Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur

Department of Mathematics and Statistics

Complex Analysis (MTH 403)
Exercise Sheet 12

1. Applications of Residue theory

1.1.∗ Prove the following Rouché’s theorem:
(a) Fundamental theorem of algebra.
def
Hint. Let P(z) = zn +an−1 zn−1 +· · ·+az +a0 . Show that when R is sufficiently large, |P(z)−zn | < |z|n
on |z| = R.
(b) Hurwitz’s theorem.

1.2. (a) Suppose that f is analytic on a region containing D and | f (z)| < 1 whenever |z| = 1. Show that,
for any n ∈ N, the equation f (z) = zn has exactly n solutions in D.
(b) Let |a| > e and n ∈ N. Show that the function exp z − azn has precisely n zeros in D.
(c) Show that there exists unique z ∈ D such that exp z = 2z + 1.
(d) How many zeros (counting multiplicities) does the function 3z100 − exp(z) have in D?
(e) How many roots does the polynomial 2z5 + 4z2 + 1 have in D?
(f) Find the number of zeros of the polynomial 3z9 + 8z6 + z5 + 2z3 + 1 in A(0; 1, 2).
(g) Find the number of zeros of the polynomial z5 + z3 + 5z2 + 2 in A(0; 1, 2).

1.3. Let z0 ∈ U ⊆open C and r > 0 be such that D(z0 ; r) ⊆ U. Suppose that f, g ∈ H(U) and f does not
vanish anywhere on |z − z0 | = r. Show that there exists ε0 > 0 such that for all ε > 0, the function f
and f + εg have the same number of zeros in D(z0 ; r).

1.4.∗ Let 0 < r < 1 < R. Show that there exists ε0 >! 0 such that for all ε > 0, εz7 + z2 + 1 has exactly five
r R
roots (counting multiplicities) in A 0; 1 , 1 .
ε5 ε5
Hint. Use εz7 and z2 + 1 for comparison.

 2
4z 1 −1

1.5. For z ∈ C, define A(z) =  −1 2z2 0 . Find the cardinality of {z ∈ D : A(z) is singular}.

3 0 1

1.6.∗ Let λ > 1. Show that exp z − z − λ has only one zero in {z ∈ C : Re z < 0} and furthermore, that zero
is real.
Hint. Some semi-circular contour with end points ±iR will be useful.

1.7. Let D ⊆ U ⊆open C and f ∈ H(U).

(a) Suppose that | f | > m on ∂D and | f (0)| < m where m > 0. Show that f has at least one zero on D?

Note: This can also be proved using the Maximum modulus principle. Try!
(b) Assume that | f (z0 )| < 1, for some z0 ∈ D, and | f | ≥ 1 on ∂D. Show that f (D) contains D.

1.8.∗ Let a ∈ C. Show that, for all ε > 0, the function sin z + 1
z−a
has infinitely many zeros in the strip
{z ∈ C : | Im z| < ε}.
1
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Hint. First observe that sin z = 0 if and only if z = mπ, for some m ∈ Z. Consider any m ∈ Z and
the rectangle with vertices mπ − π2 ± ε and mπ + π2 ± ε. Use Rouché’s theorem to show that, when m
is sufficiently large, such rectangular regions always contain a zero of sin z + z−a
1
.

1.9.∗ Let U, z0 and r be as in 1.3. and f ∈ H(U). Suppose that z0 , z1 , . . . , zn are distinct points in D(z0 ; r).
def
Consider the polynomial g(z) = (z − z0 )(z − z1 ) . . . (z − zn ). Show that the function P defined as
follows is a polynomial of degree n and P(z j ) = f (z j ), for all j = 0, 1, . . . , n:
Z
1 f (w) g(w) − g(z)
P(z) = · dw.
2πi C(z0 ;r) g(w) w−z
Deduce Lagrange’s interpolation formula from this.

1.10.∗ (a) Let H ⊆ U ⊆open C and f ∈ H(U). Assume that there exist M, a > 0 such that | f (z)| ≤ |z|Ma for all
z ∈ H. Prove the following version of Cauchy’s integral formula:
Z ∞
1 f (x)
f (z) = dx. (1.1)
2πi −∞ x − z
(b) Can the formula mentioned in (1.1) be proved when f : {z ∈ C : Im z ≥ 0} −→ C is continuous
and f ∈ H(H)?

