Complex Variables
Lecture 7
October 4, 2019
Complex Derivative
Let f be a function whose domain of definition contains a neighborhood |z − z0 | < of a
point z0 . The derivative of f at z0 is
f (z) − f (z0 )
f 0 (z) = lim , (0.1)
z→z0 z − z0
where z 6= z0 .
Since ∆z = z − z0 , z = ∆z + z0 then,
f (z0 + ∆z) − f (z0 )
f 0 (z) = lim (0.2)
∆z→0 ∆z
The equation 0.2 is called the limit definition of the derivative.
Example 1. Suppose that f (z) = z1 , at each nonzero point z, find the derivative using
the limit definition:
1 1 z−(∆z+z) −(∆z
(z+∆z)
− z z(z+∆z) −1
z(z+∆z) −1
0
f (z) = lim = lim = lim = lim
= 2
∆z→0 ∆z ∆z→0 ∆z ∆z→0 ∆z ∆z→0 z(z + ∆z) z
Example 2. If f (z) = z̄, find the derivative from the limit definition
f (z0 + ∆z) − f (z0 )
f 0 (z) = lim
∆z→0 ∆z
z + ∆z − z z + ∆z − z ∆z
f 0 (z) = lim = lim = lim .
∆z→0 ∆z ∆z→0 ∆z ∆z→0 ∆z
Now let’s investigate the existence of the this limit. If the limit exist it must have the
same value no matter of the manner of approaching 0. Let ∆z = (∆x, ∆y) approach
(0,0) along x axis, then ∆y = 0, ∆z = ∆x and ∆z = ∆x. In this case ∆z = ∆z hence
∆z ∆x
lim = lim = 1.
∆z→0 ∆z ∆x→0 ∆x
1
Consider that ∆z approaches (0, 0) along y axis, i.e ∆x = 0, in this case ∆z = −∆z then
∆z −i∆y
lim = lim = −1.
∆z→0 ∆z ∆y→0 i∆y
Since the limit has different values when taking different paths, then the limit does not
exist and the derivative as well.
Rules of Differentiation
d d d n d d
(1) dz
c = 0, dz
z = 1, dz
z = nz n−1 , dz
[cf (z)] = c dz f (z)
d d d
(2) dz
[f (z) ± g(z)] = dz
f (z) ± dz
g(z)
d f (z) g(z)f 0 (z)−f (z)g 0 (z)
(3) [
dz g(z)
] = [g(z)]2
, g(z) 6= 0
(4) If w = f (ξ) where ξ = g(z) then
dξ dξ
dw
= dw
dz
dξ
· dz = f 0 (ξ) dz
Example 3. Find the derivative of w = (1 − 4z 2 )3
dw dw dξ
Let ξ = 1 − 4z 2 , then w = ξ 3 , since dz
= dξ
· dz
,
d
then dz
(1 − 4z 2 )3 = 3w2 (−8z) = −24z(1 − 4z 2 )2
Analytic Functions
A function f (z) is analytic in an open set S if it has a derivative everywhere in that set.
It is analytic at a point z0 if it is analytic in some neighborhood of z0 .
Cauchy-Riemann Equations
The function w = f (z) = u(x, y) + iv(x, y) is analytic in some region R if it satisfy
Cauchy-Riemann equations:
∂u ∂v ∂u ∂v
= ; =− (0.3)
∂x ∂y ∂y ∂x
Example 4. Is f (z) = cosyex + isinyex analytic
u = cos yex , v = sin yex
∂u ∂v
∂x
= cos yex ; ∂y
= cos yex
∂u ∂u
∂y
= − sin yex ; ∂x
= sin yex
since 0.3 is satisfied, then f(z) is analytic.
2
Example 5. If f (z) = z 2 + 2z where z = x + iy if f(z) analytic.
f (z) = (x + iy)2 + 2(x + iy) = x2 + 2ixy − y 2 + 2x + 2iy
u = x2 + 2x − y 2 , v = 2xy + 2y
∂u ∂v
∂x
= 2x + 2 ; ∂y
= 2x + 2
∂u ∂v
∂y
= −2y ; ∂x = 2y. Since 0.3 is satisfied, then f(z) is analytic.
Example 6. If f(z) is analytic and u = cosyex find v.
∂u ∂v
Since f(z) is analytic then it satisfies Cauchy-Riemann equations ∂x
= ex cosy = ∂y
∂v
ex cosy = ∂y
→ integrate with respect to y keeping x constant → v = ex siny + F (x);
∂u
∂y
∂v
= − sin yex = − ∂x = ex sin y + F 0 (x)
x x 0 x x 0 0
−
R sin ye = −e sin y − F (x) → − sin ye + e sin y = −F (x) → F (x) = 0 → F (x) =
0dx = C.
Hence v = ex sin y + C
Home work
f (z) = zez where z = x + iy, determine whether f(z) is analytic or not.
