MATH 15 Functions of Complex Variables

Homework Assignment #4
(1) a: Find the Möbius map 𝑓 satisfying 𝑓 (1) = 0, 𝑓 (−1) = i, and
𝑓 (i) = −i.

(𝑤 − 0)(−i − i) (𝑧 − 1)(i + 1)
= ⇒
(𝑤 − i)(−i − 0) (𝑧 + 1)(i − 1)
2𝑤 𝑧−1
⇒ = −i ⇒ 2𝑤𝑧 + 2𝑤 = −i𝑤𝑧 − 𝑧 + i𝑤 + 1 ⇒
𝑤−i 𝑧+1

−𝑧 + 1
2𝑤𝑧 + 2𝑤 + i𝑤𝑧 − i𝑤 = −𝑧 + 1 ⇒ 𝑤 = 𝑓 (𝑧) =
(2 + i)𝑧 + (2 − i)

b: Find the Möbius map 𝑓 satisfying 𝑓 (∞) = i, 𝑓 (−i) = ∞, and

𝑓 (i) = −i.

(𝑤 − i)(−i − 𝑊 ) (𝑧 − 𝑍)(i + i)
lim = lim ⇒
𝑊 →∞ (𝑤 − 𝑊 )(−i − i) 𝑍→∞ (𝑧 + i)(i − 𝑍)

𝑤−i 2i i𝑧 + 3
⇒ = ⇒ 𝑧𝑤 + i𝑤 − i𝑧 + 1 = 4 ⇒ 𝑤 = 𝑓 (𝑧) =
−2i 𝑧+i 𝑧+i

(2) a: Show that every Möbius map 𝑤 = 𝑓 (𝑧) with a single finite fixed
point 𝑧0 satisfies a relation of the form:
1 1
= +ℎ ℎ ∕= 0
𝑤 − 𝑧0 𝑧 − 𝑧0

𝑎𝑧+𝑏
Suppose 𝑓 (𝑧) = 𝑐𝑧+𝑑 . Then
𝑎𝑧 + 𝑏
𝑓 (𝑧) = 𝑧 ⇒ = 𝑧 ⇒ 𝑎𝑧 + 𝑏 = 𝑐𝑧 2 + 𝑑𝑧 ⇒ 𝑐𝑧 2 + (𝑑 − 𝑎)𝑧 − 𝑏 = 0
𝑐𝑧 + 𝑑
Which is assumed to have exactly one solution 𝑧0 = −(𝑑−𝑎) 2𝑐 (the
solution of the quadratic equation when its discriminant is zero).
We know 𝑓 (− 𝑑𝑐 ) = ∞, 𝑓 (𝑧0 ) = 𝑧0 , and 𝑓 (∞) = 𝑎𝑐 . Moreover,
𝑧0 ∕= ∞ and since 𝑓 (𝑧0 ) = 𝑧0 , we also know 𝑧0 ∕= − 𝑑𝑐 Therefore,
𝑓 must satisfy:

(𝑧 − 𝐴)( 𝑎𝑐 − 𝑧0 ) (𝑧 + 𝑑𝑐 )(𝐵 − 𝑧0 ) ( 𝑎𝑐 − 𝑧0 ) (𝑧 + 𝑑𝑐 )
lim 𝑎 = lim ⇒ = ⇒
𝐴→∞ (𝑤 − 𝑧0 )( 𝑐 − 𝐴) 𝐵→∞ (𝑧 − 𝑧0 )(𝐵 + 𝑑 ) (𝑤 − 𝑧0 ) (𝑧 − 𝑧0 )
𝑐

1
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( 𝑎𝑐 − 𝑧0 ) (𝑧 − 𝑧0 ) (𝑧0 + 𝑑𝑐 ) (𝑧0 + 𝑑𝑐 )
⇒ = + =1+ ⇒
(𝑤 − 𝑧0 ) (𝑧 − 𝑧0 ) (𝑧 − 𝑧0 ) (𝑧 − 𝑧0 )
1 1 (𝑧0 + 𝑑𝑐 )
⇒ = 𝑎 + 𝑎
(𝑤 − 𝑧0 ) 𝑐 − 𝑧0 ( 𝑐 − 𝑧0 )(𝑧 − 𝑧0 )
But
−(𝑑−𝑎)
𝑧0 + 𝑑𝑐 2𝑐 + 𝑑𝑐 𝑑+𝑎
2𝑐
𝑎 = −(𝑑−𝑎)
= 𝑑+𝑎
=1
𝑐 − 𝑧0
𝑎
𝑐 − 2𝑐 2𝑐
1 1 2𝑐
Therefore, if we let ℎ = 𝑎 −𝑧 = 𝑎 −(𝑑−𝑎) = 𝑎+𝑑 ∕= 0 (since
𝑐 0
𝑐
− 2𝑐
𝑓 (∞) ∕= ∞), we have
1 1
=ℎ+
(𝑤 − 𝑧0 ) 𝑧 − 𝑧0