1.11. Show that the function z

(z−1)(z−2)(z−3)
, defined on {z ∈ C : |z| > 4} has a primitive.
Hint. Observe that, for any closed path γ in its domain, all of 1, 2 and 3 lie on the same component
of C \ γ∗ . Now calculate the sum of the residues at those points.

2. Continuity of zeros of a polynomial

def
Let f (z) = a0 + a1 z + · · · + an zn be a polynomial with complex coefficients of degree n, and z1 , . . . , z p are
the distinct roots of f with multiplicities m1 , . . . , m p respectively. For each Ξ = (ξ0 , ξ1 , . . . , ξn ) ∈ Cn+1 , we
consider the following polynomial
fΞ (z) = (a0 + ξ0 ) + (a1 + ξ1 )z + · · · + (an + ξn )zn . (2.1)
For each k = 1, . . . , p, choose rk such that 0 < rk < min |zk − zℓ |.
ℓ,k

2.1.∗ (a) Show that, for each k = 1, . . . , p and z ∈ ∂D(zk , rk ),

p
Y Y
| f (z)| = |an | |z − zℓ |mℓ ≥ |an |rkmk (|zℓ − zk | − rk )mℓ .
ℓ=1 ℓ,k
Y n
X
def def
(b) For each k = 1, . . . , p, let δk = |an |rkmk (|zℓ − zk | − rk ) and Mk =
mℓ
(|zk | + rk ) j . Choose
ℓ,k j=0

δk
0 < ε < min .
k=1,...,p Mk

Show that, if all |ξ j | < ε then, for all z ∈ D(zk ; rk ),

Xn
| fΞ (z) − f (z)| ≤ ξ j (|zk | + rk ) j < εMk < δk ≤ | f (z)|.
j=0

(c) Conclude from Rouché’s theorem that, whenever max |ξ j | < ε, fΞ has precisely mk zeros in
0≤ j≤n
B(zk ; rk ), for all k = 1, . . . , p.
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2.2.∗ Suppose that α is a simple root of f . Then show that there exists an open U ⊆ Cn+1 containing
(a0 , a1 , . . . , an ) and a unique continuous function r : U −→ C such that r(b0 , b1 , . . . , bn ) is a root of
f , for all (b0 , b1 , . . . , bn ) ∈ U, and r(a0 , a1 , . . . , an ) = α.

2.3.∗ Let f be as above. Refine the choices of rk ’s so that D(zk ; rk )’s are pairwise disjoint. Cosnider
def
ε = min{| f (z)| : |z − zk | = rk , k = 1, . . . , n}. Show that, whenever |w| < ε, the equation f (z) = w has
exactly mk solutions in D(zk ; rk ), for all k = 1, . . . , n.

Note: This shows that the solutions of the equation f (z) = w varies continuously with w.

3. Evaluation of integrals
3.1. Let P(x), Q(x) ∈ R[x], gcd(P(x), Q(x)) = 1 and deg Q(x) ≥ deg P(x) + 2. Assume that Q(x) does not
have a real root and the complex roots of Q(x) that lie in the upper half plane are z1 , . . . , zn . Then
show that
Z ∞ n !
P(x) X P
dx = 2πi Res , z j .
−∞ Q(x) j=1
Q

3.2. Evaluate the following integrals:

(z + 2)2
Z
1
(a) dz.
2πi C(0;1) z2 (2z − 1)
z2 + exp(z)
Z
(b) 2
dz, where r ∈ (0, ∞) \ {2}.
Z z (z − 2)
C(0;r)
1 dz
(c) .
2πi C(0;1) sin 4z
Z
1
(d) 3
dz.
C (0;(n+ 12 )π) z sin z
Z
exp(z)
(e) dz.
ZC(0;1) z(2z + 1)
2

exp(z)
(f) 2 2
dz, where γ is depicted as follows:
γ z (1 − z )

Z 2π
dθ
3.3. Evaluate , where r2 , 1.
0 r2 − 2r cos θ + 1
i
Hint. The function might be useful.
(z − r)(rz − 1)
 4
Z 2π
1 − cos nθ
3.4.∗ Let n ∈ N. Evaluate dθ.
0 1 − cos θ
Hint. Consider the following contour:

