MST30050

Complex Analysis

Problem Sheet 5 (Complex Functions)

Homework problems (marked b) to be handed up at 2.50pm on Monday 21st of October

1. Determine the following limits if they exist:

(a) limz→i (3z 2 + 4z + 3);

z 2 + 16
(b) lim ;
z→−4i z
z 2 + 16
(c) lim ;
z→−4i z + 4i

|z|2
(d) lim ;
z→0 z

|z|
(e) lim ;
z→0 z

z − Re{z}
(f) lim ;
z→0 Im{z}
Im{z}
(g) lim .
z→0 Re{z}

2. Prove, using the definition of a continuous function that the following functions are
continuous.

(a) f (z) = Re{z}; (Hint:

√ recall from lectures that for z = x + iy and z0 = x0 + iy0
we have |z − z0 | = (x − x0 )2 + (y − y0 )2 ≥ |x − x0 |);
(b) f (z) = Im{z};
(c) f (z) = 4i · |z + 3|;
(d) f (z) = |z| + z;
(e) f (z) = z 2 ;
(f) f (z) = |z|2 ;

1
 3. Which of the following functions is differentiable at z = 0? In each case, either give
a proof that the function is differentiable at z = 0 or give a proof that the function
is not differentiable at z = 0.

(a) f (z) = Re z + Im z;
(b) f (z) = (Re z)(Im z);
b (c) f (z) = (Re z)(Im z)((Re z) − (Im z));
(d) f (z) = |z|2 .

b 4. Show from first principals that for z ̸= 0

( )
d 1 −1
= 2.
dz z z

5. Consider the function f (z) = z 3 and the points z0 = 1 and z1 = i. Show that
there does not exist a point c on the line y = 1 − x between 1 and i such that
f (z1 ) − f (z0 )
= f ′ (c). This mean that the Mean Value Theorem for derivatives does
z1 − z0
not extend to complex functions. (Hint: Look at the moduli of both sides of the
equation.)