b: Show that every Möbius map 𝑤 = 𝑓 (𝑧) with two distinct finite
fixed points 𝑧1 and 𝑧2 satisfies a relation of the form:
𝑤 − 𝑧1 𝑧 − 𝑧1
=𝑘 𝑘 ∕= 0
𝑤 − 𝑧2 𝑧 − 𝑧2

Let 𝑓 (∞) = 𝜁. Since 𝑓 (𝑧1 ) = 𝑧1 , 𝑓 (𝑧2 ) = 𝑧2 , and 𝑓 (∞) = 𝜁, we

have:

(𝑤 − 𝑧1 )(𝐴 − 𝑧2 ) (𝑧 − 𝑧1 )(𝜁 − 𝑧2 )
lim = ⇒
𝐴→∞ (𝑤 − 𝑧2 )(𝐴 − 𝑧1 ) (𝑧 − 𝑧2 )(𝜁 − 𝑧1 )

𝑤 − 𝑧1 𝜁 − 𝑧2 𝑧 − 𝑧1 𝑤 − 𝑧1 𝑧 − 𝑧1
= ⇒ =𝑘
𝑤 − 𝑧2 𝜁 − 𝑧1 𝑧 − 𝑧2 𝑤 − 𝑧2 𝑧 − 𝑧2
𝜁−𝑧2
Where 𝑘 = 𝜁−𝑧 1
is a finite non-zero number since 𝜁 = 𝑓 (∞) is
not equal to 𝑧1 or 𝑧2 .

c: Find the Möbius map 𝑓 with only one fixed point at i and sat-
isfying 𝑓 (1) = ∞.

According to part a we must have:

1 1
=ℎ+
(𝑤 − i) 𝑧−i

Since 𝑓 (1) = ∞ we must have:

1 1 1 1
lim =ℎ+ ⇒ℎ+ =0⇒ℎ=−
𝑤→∞ (𝑤 − i) 1−i 1−i 1−i
Therefore,

1 1 1 1 1−i−𝑧+i
= − ⇒ = ⇒
(𝑤 − i) 𝑧−i 1−i (𝑤 − i) (1 − i)(𝑧 − i)
 3

(1 − i)(𝑧 − i) (1 − 2i)𝑧 − 1
⇒ 𝑓 (𝑧) = 𝑤 = +i=
1−𝑧 1−𝑧

(3) a: Let 𝐷1 = {𝑧 : ∣𝑧∣ ≥ 1} and 𝐷2 = {𝑧 : ∣𝑧 − 2∣ ≤ 2}. Find a

Möbius map 𝑓 satisfying 𝑓 (𝐷1 ) = 𝐷2 .

We pick points 𝑧1 = 1, 𝑧2 = i, and 𝑧3 = −1 on {𝑧 : ∣𝑧∣ = 1}

and 𝑤1 = 0, 𝑤2 = 2 + 2i, and 𝑤3 = 4 are on {𝑧 : ∣𝑧 − 2∣ = 2}.
Moreover, viewed from 𝐷1 (outside of {𝑧 : ∣𝑧∣ = 1}), 𝑧1 , 𝑧2 ,
and 𝑧3 form a clockwise triple and viewed from 𝐷2 (inside of
{𝑧 : ∣𝑧 − 2∣ = 2}) 𝑤1 , 𝑤2 , and 𝑤3 also form a clockwise triple.
Therefore, the Möbius map 𝑓 satisfying 𝑓 (𝑧1 ) = 𝑤1 , 𝑓 (𝑧2 ) = 𝑤2 ,
and 𝑓 (𝑧3 ) = 𝑤3 also satisfies 𝑓 (𝐷1 ) = 𝐷2 . We find 𝑓 by:

(𝑤 − 0)(4 − 2 − 2i) (𝑧 − 1)(−1 − i)

