Complex Analysis - The Maximum Modulus Principle

smcro5
Messages
6
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



Find the maximum of \left|f\right| on the disc of radius 1 in the Complex Plane, for f(z)=3-\left|z\right|^{2}

Homework Equations



The maximum modulus principle?

The Attempt at a Solution



Since |z| is a real number, then surely the maximum must be 3 when z=0? However, I was reading that the maximum must occur on the boundary, which is |z|=1, for the disc which is described by |z|≤1. What am I doing wrong? Thanks in advance for any help!
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
The Maximum Modulus Theorem applies to analytic functions. Is yours analytic?
 
Ah thanks for that, jackmell, much appreciated! It looks like 3-|z|^2 is not analytic, so the maximum modulus principle must therefore not apply. In situations like this though, we weren't taught how to deal with such things. So would my initial assumption be correct that the maximum of |f| is indeed 3 at z=0 ?
 
smcro5, u might be able to say that the function is analytic at x=y=0, so if u bound a domain there it should occur there, so yeah most likely the maximum should be 3. You can plot the function, It looks like a mexican hat ;)
 
Cheers Matty_t69, now it all makes sense! The plot of the function just makes the question a wee tad more exciting eh? ;)
 
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...

Similar threads

Back
Top