Cauchys Integral Theorem and More Complex Integration

/11
Andre Kessler

Many results in complex integration have their parallels in multivariable calculus. This is due, of
course, to the fact that we can represent complex numbers to some degree as vectors. Nevertheless,
there is still fertile ground for new results and surprising consequences.

Deformation of Contours

Definition 1.1. The loop 0 is said to be homotopic/continuously deformable to the loop 1 in the
domain D if there exists a function z(s, t) continuous on the unit square 0 s 1, 0 t 1, that satisfies
the following conditions:
1. For each fixed s [0, 1], the function z(s, t) parametrizes a loop lying in D.
2. The function z(0, t) parametrizes the loop 0 .
3. The function z(1, t) parametrizes the loop 1 .
Contour deformation is important for two main reasons: first, we can define the notion of a simply
connected domain by consider a domain in which every loop can be deformed to a point; and two,
we can prove the Deformation Invariance Theorem, which says that given our homotopic loops 0
and 1 we have that
I
I
f (z) dz =
f (z) dz.
0

To prove this, lets assume that z(s, t) has continuous second-order partial derivatives and that f 0 (z)
is continuous. A single fixed s [0, 1] defines a loop s in our simply connected domain. Now, by
our definition of an integral, we know that
I
Z 1
z(s, t)
f (z) dz =
f (z(s, t))
dt
(1)
t
s
0
Our goal will be to show that the derivative of (1) with respect to s is 0, from which our desired
conclusion will follow. Differentiating under the integral sign, we obtain
!
!
I
Z 1
z(s, t)
d
d
f (z) dz =
f (z(s, t))
dt
ds s
ds 0
t
#
Z 1"
z z
2 z
0
=
f (z(s, t))
+ f (z(s, t))
dt
s t
st
0
#
Z 1 "

z
=
f (z(s, t))
dt
s
0 t
z
z
= f (z(s, 1)) (s, 1) f (z(s, 0)) (s, 0)
s
s
=0
as desired (the last step follows because t = 0 and t = 1 parametrize the same point).
Cauchys integral theorem follows immediately because we can shrink any loop in a simply
closed domain to a point, and the integral over the point (assuming f (z) is continuous) is 0.
1

Cauchys Theorem 1.1. If f is analytic in a simply connected domain D and is any closed contour in D,
then
I

f (z) dz = 0.

Problems

Most of these problems are from Dr. Osbornes complex notes, although some are from other
sources. Be sure to choose branch cuts that are continuous along the integration contour when
necessary.
1. Determine the value of the following contour integrals.
Z 

(a)
xy2 + 2xyi dz, where C is the curve connecting the origin to 1 + i along a straight
C

line.
Z 

(b)
xy2 + ix2 dz, where C is the part of the unit circle from 1 to i lying inside the first
C

quadrant.
Z 

(c)
xy2 + ix2 dz, where C is the part of the unit circle from 1 to i lying outside the first
C

quadrant.
Z
(d)
cos z dz, where C is the part of the ellipse x2 + 4y2 = 1 in the first quadrant going from
C

1 to i/2.
Z
2
(e)
zez dz where the curve is the same as the previous problem.
ZC
dz
(f)
where the curve is the same as the previous problem.
C z+1
Z
(g)
z3 dz, where C is the part of the ellipse 4x2 + y2 = 1 outside the first quadrant going
C

from 1/2 to i.
Z
dz
(h)
, where the curve is the same as the previous problem.
z
C
!
Z
1
1
(i)
dz, where C is the part of the ellipse 4x2 + y2 = 1 lying in the left

z
C
z1
half-plane going from i to i. Give your answer in the form a + bi.
2. Determine the value of the following loop integrals.
I
dz
(a)
, where C is the unit circle oriented clockwise.
C z
I
dz
(b)
, where C is the circle |z i| = 3, oriented clockwise.
2
C 1+z
I
dz
(c)
, where C is the circle |z| = 5 oriented counterclockwise.
C sin z

3. Show that the arcsine function can be written in the form




arcsin z = i ln iz + 1 z2
Z
and use this result to evaluate

dz
1 z2

along the following curves.

(a) C is the part of the circle |z| = 2 in the upper half plane going from 2 to 2.
(b) C is the same as above, except this time the lower half-plane.
(c) C is the part of the circle |z 1| = 1 in the lower half-plane going from 0 to 2.
4. Determine the domain of analyticity for each of the given functions and explain why
Z
f (z) dz = 0.
|z|=2

(a) f (z) = ez (2z + 1)

cos z
(b) f (z) = 2
z 6z + 10
z
(c) f (z) = 2
z + 25
5. Show that if f is of the form
f (z) =

A1
Ak Ak1
+ k1 + +
+ g(z)
k
z
z
z

where g is analytic inside and on the circle |z| = 1, then

I
f (z) dz = 2iA1 .
|z|=1