Math 113/Spring 2014

Problem Set #2 Solutions

Taubes

Compiled by Ben Li

pg. 20 #6 (Jacqueline Flood)

Consider two points on the circle in the plane z = a + R and z 0 = a R which are a distance 2R
from each other. Using the following formula for the distance between stereographically projected
points
d(z, z 0 )

2 |z z 0 |
p
(1 + |z|2 ) (1 + |z 0 |2 )

4 |R|
q



2
2
(1 + |a|2 + |R|2 ) 4 Re aR

2 |2R|

1 + |a|2 + |R|2 + 2Re aR

1 + |a|2 + |R|2 2Re aR

The radius is actually half of this:

1
2 |R|
d(z, z 0 ) = q



2
2
2
(1 + |a|2 + |R|2 ) 4 Re aR

pg. 28 #1 (Adam Al-natsheh)

Let g(w) = r(w) + is(w) and f (z) = u(z) + iv(z). We have
g (f (z))

= g(u, v)
=

r (u(x, y), v(x, y)) + is (u(x, y), v(x, y))

We need to show g (f (z)) satises the Cauchy-Riemann equations. We have

s
r u
s u r v
s v
r

+
x y
u x u y v x v y
|
{z
} |
{z
}
(1)

(2)

Both g and f are analytic so they satisfy C-R. Simplifying, we have

so

(1)

(2)

r u
s u
r u
r u

=0
u x u y
u x u x



r v
s v
r v
r
v

=0
v x v y
v x
v
x
r
s
r
s

= 0 =
=
x y
x
y

Math 113/Spring 2014

Problem Set #2 Solutions

Taubes

We also have

Compiled by Ben Li

r
s
r u
s u r v
s v
+
+
=
+
+
y x
u y
u x v y v x
|
{z
} |
{z
}
(3)

(4)

A similar substitution as above shows (3) and (4) cancel, giving 0. Then
r
s
r
s
+
= 0 =
=
y x
y
x

so g(f (z)) is analytic.

pg. 28 #4 (Adam Al-natsheh)
We want to show if |f (z)|2 = u2 + v 2 = c for f (z) = u(x, y) + iv(x, y), then f (z) is constant; that

is, f 0 (z) = 0. The converse is obvious. Taking x

of (f (z))2 we get
2u

v
u
+ 2v
=0
x
x

f is analytic, so it satises the Cauchy-Riemann equations. Rewriting, we get

u

Similarly, taking

u
u
v
=0
x
y

and applying C-R we get

2u

v
u
2v
=0
y
y

= u

This gives a system

u
u
+v
=0
y
x


  u   
u v
0
x
=
u
v u
0
y

for which we have two cases:

(a) u2 + v 2 = 0: In this case, the matrix is not invertible. However, u2 0 and v 2 0 so we must
have u = v = 0 = f (z) = 0.
(b) u2 + v 2 = c, where c is some nonzero constant. We can invert the matrix to get
 u 
x
u
y

= f 0 (z) = 0 = f (z) is constant.

 
0
=
0

Math 113/Spring 2014

Problem Set #2 Solutions

Taubes

Compiled by Ben Li

pg. 28 #5 (Kewei Li)

f (z) = u(x, y) + iv(x, y) is analytic

u
x

v
y

u
y

v
= x

u(x, y) iv(x, y) is analytic f (x, y) = f (z) is analytic.

u
x

(v)
(y)

u
(y)

= (v)
x

pg. 28 #7 (Kewei Li)

Let u(z) = u(x + iy). We have
u
z z

=
=
=

 

1
u
u
+i
z 2
x
y

 2
2
2
u
1 u
2u
2 u
+
i

i
4 x2
xy
xy
y 2
 2

1 u 2u
+ 2
4 x2
y
{z
}
|
0 as uis harmonic

pg. 32 33 #1 (Michael Proulx)

We rst develop

z
z4
=z+ 3
3
z 1
z 1

in partial fractions. Following the method of the text, we suppose that 0 is a root of the polynomial

z 3 1, and we calculate



1
0 3 + 2
1
H 0 +
=
+ Q,
=
2

30 2 + 30 + 1
30

for some proper rational function Q. In particular, if we denote by k the k-th root of z 3 1, then
we have that Gk () = /3j . Thus,
3

X
1
z4
=z+
.
3
z 1
3k (z k )
k=1

Moving right along, we next consider the expression

1
.
z(z + 1)2 (z + 2)3

Math 113/Spring 2014

Problem Set #2 Solutions

Taubes

Compiled by Ben Li

Let 1 = 0, 2 = 1, and 3 = 2 be the distinct poles of R(z). Then,

1

+1

1
2 

+1

3 =

6
( +

1)2 (2

+ 1)3

+ H1 ().
8

6
= 2 + 2 + H2 ().
2  3 =
(2 + 1)( + 1)2
1
1

1




6
3
1
5 2
17
=

+ H3 ().

