Caucy-Riemann equations and differentiability question

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the Cauchy-Riemann equations and their implications for differentiability and analyticity in complex analysis. Participants explore the conditions under which a function is considered differentiable or analytic, particularly in relation to the function (z*)^2/z and its behavior at z = 0.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the necessity and sufficiency of the Cauchy-Riemann equations, noting that the function (z*)^2/z appears to satisfy them at z = 0 but is not differentiable there.
  • Another participant argues that the Cauchy-Riemann equations cannot be satisfied if the derivatives do not exist at z = 0, emphasizing that differentiability of the real and imaginary parts is a prerequisite.
  • A participant acknowledges confusion regarding the satisfaction of the Cauchy-Riemann equations and seeks clarification on the distinction between differentiability at a point and analyticity in a neighborhood.
  • One participant explains that complex differentiability requires a specific limit to exist and asserts that if the Cauchy-Riemann equations are satisfied, the function is both analytic and complex differentiable.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the implications of the Cauchy-Riemann equations and the relationship between differentiability and analyticity. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the conditions under which a function can be considered analytic based on its differentiability at a point.

Contextual Notes

There is a lack of clarity regarding the definitions of differentiability and analyticity, particularly in the context of the problem set being discussed. The relationship between real and complex differentiability is also highlighted as a point of confusion.

bitrex
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I'm doing a little self study on complex analysis, and am having some trouble with a concept.

From Wikipedia:

"In mathematics, the Cauchy–Riemann differential equations in complex analysis, named after Augustin Cauchy and Bernhard Riemann, consist of a system of two partial differential equations that provides a necessary and sufficient condition for a differentiable function to be holomorphic in an open set."

But I have a function here, (z*)^2/z, which appears to satisfy the Cauchy-Riemann equations at z = 0, but the function is not differentiable there. Isn't this a contradiction that the above condition is both necessary and sufficient?
 
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bitrex said:
But I have a function here, (z*)^2/z, which appears to satisfy the Cauchy-Riemann equations at z = 0, but the function is not differentiable there. Isn't this a contradiction that the above condition is both necessary and sufficient?

As you say, the derivatives in the CR equation don't exist at z=0, so I'm not sure why you believe that the CR equations are satisfied. A prerequisite to CR is that the real and imaginary parts of the function are differentiable with respect to the real variables.
 
Thanks for your reply, I'm not sure exactly why I thought they were satisfied either! I see now that they are not.

A further question - some exercises in the problem set I'm working on ask me to determine where a complex function is differentiable, and some to determine where the function is analytic. If a complex function is differentiable at point Z_o, is that also a sufficient condition to assume that the function is analytic in the neighborhood of Z_o? The text I'm using is not clear on this, so I'm not sure if in the problem set they are essentially asking me the same thing with different terminology.
 
We need to differentiate between real differentiability and complex differentiability. Complex differentiability means that

\lim_{h\rightarrow 0, h\in \mathbb{C}} \frac{f(z_0+h)-f(z_0)}{h} = f'(z_0) ~~~(*)

exists. If the CR equations are satisfied, the function is both analytic and complex differentiable. If our function were not analytic, the derivative (*) would not make sense.
 

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