= ⇒
(𝑤 − 2 − 2i)(4 − 0) (𝑧 − i)(−1 − 1)
𝑤(1 − i) (𝑧 − 1)(1 + i)
⇒ = ⇒ 𝑤(𝑧 − i) = i(𝑤 − 2 − 2i)(𝑧 − 1) ⇒
(𝑤 − 2 − 2i) (𝑧 − i)

⇒ 𝑤𝑧 − i𝑤 = i𝑤𝑧 − 2i𝑧 + 2𝑧 − i𝑤 + 2i − 2 ⇒

2(i − 1)(1 − 𝑧) 2(𝑧 − 1)

⇒ 𝑓 (𝑧) = 𝑤 = =
(1 − i)𝑧 𝑧

b: Let 𝐷 = {𝑧 : ∣𝑧 − 1∣ ≤ 1} and 𝐻 = {𝑧 = 𝑥 + i𝑦 : 𝑥 ≥ 𝑦}. Find

a Möbius map 𝑓 satisfying 𝑓 (𝐷) = 𝐻.

The three points 𝑧1 = 1, 𝑧2 = i, and 𝑧3 = −1 viewed from in-

side 𝐷 form a counter clockwise tipple on the boundary of 𝐷.
𝑤1 = 1 + i, 𝑤2 = 0, and 𝑤3 = −1 − i viewed from inside 𝐻 form
a counter clockwise tipple on the boundary of 𝐻. So we find the
Möbius map satisfying 𝑓 (1) = 1+i, 𝑓 (i) = 0, and 𝑓 (−1) = −1−i.

(𝑤 − 1 − i)(−1 − i − 0) (𝑧 − 1)(−1 − i)
= ⇒
(𝑤 − 0)(−1 − i − 1 − i) (𝑧 − i)(−1 − 1)
(𝑤 − 1 − i) (i + 1)(𝑧 − 1)
⇒ = ⇒
2𝑤 2(𝑧 − i)

⇒ 𝑧𝑤 − i𝑤 − (i + 1)𝑧 + (i − 1) = (i + 1)𝑤𝑧 − (i + 1)𝑤 ⇒

−(i + 1)𝑧 + i − 1
⇒ 𝑓 (𝑧) = 𝑤 =
−i𝑧 + 1
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(4) a: Let 𝐷 = {𝑧 : ∣𝑧∣ < 2}. Find all Möbius maps 𝑓 with 𝑓 (𝐷) = 𝐷
and 𝑓 (1) = 0.

With respect to 𝐷, 1∗ is the point 𝑧 on the positive real line with

𝑧(1) = 22 . Therefore, 1∗ = 4. We have 𝑓 (1) = 0 which implies
𝑓 (4) = ∞.
𝑧−1
𝑓 (𝑧) = 𝐴 with ∣𝐴∣ = 4
𝑧−4
(An arbitrary point on the boundary of 𝐷 can be represented
by 2𝜏 with ∣𝜏 ∣ = 1 or 𝜏 𝜏 = 1. We have
2𝜏 − 1 𝐴 2𝜏 − 1 ∣𝐴∣
∣𝑓 (𝑧)∣ = ∣𝑓 (2𝜏 )∣ = ∣𝐴 ∣=∣ ∣ ∣= = 2)
2𝜏 − 4 2𝜏 1 − 2𝜏 2

b: Let 𝐻 = {𝑧 = 𝑥 + i𝑦 : 𝑥 < 0}. Find the Möbius map 𝑓 with

𝑓 (𝐻) = 𝐻, 𝑓 (−1) = −1, and 𝑓 (i) = 0.

𝑓 (−1) = −1 implies that 𝑓 must map −1∗ with respect to the

boundary of 𝐻 (imaginary line together with ∞) to −1∗ . But
−1∗ is the reflection of −1 through the imaginary line which is
1. Therefore, we are looking for the Möbius map 𝑓 satisfying
𝑓 (−1) = −1, 𝑓 (1) = 1, and 𝑓 (i) = 0.

(𝑤 + 1)(−1) (𝑧 + 1)(i − 1) (𝑤 + 1) i(𝑧 + 1)

= ⇒− = ⇒ −𝑤𝑧−𝑧+𝑤+1 = i𝑤𝑧+i𝑤−i𝑧−i ⇒
(𝑤 − 1)(1) (𝑧 − 1)(i + 1) (𝑤 − 1) (𝑧 − 1)

(i − 1)𝑧 + (i + 1) 𝑧−i
⇒ 𝑓 (𝑧) = 𝑤 = =
(i + 1)𝑧 + (i − 1) −i𝑧 + 1

c: Let 𝐷 = {𝑧 : ∣𝑧∣ < 3}. Find the Möbius map 𝑓 with 𝑓 (𝐷) = 𝐷,
𝑓 (1) = 0, and 𝑓 ′ (1) > 0.