  3 =
2
(1 2)(1 )
2
4
8
1
1
2 1

Thus,
1
1
1
2
1
5
17
=

,
2
3
2
3
3
z(z + 1) (z + 2)
8z
(z + 1)
(z + 1) 2(z + 2)
4(z + 2)
8(z + 2)

and we are done.

pg. 32 33 #2 (Peter Lu)
If Q is a polynomial with distinct roots 1 , . . . , n , and if P is a polynomial with degree < n,
note that
0
lim (z k )

zk

P (k )
P (z) + (z k )P (z)
P (z)
= lim
= 0
.
Q(z) zk
Q0 (z)
Q (k )

(Note that Q0 (k ) 6= 0 since, by the product rule, a polynomial with distinct roots cannot share roots
with its derivative.) Therefore,
n

P (k )
P (z) X

0
Q(z)
Q (k )(z k )
k=1

has no nite or innite poles (since P has degree < n), so it must be a constant. Since there is no
constant term in the sum over roots (again, since P has degree < n), this must be 0, so
n

P (z) X
P (k )
=
.
Q(z)
Q0 (k )(z k )
k=1

pg. 32 33 #3 (Aaron Markowitz)

First, show existence:
P (z) = Q(z)

n
X
k=1

P (k )
0
Q (k )(z

Setting
P (k ) = ck

k )

Math 113/Spring 2014

Problem Set #2 Solutions

Taubes

Compiled by Ben Li

gives us
P (z) = Q(z)

n
X
k=1

ck
Q0 (k )(z k )

This expression is a polynomial, and because for each term the z k in the denominator will
cancel with a z k in Q(z), it must be of order < n.
Therefore, a polynomial satisfying that requirement.
To prove uniqueness, suppose a dierent polynomial of degree < n, called S such that S(k ) =
ck . We can consider the polynomial P (z) S(z). The degree of this polynomial is < n because
subtracting another < n degree polynomial has no way of raising the degree.
However, we know that P (i ) = S(i ) = there are n roots of P (z) S(z). Therefore,
P (z) S(z) = 0 because otherwise there would only be < n values at which the polynomial reached
0. Therefore, P (z) = S(z) and the polynomial is unique.
pg. 32 33 #4 (Peter Lu)
Consider a rational function R(z), where for all z such that |z| = 1, we have 1 = |R(z)| =
R(z)R(z) = R(z)R(1/
z ) (since for |z| = 1, z = 1/
z ). Since R(z)R(1/
z ) 1 is a rational function
which has zeros on the entire unit circle, it must be 0 everywhere. Thus, R(1/z ) = 1/R(z) =
R(1/
z ) = 1/R(z) for all z . This means if is a zero of order n, we must have a corresponding pole
of order n at 1/
and vice versa.
pg. 32 33 #5 (Michael Proulx)
Let

 
1
f (z) = g
.
z

By a similar argument to the one used in the previous exercise, it is clear that f (z) = g(z). In
particular, if f (z) has a zero at z0 , then it must also have a zero at f (1/z0 ). The same is true of a
pole at z0 ; in particular, if f has a a pole at z0 , then it must necessarily have a pole at 1/z0 .

pg. 32 33 #6 (Peter Lu)

For a rational function R(z) = P (z)/Q(z) where P has degree p and Q has degree q (and R has
degree n = max(p, q)), it has derivative
R0 (z) =

P 0 (z)Q(z) Q0 (z)P (z)

.
Q(z)2

Math 113/Spring 2014

Problem Set #2 Solutions

Taubes

Compiled by Ben Li

If we assume P, Q are nonconstant, then their derivatives have one less in degree, so
R0 =

(degree (p 1) + q ) (degree p + (q 1))

= (degree max(p + q 1, 2q)).
(degree 2q )

If P is constant (nonzero) and Q is nonconstant, then

R0 =

0 (degree 0 + (q 1))
= (degree 2q ).
(degree 2q )

If P is nonconstant and Q is constant (nonzero), then

R0 =

(degree (p 1) + 0) 0
= (degree p 1).
(degree 2 0)

If both P, Q are constant (nonzero), then R0 = 0. Therefore, the maximum the degree of R could be
is 2n (with q = n) and the minimum is n 1 (with p = n, q = 0).