Questions tagged [complex-analysis]

For questions mainly about theory of complex analytic/holomorphic functions of one complex variable. Use [tag:complex-numbers] instead for questions about complex numbers. Use [tag:several-complex-variables] instead for questions about holomorphic functions of more than one complex variables.

Complex analysis is a branch of mathematical analysis that investigates functions of one or several complex variables. Typical topics include Cauchy's integral formula, singularities, poles, holomorphic and meromorphic functions, Laurent and Taylor series, maximum modulus principle, isolated zeros principle, etc.

Independent variable and dependent variable of complex functions are both complex numbers, and may be separated into real (denoted by $\Re$) and imaginary parts (denoted by $\Im$) : $z = x +iy$ and $w = f(z) =u(x,y)+iv(x,y)$ where $x, y \in \mathbb{R}$, $u(x,y)$ and $v(x,y)$ being real-valued functions.

A fundamental result of complex analysis is the Cauchy-Riemann equations, which give the conditions for a function to have a complex derivative, which is a complex generalization of the (real) derivative. If the complex derivative is defined at each point in an open connected subset of $\mathbb C$, the function is called analytic, or holomorphic. If the complex derivative is defined at each point in $\mathbb C$, the function is called entire.

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Why are differentiable complex functions infinitely differentiable?

When I studied complex analysis, I could never understand how once-differentiable complex functions could be possibly be infinitely differentiable. After all, this doesn't hold for functions from $\mathbb R ^2$ to $\mathbb R ^2$. Can anyone explain…
Casebash
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Entire one-to-one functions are linear

Can we prove that every entire one-to-one function is linear?
Petey
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Does the complex conjugate of an integral equal the integral of the conjugate?

Let $f$ be a complex valued function of a complex variable. Does $$ \overline{\int f(z) dz} = \int \overline{f(z)}dz \text{ ?} $$ If $f$ is a function of a real variable, the answer is yes as $$ \int f(t) dt = \int \text{Re}(f(t))dt +…
user14108
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Why the real and imaginary parts of a complex analytic function are not independent?

I have trouble understanding a whole array of things in complex analysis, which I have basically tracked to the statement "real and imaginary parts of a complex analytic function are not independent." Because of that, I don't really understand the…
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Proof that 1-1 analytic functions have nonzero derivative

I recently saw a lecturer prove the following theorem (assuming the result that every analytic function is locally 1-1 whenever its derivative is nonzero): Let $\Omega \subset \mathbb{C}$ be open, and let $f : \Omega \to \mathbb{C}$ be 1-1 and…
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Entire function bounded by a polynomial is a polynomial

Suppose that an entire function $f(z)$ satisfies $\left|f(z)\right|\leq k\left|z\right|^n$ for sufficiently large $\left|z\right|$, where $n\in\mathbb{Z^+}$ and $k>0$ is constant. Show that $f$ is a polynomial of degree at most $n$.
ron
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Characterizing non-constant entire functions with modulus $1$ on the unit circle

Is there a characterization of the nonconstant entire functions $f$ that satisfy $|f(z)|=1$ for all $|z|=1$? Clearly, $f(z)=z^n$ works for all $n$. Also, it's not difficult to show that if $f$ is such an entire function, then $f$ must vanish…
bobby
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How is $\mathbb{C}$ different than $\mathbb{R}^2$?

I'm taking a course in Complex Analysis, and the teacher mentioned that if we do not restrict our attention to analytic functions, we would just be looking at functions from $\mathbb{R}^2$ to $\mathbb{R}^2$. What I don't understand is why this is…
jake
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How do I rigorously show $f(z)$ is analytic if and only if $\overline{f(\bar{z})}$ is?

I'm doing a bit of self study, but I'm uncomfortable with a certain idea. I want to show that $f(z)$ is analytic if and only if $\overline{f(\bar{z})}$ is analytic, and by analytic I mean differentiable at each point. Here $f$ is a complex valued…
Dedede
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Mean value theorem for holomorphic functions

The mean value theorem for holomorphic functions states that if $f$ is analytic in $D$ and $a \in D$, then $f(a)$ equals the integral around any circle centered at $a$ divided by $2\pi$. But if $f$ is analytic, then the line integral around any…
Pearl
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Application of Liouville's Theorem

Let $f(z)$ be an entire function such that $$|f(z)|<\frac{1}{|\text{Im}(z)|},\qquad z\in\Bbb C-\Bbb R.$$ The question asked me to prove that $f(z)=0$. At least looking at it, it really seems to have an application of Liouville's theorem lurking…
Clayton
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How can it be shown that $\mathrm{Aut}(\mathbb{C})=\{f\,|\,f(z)=az+b,a\neq 0\},$ is defined as bijective ...

How can it be shown that $$\mathrm{Aut}(\mathbb{C})=\{f\,|\,f(z)=az+b,a\neq 0\},$$ where an automorphism of $\mathbb{C}$ is defined as a bijective entire function with entire inverse? If $f$ is of the form $f(z)=az+b$, with $a\neq 0$, then obviously…
bateman
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An entire function whose real part is bounded above must be constant.

Greets This is exercise 15.d chapter 3 of Stein & Shakarchi's "Complex Analysis", they hint: "Use the maximum modulus principle", but I didn't see how to do the exercise with this hint rightaway, instead I knew how to do it with the…
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When is a function satisfying the Cauchy-Riemann equations holomorphic?

It is, of course, one of the first results in basic complex analysis that a holomorphic function satisfies the Cauchy-Riemann equations when considered as a differentiable two-variable real function. I have always seen the converse as: if $f$ is…
Tony
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Complex Analysis Question from Stein

The question is #$14$ from Chapter $2$ in Stein and Shakarchi's text Complex Analysis: Suppose that $f$ is holomorphic in an open set containing the closed unit disc, except for a pole at $z_0$ on the unit circle. Show that if $$\sum_{n=0}^\infty…
Clayton
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