1∗ with respect to 𝐷 is 9 and 0∗ is ∞. Therefore, we have

𝑓 (1) = 0 and 𝑓 (9) = ∞. We have:
𝑧−1
𝑓 (𝑧) = 𝐴
𝑧−9
with ∣𝐴∣ = 3 = 9. 𝑓 (𝑧) = 𝐴 (𝑧−9)−(𝑧−1)
2 ′
(𝑧−9)2
−8𝐴
= (𝑧−9) 2 which is

a positive real number for 𝐴 = −9. (𝐴 must be chosen from

the numbers on the circle ∣𝐴∣ = 9 so that we have 𝑓 (𝐷) = 𝐷.)
Therefore,
9 − 9𝑧
𝑓 (𝑧) =
𝑧−9
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d: Let 𝐷 = {𝑧 : ∣𝑧∣ < 1} and 𝐻 = {𝑧 = 𝑥 + i𝑦 : 𝑦 > 0}. Find the

Möbius map 𝑓 with 𝑓 (𝐷) = 𝐻, 𝑓 (0) = 1 + i, and 𝑓 (1) = 0.

𝑓 should map 0∗ with respect to the boundary of 𝐷, which is

∞ to (1 + i)∗ with respect to the boundary of 𝐻, which is 1 − i.
Therefore, 𝑓 is the unique Möbius map satisfying 𝑓 (0) = 1 + i,
𝑓 (∞) = 1 − i, and 𝑓 (1) = 0. We have:

(𝑤 − 1 − i)(0 − 1 + i) (𝑧 − 0)(1 − 𝐴) −i(𝑤 − 1 − i)

= lim =𝑧⇒ =𝑧⇒
(𝑤 − 1 + i)(0 − 1 − i) 𝐴→∞ (𝑧 − 𝐴)(1 − 0) (𝑤 − 1 + i)

(1 − i)(𝑧 − 1)
⇒ −i𝑤−1+i = 𝑤𝑧−(1−i)𝑧 ⇒ (1−i)(𝑧−1) = 𝑤(𝑧+i) ⇒ 𝑓 (𝑧) = 𝑤 =
𝑧+i

(5) a: Let 𝐷 = {𝑧 : ∣𝑧∣ < 3}. Determine if there is a Möbius map 𝑓

satisfying 𝑓 (𝐷) = 𝐷, 𝑓 (1) = −1, and 𝑓 (i) = 2.

With respect to the boundary of 𝐷, 1∗ = 9 and −1∗ = −9.

Therefore, 𝑓 is the unique Möbiusmap satisfying 𝑓 (1) = −1,
𝑓 (9) = −9, and 𝑓 (i) = 2. We have:

(𝑤 + 1)(2 + 9) (𝑧 − 1)(i − 9) 11𝑤 + 11 i𝑧 − i − 9𝑧 + 9

= ⇒ = ⇒
(𝑤 + 9)(2 + 1) (𝑧 − 9)(i − 1) 3𝑤 + 27 i𝑧 − 9i − 𝑧 + 9

⇒ 11i𝑤𝑧 + 11i𝑧 − 99i𝑤 − 99i − 11𝑤𝑧 − 11𝑧 + 99𝑤 + 99 =

= 3i𝑤𝑧 + 27i𝑧 − 3i𝑤 − 27i − 27𝑤𝑧 − 243𝑧 + 27𝑤 + 243 ⇒

⇒ 8i𝑤𝑧 − 96i𝑤 + 16𝑤𝑧 + 72𝑤 = 16i𝑧 + 72i − 232𝑧 + 144 ⇒

⇒ i𝑤𝑧 − 12i𝑤 + 2𝑤𝑧 + 9𝑤 = 2i𝑧 + 9i − 29𝑧 + 18 ⇒

(−29 + 2i)𝑧 + (18 + 9i)

𝑓 (𝑧) = 𝑤 =
(2 + i)𝑧 + (9 − 12i)

On the other hand 𝑓 (i) = 2 ⇒ 𝑓 (i∗ ) = 2∗ ⇒ 𝑓 (9i) = 29 . But

(−29 + 2i)9i + (18 + 9i) (−261i − 18) + (18 + 9i) −252i

𝑓 (9i) = = = = −42
(2 + i)9i + (9 − 12i) (18i − 9) + (9 − 12i) 6i
6

b: Let 𝐷 = {𝑧 : ∣𝑧∣ < 1} and 𝑧1 , 𝑧2 , 𝑤1 , and 𝑤2 be four points in 𝐷.

