Can a Circular Function with Complex Variable Represent a 3D Graph?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around whether a circular function with a complex variable can represent a three-dimensional graph. Participants explore the implications of complex functions, particularly focusing on the cosine function and its relationship to hyperbolic functions, as well as the geometric interpretations of these functions in higher dimensions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions if a circular function with a complex variable, such as cos(i*z), can represent a three-dimensional graph.
  • Another participant provides a definition of cos(w) with w as a complex variable and shows how substituting w=i*z leads to a familiar expression.
  • A participant discusses the idea that 'i' represents a rotation of a sphere and questions whether hyperbolic functions with complex variables can represent 3D geometry similarly to circular functions representing 2D geometry.
  • Another participant challenges the interpretation of 'i' as a rotation of a sphere and expresses confusion about the relationship between cubic equations and complex roots.
  • Some participants argue that hyperbolic and circular functions are related through a 90° rotation, providing mathematical expressions to illustrate this relationship.
  • There is a request for clarification regarding the axis around which the coordinate system is rotated 90° and whether this rotation involves dimensions beyond the standard xyz dimensions.
  • One participant asserts that any function from complex numbers to complex numbers represents a transformation from a 2D vector to another 2D vector, suggesting that the graph of such a function exists in four dimensions.
  • Another participant explains that the function cos(iz) can be viewed as two closely related 3D graphs, one for the real part and one for the imaginary part, and mentions the relationship between these parts through the Cauchy-Riemann equations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the interpretation of complex functions and their geometric implications. There is no consensus on whether a circular function with a complex variable can represent a three-dimensional graph, and multiple competing interpretations are present.

Contextual Notes

Some statements rely on specific mathematical definitions and assumptions that may not be universally accepted. The discussion includes unresolved questions about the nature of rotations in complex planes and the dimensionality of the graphs being discussed.

Leo Authersh
Does a circular function with complex variable represent a three-dimensional graph?

For example cosiz
 
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The definition of \cos(w) with w complex is \cos(w)=\frac{e^{i\cdot w}+e^{-i\cdot w}}{2}. Substitute w=i\cdot z and you get \cos(i\cdot z)=\frac{e^{i\cdot (i\cdot z)}+e^{-i\cdot (i\cdot z)}}{2}=\frac{e^{-z}+e^{z}}{2}. Looks familiar?
 
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I have read that 'i' represent the rotation of a sphere. And I have understood that similar to a two dimensional function which forms a quadratic equation, the rotation of sphere along its three dimensional axis will form a cubic equation whose roots contain complex numbers. And my question is that does a hyperbolic function that contains complex variable represent a 3-dimensional geometry in the same way a circular function represent a 2-dimensional geometry?
 
Leo Authersh said:
I have read that 'i' represent the rotation of a sphere.
Well, no. It represents a 90° rotation of the coordinate system.
Leo Authersh said:
And I have understood that similar to a two dimensional function which forms a quadratic equation, the rotation of sphere along its three dimensional axis will form a cubic equation whose roots contain complex numbers.
I have absolutely no idea of what this means.
Leo Authersh said:
And my question is that does a hyperbolic function that contains complex variable represent a 3-dimensional geometry in the same way a circular function represent a 2-dimensional geometry?
As I demonstrated above, the hyperbolic and circular functions are just a 90° rotation away from each other. You can combine them in different fashions, for example (assuming z=x+iy): \vert \cos(z) \vert ^{2}=\sinh(y)^{2}+\cos(x)^{2}=\cosh(y)^{2}-\sin(x)^{2}=\frac{1}{2}(\cosh(2y)+\cos(2x))
 
Svein said:
Well, no. It represents a 90° rotation of the coordinate system.
I have absolutely no idea of what this means.
As I demonstrated above, the hyperbolic and circular functions are just a 90° rotation away from each other. You can combine them in different fashions, for example (assuming z=x+iy): \vert \cos(z) \vert ^{2}=\sinh(y)^{2}+\cos(x)^{2}=\cosh(y)^{2}-\sin(x)^{2}=\frac{1}{2}(\cosh(2y)+\cos(2x))
Can you clarify me around which axis the coordinate system is rotated 90°? Is the rotation happening alongside a different dimension than the xyz dimension?
 
Leo Authersh said:
Can you clarify me around which axis the coordinate system is rotated 90°? Is the rotation happening alongside a different dimension than the xyz dimension?
Forget the "xyz dimension". The complex plane is a plane, with the real axis corresponding to the "x-axis" and the imaginary axis corresponding to the "y-axis". As you know, it is no problem to rotate the real "xy-plane" 90° without messing around with any third axis. You can describe it as x→y; y→-x or use a rotation matrix: <br /> \begin{pmatrix}<br /> 0 &amp; 1 \\<br /> -1 &amp; 0 \\<br /> \end{pmatrix}<br />.
Now: the complex plane has its own version of these rules, making rotations very simple. A rotation with an angle of φ corresponds to a multiplication with e^{i\varphi}. Thus, rotating 90° (which in math term is π/2) means multiplying with e^{i\frac{\pi}{2}}. But as e^{i\frac{\pi}{2}}=i, multiplying with i is equivalent with a 90° rotation.
 
Any ##f:\mathbb{C} \to \mathbb{C}## represents a 2d vector to another 2d vector, so the graph of any such function would be represented by four dimensions.
 
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z = x+iy has two real dimensions (x,y) and cos( iz ) = u(iz) + iv(iz) also has two real dimensions (u,v). So it can be considered a two closely related 3-dimensional graphs. One is the graph of u as a function of (x,y) and the other is a graph of v as a function of (x,y).

In studying complex analysis, you will learn that since cos( iz ) is a holomorphic function, u and v are called harmonic functions and are related to each other by the Cauchy-Riemann equations: ∂u/∂x = ∂v/∂y; ∂u/∂y = -∂v/∂x.
 
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