BAS 102:

Engineering Mathematics (4)

Lecture 10: Complex Numbers and Functions

By
Dr. Abdelfattah Mustafa
Mathematics Department
Faculty of Science
Mansoura University

Functions of Complex Variables

o Complex analysis is concerned with complex functions that are
differentiable in some Domain.
o Suppose we had a function of a complex variable, say

𝑤 = 𝑓(𝑧)

o Since z is a complex number, w will be a complex number.

o Since 𝒛 = 𝒙 + 𝒊𝒚 has real and imaginary parts, 𝑤 will have real and

imaginary parts
𝒘 = 𝒇 𝒛 = 𝒖 𝒙, 𝒚 + 𝒊𝒗(𝒙, 𝒚)

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 Example: Let 𝑤 = 𝑓 𝑧 = 𝑧 2 + 3𝑧. Find u and v and calculate the value of 𝑓 at 𝑧 = 1
+ 3𝑖.

Solution: Let 𝑧 = 𝑥 + 𝑖𝑦, then

𝑤 = 𝑓 𝑧 = 𝑢 𝑥, 𝑦 + 𝑖𝑣 𝑥, 𝑦 (1)
𝑤 = 𝑥 + 𝑖𝑦 2 + 3 𝑥 + 𝑖𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 + 2𝑥𝑦 𝑖 + 3𝑥 + 3𝑦 𝑖
= 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 + 3𝑥 + 𝑖 2𝑥𝑦 + 3𝑦 2

From (1) and (2), we have

𝑢 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 + 3𝑥, 𝑣 𝑥, 𝑦 = 2𝑥𝑦 + 3𝑦

At 𝑧 = 1 + 3𝑖 ⇒ 𝑥 = 1, 𝑦 = 3, then
𝑢 1,3 = 1 − 9 + 3 = −5, 𝑣 1,3 = 2 1 3 + 3 3 = 15
∴ 𝑓 1 + 3𝑖 = −5 + 15𝑖

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Example: Let 𝑤 = 𝑓 𝑧 = 2𝑖𝑧 + 6𝑧. Find u and v and calculate the value of 𝑓 at
1
𝑧 = + 4𝑖.
2

Solution: Let 𝑧 = 𝑥 + 𝑖𝑦, then

𝑤 = 𝑓 𝑧 = 𝑢 𝑥, 𝑦 + 𝑖𝑣 𝑥, 𝑦 (1)
𝑤 = 2𝑖 𝑥 + 𝑖𝑦 + 6 𝑥 − 𝑖𝑦 = 2𝑖𝑥 − 2𝑦 + 6𝑥 − 6𝑖𝑦
= 6𝑥 − 2𝑦 + 𝑖 2𝑥 − 6𝑦 2

From (1) and (2), we have

𝑢 𝑥, 𝑦 = 6𝑥 − 2𝑦, 𝑣 𝑥, 𝑦 = 2𝑥 − 6𝑦

1 1
At 𝑧 = + 4𝑖 ⇒ 𝑥 = , 𝑦 = 4, then
2 2
1 1 1 1
𝑢 ,4 = 6 − 2 4 = −5, 𝑣 ,4 = 2 − 6 4 = −23
2 2 2 2
∴ 𝑓 1 + 3𝑖 = −5 − 23𝑖

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 Limit, Continuity

A function 𝑓(𝑧) is said to have the limit 𝑙as 𝑧 approaches a point 𝑧0 , written
lim 𝑓(𝑧) = 𝑙
𝑧→𝑧0

if for every positive real 𝜖 we can find a positive real 𝛿 such that for
all𝑧 ≠ 𝑧0 in the disk
𝑧 − 𝑧0 < 𝛿,
we have
𝑓 𝑧 −𝑙 <𝜖

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o A function f (z) is said to be continuous at 𝑧 = 𝑧0 if is defined and

lim 𝑓(𝑧) = 𝑓(𝑧0 )
𝑧→𝑧0

o f (z) is said to be continuous in a domain if it is continuous at each point of

this domain

Derivative:
The derivative of a complex function f at a point 𝑧0 is written 𝑓 ′ (𝑧0 ) and is
defined by
𝑓 𝑧0 + Δ𝑧 − 𝑓 𝑧0
𝑓 ′ 𝑧0 = lim (∗)
Δ𝑧→0 Δ𝑧
provided this limit exists. Then 𝑓 is said to be differentiable at 𝑧0 .

