B − D|. So our points form a
parallelogram.
Next, assume our four points are a parallelogram. Recall that complex
addition is vector addition. Then the vectors given by the two parallel
side v 1 = A − B and v 2 = C − D must be equal, A − B = C − D,thus
A − B − C + D = 0. Equivalently we could look at the other two sides
w1 = A − C and w2 = B − D and again see that A − B − C + D = 0.