PHYS 100 FALL 2014

Mathematical Methods for Physicists

Remarks: Please consult the Incremental Syllabus for detail on the topics covered in class. Re-
member that you are allowed to work together, but you must acknowledge in writing the name of
any study partner, as well as any reference other than our ofcial textbook.
Homework #1
[Due Fri, Sept 26, in class]
Please write your name on every piece of paper that you wish to have graded, and make your
best effort to be as clear and organized as possible No need to rewrite text of the problem.
1. [10 points] Use complex algebra to determine the numerical value of cos(3 arccos(1/7)).
2. [10 points] Let z C be a complex number such that (z
n
) 0 for every positive integer,
n N
+
. Show that z is a real non-negative number.
3. [10 points] Prove that every complex number z with unit modulus, with the exception of the
point z = 1, may be written in the form
z =
1 + it
1 it
, t R, |z| = 1, z = 1.
4. [5 points each] (a) Determine all the solutions of the equation
sinh z = i, z C.
(b) Prove that all the solutions to the following equations are real:
sin z = a, 1 a 1.
5. [10 points] Consider the function f(z) =

z
2
+ i. What points are branch points of f(z)?
Show that a complete circuit around both branch points produces no change in the branches of
f(z). Describe a possible Riemann surface for f(z).
6. [10 + 5 + 5 points] (a) Let c C, and dene arbitrary power functions by letting
f(z) z
c
exp (c log z), z = 0.
Discuss the multi-valuedness properties of f(z). Determine, in particular, the principal branch and
compute the principal value of i
i
. Explain how from the above denition we consistently recover
the known properties of integer (c = n) or fractional (c = 1/n) powers.
(b) Consider the inverse trigonometric function w(z) cos
1
z = arccos z. Show that, if we
choose the principal branch to be the one for which cos
1
1 = 0, then
cos
1
z = i log(z +

z
2
1).
(c) Consider the inverse trigonometric function w(z) tan
1
z = arctan z. Show that
tan
1
z =
i
2
log
i + z
i z
.
7. [5 + 10 points] (a) Let v(x, y) = e
y
sin x be the imaginary part of a function f(z) which is
known to be analytic. What is the function?
(b) Consider the function
f(z) =

z
z

2
.
Does the limit of f(z) exist as z tends to zero? Is f(z) analytic at the origin? Explain.
8. [10 points] Show explicitly that the complex function
f(z) =

z
5
/|z|
4
z = 0,
0 z = 0,
satises the Cauchy-Riemann conditions at z = 0 but is not differentiable at this point. Explain.
9. [5 points] Explain why one of the following line integrals is meaningful and the other is not.
Evaluate the one that makes sense, writing the answer in cartesian form.
(a)

+i
i
z

dz (b)

i
0
sin 3z dz
Mathematical Methods for Physicists, Fall 2014