Reciprocal

function

Dr. Hina Dutt

hina.dutt@seecs.edu.pk
SEECS-NUST
 A First Course in
Complex Analysis
with Applications by • Chapter: 2
Dennis G. Zill and • Section: 2.5
Patrick D.
Shanahan.
Reciprocal Function

The function
1
𝑓 𝑧 =
𝑧
whose domain is the set of all nonzero complex numbers,
is called the reciprocal function.
Reciprocal Function

We express this mapping in exponential notation by

replacing the symbol 𝑧 with 𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝜃 :
1 1 1 −𝑖𝜃
𝑤 = = 𝑖𝜃 = e . (1)
𝑧 𝑟𝑒 r
From (1) we see that the
𝑧 w
1
Modulus: 𝑟
𝑟
Argument: 𝜃 −𝜃
Inversion in the Unit Circle

The function
1 𝑖𝜃
𝑔 𝑧 = 𝑒
𝑟
whose domain is the set of all nonzero complex numbers, is
called inversion in the unit circle.
Inversion in the Unit Circle
Case I: Consider a point 𝑧 on the unit circle. Since 𝑧 = 1 · 𝑒 𝑖𝜃 , it follows that
1 𝑖𝜃
𝑔 𝑧 = 𝑒 = 𝑧.
1
Therefore, each point on the unit circle is mapped onto itself by 𝑔.

Case II: Consider a point 𝑧 that lies outside the unit circle. For this we have 𝑟 > 1,
it follows that
1 𝑖𝜃 1
𝑔 𝑧 = 𝑒 = < 1.
𝑟 𝑟
Therefore, each point outside the unit circle is mapped onto a point inside the
unit circle by 𝑔.
Inversion in the Unit Circle
Case III: Consider a point 𝑧 that lies inside the unit circle. For this we have
𝑟 < 1, it follows that
1 𝑖𝜃 1
𝑔 𝑧 = 𝑒 = > 1.
𝑟 𝑟
Therefore, each point inside the unit circle is mapped onto a point outside
the unit circle by 𝑔.
Inversion in the Unit Circle
Inversion in the Unit Circle

We note for inversion in the unit circle that the arguments of 𝑧 and 𝑔(𝑧)
are equal. It follows that if 𝑧1 ≠ 0 is a point with modulus 𝑟 in the
1
𝑧 −plane, then 𝑔(𝑧1 ) is the unique point in the 𝑤 −plane with modulus
𝑟
lying on a ray emanating from the origin making an angle of arg(𝑧0 ) with
the positive 𝑢 −axis. In addition, since the moduli of 𝑧 and 𝑔(𝑧) are
inversely proportional, the farther a point 𝑧 is from 0 in the 𝑧 −plane, the
closer its image 𝑔(𝑧) is to 0 in the 𝑤 −plane, and, conversely, the closer 𝑧
is to 0, the farther 𝑔(𝑧) is from 0.
Complex Conjugation Function

The function
𝑐 𝑧 = 𝑧ҧ
is called the complex conjugation function.
Complex Conjugation Function
We can also express the complex conjugation
function as
𝑐 𝑧 = 𝑟𝑒𝑖𝜃 = 𝑟𝑒 ҧ 𝑖𝜃 .
Because 𝑟 is real, we have 𝑟ҧ = 𝑟.
Furthermore,
𝑒 𝑖𝜃 = (cos 𝜃 + 𝑖 sin 𝜃) = cos 𝜃 − 𝑖 sin 𝜃
= cos −𝜃 + 𝑖 sin(−𝜃) = 𝑒 −𝑖𝜃
Therefore, the complex conjugation function can
be written as
𝑐 𝑧 = 𝑟𝑒 −𝑖𝜃 .
Reciprocal Function as a Composition
1
The reciprocal function 𝑓(𝑧) = can be written as the composition of
𝑧
inversion in the unit circle and complex conjugation. Using the
𝑒 𝑖𝜃
exponential forms 𝑐 𝑧 = 𝑟𝑒 −𝑖𝜃 and 𝑔 𝑧 = of these functions we
𝑟
find
1 𝑖𝜃 1 −𝑖𝜃 1
𝑐○𝑔=𝑐 𝑔 𝑧 = 𝑐 𝑒 = 𝑒 =
𝑟 𝑟 𝑧
This implies that, as a mapping, the reciprocal function first inverts in the
unit circle, then reflects across the real axis.
Image of a Point under the Reciprocal Mapping
Example 1
a) Find the image of the semicircle |𝑧| = 2, 0 ≤ arg(𝑧) ≤ 𝜋,
1
under the reciprocal mapping 𝑤 = .
𝑧
b) Show that the reciprocal function maps the circle 𝑧 = 𝑘, 𝑘 ≠ 0
1
onto the circle 𝑤 = .
𝑘
Example 2
Find the image of the vertical line 𝑥 = 1 under the reciprocal
1
mapping 𝑤 = .
𝑧
The Reciprocal Function on the Extended
Complex Plane
Example 3
Find the image of the lines 𝑥 = 1 and 𝑦 = 1 under the
1
reciprocal mapping 𝑤 = on the extended complex plane.
𝑧
Note

➢ An infinite line is mapped to a closed bounded (finite) circle.

➢ The angle 90 is preserved under complex mappings.
 𝟏
Mapping Lines to Circles with 𝒘 =
𝒛
 𝟏
Mapping Lines to Circles with 𝒘 =
𝒛
Practice Questions

A First Course in
Complex Analysis with • Chapter: 2
Applications by Dennis • Exercise: 2.5
G. Zill and Patrick D. • Questions: 1-18
Shanahan.