Determine when there is a Möbius map 𝑓 satisfying 𝑓 (𝐷) = 𝐷,
𝑓 (𝑧1 ) = 𝑤1 , and 𝑓 (𝑧2 ) = 𝑤2 . Extra Credit Problem. Still
Open

(6) a: Let 𝒞1 be the family of all circles that at the origin are tangent
to the real line and let 𝒞2 be the family of all circles that at the
origin are tangent to the imaginary line. Use Möbius maps to
show that any circle in 𝒞1 is orthogonal to all circles in 𝒞2 .

Elementary Geometric Solution: If two circles intersect at

two points, then their angles of intersection at the two points are
the same. Every circle 𝐶1 in 𝒞1 intersects every circle 𝐶2 in 𝒞2
at the origin such that the tangent line to 𝐶1 at the origin is the
real line and the tangent line to 𝐶2 at the origin is the imaginary
line. Therefore, any two such circles are orthogonal at the origin
and consequently at their other point of intersection.

Solution Using Möbius maps: We apply the map 𝑓 (𝑧) = 𝑧1

to the plane. Since any circle in 𝒞1 passes through the origin
𝑓 (𝐶1 ) must pass through the point at infinity and so it must be
a line. Moreover, since the tangent line to 𝐶1 at the origin is the
real line and the image of the real line under 𝑓 is the real line,
𝑓 (𝐶1 ) must be tangent to the real line at infinity and therefore
it must be a horizontal line. Similarly, since any circle 𝐶2 in 𝒞2
passes through the origin 𝑓 (𝐶2 ) must pass through the point at
infinity and so it must be a line. Moreover, since the tangent
line to 𝐶2 at the origin is the imaginary line and the image of
the imaginary line under 𝑓 is the imaginary line, 𝑓 (𝐶1 ) must be
tangent to the imaginary line at infinity and therefore it must
be a vertical line. Therefore, 𝑓 (𝐶1 ) and 𝑓 (𝐶2 ) are orthogonal
and since 𝑓 is conformal at all points 𝐶1 and 𝐶2 are orthogonal
as well.

b: Let 𝒞 be the family of all circles that pass through both 𝑧1 = 1

and 𝑧2 = −1. Use Möbius maps to show that if a circle is or-
thogonal to the real line and the unit circle {𝑧 : ∣𝑧∣ = 1} then it
must be orthogonal to all circles in 𝒞.

Let 𝐶 be in 𝒞 and let 𝑔(𝑧) = 𝑧−1 𝑧+1 . Since 𝐶 passes through

both 𝑧1 = 1 and 𝑧2 = −1 and 𝑔(1) = 0 and 𝑔(−1) = ∞, 𝑔(𝐶)
must pass through both 0 and ∞ and therefore, it must a line
passing through the origin. In particular, images of the unit
circle {𝑧 : ∣𝑧∣ = 1} and the real line under 𝑔 are both lines
passing through the origin. Since 𝑔 maps every real number to
a real number the image of real line under 𝑔 is the real line and
since {𝑧 : ∣𝑧∣ = 1} is orthogonal to the real line, its image under
𝑔 must be a line passing through the origin and perpendicular
to the real line. Therefore 𝑔({𝑧 : ∣𝑧∣ = 1}) is the imaginary
axis. Now if a circle 𝐶 ′ is orthogonal to both real line and
{𝑧 : ∣𝑧∣ = 1}, then 𝑔(𝐶 ′ ) must be perpendicular to both real and
imaginary axis and therefore the center of 𝑔(𝐶 ′ ) is both on the
 7

real and the imaginary axis. This implies 𝑔(𝐶 ′ ) is centered at

the origin and consequently it is orthogonal to any line passing
through the origin and in particular to 𝑔(𝐶). Since 𝑔 is conformal
everywhere, 𝐶 and 𝐶 ′ must be orthogonal as well. This shows
𝐶 ′ is orthogonal to any circle in 𝒞.