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 If we write Δ𝑧 = 𝑧 − 𝑧0 , we have 𝑧 = 𝑧0 + Δ𝑧 and (*) takes the form

𝑓(𝑧) − 𝑓 𝑧0
𝑓 ′ 𝑧0 = lim
𝑧→𝑧0 𝑧 − 𝑧0

Example: Prove that the function 𝑓 𝑧 = 𝑧 2 is differentiable for all z and has
the derivative 𝑓 ′ 𝑧 = 2𝑧.
Solution: From the definition

𝑓 𝑧 + Δ𝑧 − 𝑓 𝑧 𝑧 + Δ𝑧 2 − 𝑧 2
𝑓 ′ 𝑧 = lim = lim
Δ𝑧→0 Δ𝑧 Δ𝑧→0 Δ𝑧

𝑧 2 + 2𝑧Δ𝑧 + Δ𝑧 2
− 𝑧2
= lim = lim 2𝑧 + Δ𝑧 = 2𝑧
Δ𝑧→0 Δ𝑧 Δ𝑧→0

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Example: Prove that 𝑧 is not differentiable.

Solution:
𝑓 𝑧 = 𝑧 = 𝑥 − 𝑖𝑦

𝑓 𝑧 + Δ𝑧 − 𝑓 𝑧 𝑧 + Δ𝑧 − 𝑧 Δ𝑧 Δ𝑥 − 𝑖Δ𝑦
= = = (𝐼)
Δ𝑧 Δz Δz Δ𝑥 + 𝑖Δ𝑦

If Δ𝑦 = 0 this is +1 . If this Δ𝑥 = 0 is −1 Hence, by definition, the limit of

(I) as Δ𝑧 → 0 does not exist at any z.
o The differentiation rules are the same as in real calculus

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 Definition: A function f(z) is said to be analytic in a domain D if f (z) is
defined and differentiable at all points of D.
Polynomials, Rational Functions:
o The nonnegative integer powers 1, 𝑧, 𝑧 2 , ⋯ are analytic in the entire
complex plane, and so are polynomials,
𝑓 𝑧 = 𝑐0 + 𝑐1 𝑧 + 𝑐2 𝑧 2 + ⋯ + 𝑐2 𝑧 𝑛
that is, functions of the form where 𝑐0 , 𝑐1 , ⋯ , 𝑐𝑛 are complex constants.
o The quotient of two polynomials 𝑔 𝑧 and 𝑕(𝑧)
𝑔 𝑧
𝑓 𝑧 =
𝑕 𝑧
is called a rational function. This f is analytic except at the points where
𝑕 𝑧 = 0.

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Cauchy–Riemann Equations
Let 𝑓 𝑧 = 𝑢 𝑥, 𝑦 + 𝑖𝑣(𝑥, 𝑦) be defined and continuous in some
neighborhood of a point 𝑧 = 𝑥 + 𝑖𝑦 and differentiable at 𝑧 itself. Then, at
that point, the first-order partial derivatives of 𝑢 and 𝑣 exist and satisfy the
Cauchy–Riemann equations
𝑢𝑥 = 𝑣𝑦 , 𝑢𝑦 = −𝑣𝑥

Example. Prove 𝑓 𝑧 = 𝑧 2 satisfies the Cauchy–Riemann equations

Solution:
𝑓 𝑧 = 𝑥 + 𝑖𝑦 2 = 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 + 2𝑖𝑥𝑦

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 Then 𝑢 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 , 𝑣 𝑥, 𝑦 = 2𝑥𝑦 and
𝑢𝑥 = 2𝑥, 𝑢𝑦 = −2𝑦
𝑣𝑥 = 2𝑦, 𝑣𝑦 = 2𝑥

Hence 𝑢𝑥 = 𝑣𝑦 and 𝑢𝑦 = −𝑢𝑥

Hence 𝑓 𝑧 = 𝑧 2 satisfies the Cauchy–Riemann equations .

