Complex Analysis: Inverse Trig and Hyperbolic Functions Help

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Homework Statement



I can't seem to get a few questions involving inverse trigonometric functions and hyperbolic functions. Here is one that I am stuck on:

Evaluate the following in the form x+iy:

sinh-1(i/2) = z

Homework Equations



sinh z = (ez - e-z)/2

The Attempt at a Solution



sinh-1(i/2) = z
sinh (z) = i/2

This means that i/2 = (ez - e-z)/2

Let u = ez

Where do I go from here? I don't know how to deal with the imaginary number.
 
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Actually there is a simpler way. Note that ##sinh^{-1}(z)=ln(z+\sqrt{z^2+1})##
 
Last edited:
I got the answer. To get the solution, I put all the terms on one side and used the quadratic formula to find the solutions of u. From there, it is easy enough to figure out.

The final answers are i(Pi/6 +2nPi); i(5Pi/6 +2nPi)
 
Alright glad to hear that you got the answers.
 
There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...
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