2π Z 2π−ε Z 2π−ε
1 − einθ
Z
1 − cos nθ 1 − cos nθ
Observe that dθ = lim dθ = lim dθ. The last
0 1 Z− cos θ ε→0+ ε 1 − cos θ ε→0+ ε 1 − cos θ
2π−ε
i sin nθ
equality holds because dθ = 0 (why?).
ε 1 − cos θ

Z 2π
sin nθ
3.5. Evaluate dθ.
0 sin θ
Z 2π Z 2π
cos nθ sin nθ
3.6. For a > 1 and n = 0, 1, 2, . . . , evaluate the integrals: dθ, and dθ.
0 a − cos θ 0 a − cos θ
2π 2π 2π
einθ
Z Z Z
cos nθ sin nθ
Hint. It might be easier to handle dθ + i dθ = dθ.
0 a − cos θ 0 a − cos θ 0 a − cos θ

∞
sin2 x
Z
3.7. Evaluate dx.
−∞ x2
1 − exp(2iz)
Hint. Observe that has a simple pole at 0.
z2
Z ∞
x sin x
3.8. Evaluate dx.
−∞ (1 + x )
2 2

z exp(z)
Hint. Consider .
(1 + z2 )2
Z ∞
sin x
3.9. Let a > 0. Evaluate dx.
0 x(x2 + a2 )
exp(iz) − 1
Hint. Observe that has a removable singularity at 0 and a simple pole at ia.
z(z2 + a2 )
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∞
x2 + 1
Z
3.10. Evaluate dx.
0 x4 + 1
Z ∞ √
x
3.11. Evaluate dx
0 1 + x2
Hint. Does any obvious substitution transform this integral to a familiar one?

4. Miscellaneous exercises
∞
zn n2
X !
4.1. Find all z ∈ C such that the series + converges.
n=1
n! zn

4.2. Let α ∈ 0, π2 and S α denote the minor sector of the unit circle made of the arc with end points e−iα
 
 
and eiα along with two radii. Show that the function exp − 1z is uniformly continuous on S α \ {0}.
 
4.3. Let k be a positive integer > 1. Find all entire functions f satisfying f zk = ( f (z))k , for all z ∈ C.

4.4. Let U ⊆open C and f ∈ H(U) whose derivative vanishes nowhere. Show that the following is an open
subset of R:
{Re f (z) + Im f (z) : z ∈ U}.

4.5.∗ Let f be an entire function such that f (C) ∩ L = ∅, for some line L in C. Show that f is constant.
Hint. Without loss in generality, we may assume that L is the imaginary axis. Then either Re f > 0
or < 0. Use Exercise 2.3.(a) of Exercise Sheet 6.

∞
X ∞
X
n
4.6. Let f, g ∈ H(D) and an z and bn zn are their power series representations on D.
n=0 n=0

(a) Let r ∈ (0, 1). Show that, for all z ∈ D(0; r),
Z ∞
1 f (w)  z  X
·g dw = an bn zn . (4.1)
2πi C(0;r) w w n=0
Z
1 f (w) z
(b) Show from (4.1) that the integral ·g dw is independent of r as long as
2πi C(0;r) w w
z ∈ D(0; r), and thus it defines a holomorphic function on D.
(c) Denote the holomorphic function obtained in 4.6.b by h. Prove or disprove the following: if
neither f nor g is identically zero then so is h.

4.7. Show that the following map is onto but not one-one:
C3 −→ C3 , (u, v, w) 7→ (u + v + w, uv + vw + uw, uvw).

4.8. Let a and b be positive numbers.

(a) Show that, if a nowhere vanishing entire function f satisfies | f (z)| ≤ ea| log |z||+b , for all z ∈ C \ {0},
then it must be constant.
f (z)
Hint. For any positive integer n > a, observe that n approaches to 0 when |z| → ∞. From
z
this it follows that, at f ha either a removable singularity or a pole at ∞. In the former one
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obtains that f is constant, while in the latter f becomes a polynomial. Now from Fundamental
theorem of algebra yields that f is consant.
(b) Show that any harmonic function u on the complex plane satisfying u(z) ≤ a| log |z|| + b, for all
z ∈ C \ {0}, must be constant.