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Fundamentals of Complex Variables

This document provides an overview of fundamentals of complex variables including: 1) Complex numbers can be expressed in Cartesian (x + iy) or polar (re^iθ) coordinates and satisfy standard addition and multiplication rules. 2) Roots and products of complex numbers are most easily determined using polar representation, for example √(z) = r^(1/2)e^(iθ/2). 3) The complex conjugate of z = x + iy is defined as z̄ = x - iy. 4) Functions of a complex variable f(z) = u + iv are partially differentiated similarly to real functions, and the Cauchy-Riemann equations relate

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Ganesh Kumar
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91 views

Fundamentals of Complex Variables

This document provides an overview of fundamentals of complex variables including: 1) Complex numbers can be expressed in Cartesian (x + iy) or polar (re^iθ) coordinates and satisfy standard addition and multiplication rules. 2) Roots and products of complex numbers are most easily determined using polar representation, for example √(z) = r^(1/2)e^(iθ/2). 3) The complex conjugate of z = x + iy is defined as z̄ = x - iy. 4) Functions of a complex variable f(z) = u + iv are partially differentiated similarly to real functions, and the Cauchy-Riemann equations relate

Uploaded by

Ganesh Kumar
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Fundamentals of complex variables

By denition, the complex unit is given as i =

1 so that i2 = 1 (footnote).1

A complex number has a real and imaginary part, i.e. if z = x +iy , then Real(z ) = x and Imag(z ) = y . Complex numbers satisfy the usual vector-type rules for addition and subtraction. Thus, for example, if z1 = x1 + iy1 and z2 = x2 + iy2 then z1 + z2 = (x1 + x2 ) + i(y1 + y2 ). Alternatively, we may denote complex numbers in polar, rather than Cartesian2 , coordinates. We write z = x + iy = rei where r = x2 + y 2 and = tan1 (y/x). Equivalently, x = r cos and y = r sin . Thus, by denition, ei = cos + i sin . Roots (and products) of complex numbers are most straightforwardly determined using the polar 1/2 = (r ei )1/2 = r 1/2 ei/2 . Using this approach, you should be representation. Thus, for example, z able to show, for example, that i = (1 + i)/ 2. Do you understand why there are two roots? If no, try making a sketch in the complex plane. The complex conjugate of a complex number z = x + iy (denoted alternatively by z or z ) is dened as z = x iy . Note that z z = |z |2 where |z | x2 + y 2 . Functions of a complex variable are typically written as f (z ) = f (x + iy ) = u + iv where u and v are functions of x and y . Thus if f (z ) = z 2 , you should be able to show that u = x2 y 2 while v = 2xy . Taking the derivatives of complex functions is, for the most part, analogous to taking derivatives of real-valued functions. Thus, for example, if f (z ) = z n then df = nz n1 . dz Cauchy and Riemann proved the following theorem: Suppose that f (z ) = u(x, y ) + iv (x, y ) and that f (z0 ) exists at a point z0 = x0 + iy0 . Then the rst order partial derivatives of u and v must exist at (x0 , y0 ), and they must satisfy ux = vy , uy = vx there. (Here I use the shorthand notation ux u/x, etc.) Also, f (z0 ) can be written f (z0 ) = ux + ivx , where these partial derivatives are to be evaluated at (x0 , y0 ). For students wishing further background, I highly recommend J.W. Brown and R.V. Churchills Complex Variables and Applications, which is available through Cameron Library reserves.

Electrical engineers denote i as j. In MecE 630, we will stick to standard notation and use i. Ever wonder why we refer to the Cartesian plane rather than the Decartesian plane? During his lifetime, Descartes published his scholarly work in Latin and therefore adopted the last name Cartesius, from which Cartesian is derived.
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