Cauchy–Riemann equations (Polar coordinates)

We mention that, if we use the polar form 𝑧 = 𝑟 cos 𝜃 + 𝑖 sin 𝜃 and set
𝑓 𝑧 = 𝑢(𝑟, 𝜃 + 𝑖𝑣(𝑟, 𝜃), then the Cauchy–Riemann equations are

1 1
𝑢𝑟 = 𝑣𝜃 , 𝑣𝑟 = − 𝑢𝜃
𝑟 𝑟

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Theorem: If two real-valued continuous functions 𝑢(𝑥, 𝑦) and 𝑣(𝑥, 𝑦) of

two real variables x and y have continuous first partial derivatives that satisfy
the Cauchy–Riemann equations in some domain D, then the complex function is
analytic in D.
Example: Is 𝑓 𝑧 = 𝑒 𝑥 cos 𝑦 + 𝑖 sin 𝑦 analytic?
Solution: We have 𝑢 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑒 𝑥 cos 𝑦 and 𝑣 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑒 𝑥 sin 𝑦 are
differentiable and

𝑢𝑥 = 𝑒 𝑥 cos 𝑦 , 𝑢𝑦 = −𝑒 𝑥 sin 𝑦
⇒ 𝑢𝑥 = 𝑣𝑦 , 𝑢𝑦 = −𝑣𝑥
𝑣𝑥 = 𝑒 𝑥 sin 𝑦 , 𝑣𝑦 = 𝑒 𝑥 cos 𝑦

We see that the Cauchy–Riemann equations are satisfied and conclude that
𝑓 (𝑧) is analytic for all 𝑧.
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 Now that we have determined that this function is differentiable, the derivative can
be found using

𝑑𝑤 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑣 𝑑𝑤 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑢
= +𝑖 or = −𝑖
𝑑𝑧 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝑑𝑧 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦

For example; If 𝑓 𝑧 = 𝑧 2 , then 𝑢 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 , 𝑣 𝑥, 𝑦 = 2𝑥𝑦

We have

𝑑𝑤 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑣 𝜕(𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 ) 𝜕(2𝑥𝑦)
= +𝑖 = +𝑖 = 2𝑥 + 2𝑖𝑦 = 2𝑧
𝑑𝑧 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥

𝑑𝑤 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑢 𝜕 2𝑥𝑦 𝜕(𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 )
= −𝑖 = −𝑖 = 2𝑥 + 2𝑖𝑦 = 2𝑧
𝑑𝑧 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦

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Laplace’s Equation. Harmonic Functions

If 𝑓 𝑧 = 𝑢 𝑥, 𝑦 + 𝑖𝑣 𝑥, 𝑦 is analytic in a domain D, then both u

and v satisfy Laplace’s equation
𝛻 2 𝑢 = 𝑢𝑥𝑥 + 𝑢𝑦𝑦 = 0

And
𝛻 2 𝑣 = 𝑣𝑥𝑥 + 𝑣𝑦𝑦 = 0

in D and have continuous second partial derivatives in D.

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  Solutions of Laplace’s equation having continuous second-order partial

derivatives are called harmonic functions and their theory is called

potential theory. Hence the real and imaginary parts of an analytic
function are harmonic functions.

 If two harmonic functions u and v satisfy the Cauchy–Riemann

equations in a domain D, they are the real and imaginary parts of an

analytic function f in D. Then v is said to be a harmonic conjugate
function of u in D

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Delta University for Science and Technology
Faculty of Engineering
BAS 102: Engineering Mathematics (4)
Communication Engineering Department

SHEET 10
1- Find Re(f), and Im(f) and their values at the given point z
(a) ( ) at
(b) ( ) ( ) at
(c) ( ) ( ) ( ) at z=8i
2- Find out, and give reason, whether ( ) is continuous at if ( ) and for
the function is equal to:
(a) ( ) (b) ( )
(c) ( ) (d) ( ) ( )
3- Find the value of the derivative of
(a) ( ) ( ) at (b) ( ) at

(c) ( ) ( ) at any (d) ( ) at 0

(e) ( ) at (f) ( ) at i

4- Find the real and imaginary parts of the functions and locate any points where they are
discontinuous.
(a) ( ) (b) ( ) ̅
(c) ( ) ( ) (d) ( ) ( ) ( )
5- Are the following functions analytic?
(a) ( ) ̅ (b) ( ) ( )

(c) ( ) (d) ( ) ( )
6- Are the following functions harmonic? If your answer is yes, find a corresponding analytic
function ( ) ( ) ( )
(a) (b)
(c) ( ) (d)
7- Determine a and b so that the given function is harmonic and find a harmonic conjugate.
(a) (b)
(c) (d)

Good Luck
Dr. A. Mustafa