Maths - Functions Of A Complex Variable

On this page we discuss how to extend the scalar functions (that we discussed
on this page) to the situation where the domain and/or codomain are complex
numbers, we also discuss functions like normalise which are specific to complex
numbers.

Conjugate
Powers of complex numbers
Exponential Function
log Function
Inverse Function
Reflection in circle
Norm (normalise)

We can categorise these functions according to the the following properties:

Conformal - preserves angles

Anticonformal - reverses angles
Non-conformal - does not conserve angles

preservation of angles preservation of distances Analytic

Conjugate Anticonformal
Powers of complex
numbers
Riemann
Exponential Function
surface
yes,
except at
Inverse Function Conformal
0 and
&in
Reflection in circle Anticonformal
Norm (normalise)
Mbius transformation

Evaluating Complex Functions

We can evaluate the value of many complex functions by using infinite series in
the same way that we can for scalar functions. We just use the same series that
we would use for scalar functions but plug in complex values instead of real
values. So if a series exists for real values we can evaluate the complex function.
For example:

ln(1+z) z - z 2/2! + z 3/3! ... +(-1)r+1zr/(r)! -1 < z <= 1

1 2 3 r
exp(z) 1 + z /1! + z /2! + z /3! ... + z /(r)! all values of z

Alternatively we can derive the real and imaginary parts in terms of the real
functions:

function of complex variable real and imaginary terms

exp(x+i y) exp(x)*(cos(y)+i sin(y))
ln(x+i y) 0.5*ln(x+y) + i atan(x/y)
sin(x+i y) cosh(-y) sin(x) - i sinh(-y) cos(x)
cos(x+i y) cosh(-y) cos(x) + i sinh(-y) sin(x)
(tan(x) -i tanh(-y)) /
tan(x+i y)
(1 +i tanh(-y) tan(x))
sinh(x+i y) sinh(x) cos(y) + i cosh(x) sin(y)
cosh(x+i y) cosh(x) cos(y) + i sinh(x) sin(y)
(tanh(x) + i tan(y)) /
tanh(x+i y)
(1 +i tanh(x) tan(y))

We can convert between the circular and hyperbolic functions as follows:

sin(z) = -i sinh(iz)
cos(z) = -cosh(iz)
tan(z) = -i tanh(iz)

See also the trig identities on this page.

Conjugate
When we multiply a complex number by its conjugate we get a real number, in
other words the imaginary part cancels out.

Inverse Function
To calculate the inverse value (1/z) we multiply the top and bottom by the
conjugate which makes the denominator a real number.

z plane w plane
 -->

w=1/z

how this plot was produced.

Let the components of the input and output planes be:

z = x + i y and w = u + i v

In this case w = 1/z

so:

w = 1/(x + i y)

As usual, we evaluate the inverse by multiplying top and bottom by the

conjugate:

w = (x - i y)/(x + i y)(x - i y)

w = (x - i y)/(x + y)

so the u and v components are:

u = x /(x+y)
v = -y /(x+y)

This function has some very interesting and useful properties:

Straight lines through the origin map to themselves.

Straight lines not through the origin map to circles.
Circles through the origin map to straight lines.
Circles not through the origin map to circles.
Applying the inverse function twice restores the original.
 The inverse function can be decomposed into a conjugate and a reflection
in a circle.

So this function can be used to map between circles and lines. We can also
extend the concept to 3 dimensions which allows us to map the surface of a
sphere to the plane (see stereographic projections).

Mbius Transform

This can be generalised to the Mbius Transform (described here):

Where:

z = input (complex values)

w = output (complex values)
a,b,c,d = parameters (complex values)

The inverse function is a special case where a=d=0 and b=c=1 we get:

w=1/z

If we now allow d to be non-zero we can see that this will just shift the line in the
z-plane:

w=1/(z+d)

If we now allow c to scale we can see that this will scale the position on the line
in the z-plane:

w=1/(cz+d)

If we now allow a and b to vary things get a bit more complicated but we can see
that we can move the circle around the w plane.

Exponential Function
There are two methods to calculate the exponential function:

polar form and Euler's equation as discussed on this page.

infinite series as discussed on this page.
 z plane w plane

-->

w=ez

how this plot was produced.

Let the components of the input and output planes be:

z = x + i y and w = u + i v

In this case w = ez

so:

w = e(x + i y)

by the rules of exponents:

w = exei y

applying Euler's equation we get:

w = ex(cos(y) + i sin(y))

so the u and v components are:

u = excos(y)
v = exsin(y)

Log Function
The natural log, that is the log to the base e, is the inverse of the exponetial
function. So if,
w = ln(z)

then taking the exponent of each side gives,

ew = z

so we have

x = eucos(v)
y = eusin(v)

which gives:

u = ln((x + y))
v = atan(x/y)

Powers of complex numbers

Here is the plot for (x + i y) the more general expression for (x + i y) n is given
on this page.

z plane w plane

-->

w=z

how this plot was produced.

Pure real values always square to a positive value and pure imaginary values
always square to a negative value. However real and imaginary parts together
cover the whole plane.

Let the components of the input and output planes be:

z = x + i y and w = u + i v
lets take the example of the square function w = z

so:

w = (x + i y)

multiplying out gives:

w = x - y + i 2 x y

so the u and v components are:

u = x - y
v=2xy

Norm
This is the distance (r) of a + i b from the origin.

It is written as:

r=|a+ib|

by Pythagoras:

r = | a + i b | = math.sqrt(a*a + b*b)

Check that:

|a + i b|*|c + i d| = |a*c - b*d + i (a*d + b*c)|

Mbius transformation
The mapping between the surface of the sphere and the plane can be represented
by the Mbius transformation of the form:

az + b
M(z)=
cz + d

Where:

z = complex variable
 a,b,c & d = complex constants

This is useful in the stereographic projection explained on this page.

Further Study
I think its interesting to compare these graphs for complex numbers to the
equivalent graphs for double numbers and dual numbers.