MATH F112- Complex Variables

Saranya G. Nair
Department of Mathematics

BITS Pilani

May 23, 2023

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I May 23, 2023 1 / 23

Differentiable functions

Definition
Let f be a function whose domain of definition contains a neighborhood
|z − z0 | < ϵ of a point z0 . The derivative of f at z0 is the limit

f (z) − f (z0 )
f ′ (z0 ) = lim
z→z0 z − z0

and the function f is said to be differentiable at z0 when f ′ (z0 ) exists.

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I May 23, 2023 2 / 23

Differentiable functions

Definition
Let f be a function whose domain of definition contains a neighborhood
|z − z0 | < ϵ of a point z0 . The derivative of f at z0 is the limit

f (z) − f (z0 )
f ′ (z0 ) = lim
z→z0 z − z0

and the function f is said to be differentiable at z0 when f ′ (z0 ) exists.

By putting z − z0 = ∆z, we have

f (z0 + ∆z) − f (z0 )

f ′ (z0 ) = lim .
∆z→0 ∆z
Since f is defined throughout a neighborhood of z0 , the number f (z0 + z)
is always defined for |z| sufficiently small.
Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I May 23, 2023 2 / 23
For w = f (z), we use ∆w = f (z + ∆z) − f (z), which denotes the change
in the value of f corresponding to a change z in the point at which f is
evaluated. Then, if we write dw ′
dz = f (z), we have

dw ∆w
= lim .
dz ∆z→0 ∆z

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I May 23, 2023 3 / 23

Problem
1. Let f (z) = z 2 . Find f ′ (z).

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I May 23, 2023 4 / 23

Problem
2. Let f (z) = z̄. Is f differentiable at any point?

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I May 23, 2023 5 / 23

Problem
3. Let f (z) = |z|2 . Is f differentiable at any point?

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I May 23, 2023 6 / 23

• Does there exists a function f (z) = u(x, y ) + iv (x, y ) can be
differentiable at a point z = (x, y ) but nowhere else in any
neighborhood of that point?

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I May 23, 2023 7 / 23

• Does there exists a function f (z) = u(x, y ) + iv (x, y ) can be
differentiable at a point z = (x, y ) but nowhere else in any
neighborhood of that point?
• Does there exist a function f (z) where u(x, y ) and v (x, y ) have
continuous partial derivatives of all orders at a point z = (x, y ) and
yet the function f may not be differentiable there.

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I May 23, 2023 7 / 23

• Does there exists a function f (z) = u(x, y ) + iv (x, y ) can be
differentiable at a point z = (x, y ) but nowhere else in any
neighborhood of that point?
• Does there exist a function f (z) where u(x, y ) and v (x, y ) have
continuous partial derivatives of all orders at a point z = (x, y ) and
yet the function f may not be differentiable there.
• i.e u(x, y ) and v (x, y ) are differentiable as functions from R2 → R, at
(x0 , y0 ) but f (z) = u(x, y ) + iv (x, y ) is not differentiable at
z0 = (x0 , y0 ).

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I May 23, 2023 7 / 23

• Does the continuity of a function at a point imply the existence of a
derivative there?

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I May 23, 2023 8 / 23

• Does the continuity of a function at a point imply the existence of a
derivative there?
• What about the converse? i.e, if a function is differentiable at a
point, is it continuous at that point?

Saranya G. Nair (BITS Pilani) Mathematics I May 23, 2023 8 / 23