Complex Integration: Evaluating Line Integrals on a Circle

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around evaluating a line integral of the form \(\oint _{|z| = 2 } z^n \bar{z}^m dz\) for integers \(m\) and \(n\). The context is complex integration, specifically focusing on integrals over circular paths in the complex plane.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants suggest rewriting the integral in terms of polar coordinates and discuss the implications of using \(z\) and \(\bar{z}\) in the integral. There are attempts to clarify the representation of \(z\) and its conjugate, with some questioning the analytic nature of \(\bar{z}\).

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with various participants offering different approaches to rewriting the integral. Some guidance has been provided regarding the use of polar coordinates and the importance of correctly interpreting the variables involved. There is an ongoing exploration of the mathematical concepts without a clear consensus on a single method.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the practical applications of complex analysis, particularly in relation to electrical engineering, indicating a desire for real-world examples of the concepts being discussed.

LostEngKid
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Evaluate the Line Integral (assume counterclockwise orientation)

[tex]\oint[/tex] [tex]_{|z| = 2 }[/tex] z^n [tex]\bar{z}[/tex]^m dz for all m, n [tex]\in[/tex] Z

I have no freaken clue about how to even attempt this...
 
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By intuition would be to write it as the integral of

[tex](z\bar{z})^{m}z^{n-m}[/tex]

and evaluate for different cases of n-m.
 
LostEngKid said:
Evaluate the Line Integral (assume counterclockwise orientation)

[tex]\oint[/tex] [tex]_{|z| = 2 }[/tex] z^n [tex]\bar{z}[/tex]^m dz for all m, n [tex]\in[/tex] Z

I have no freaken clue about how to even attempt this...

Just write z in polar representation [tex]z = e^{i r \theta}[/tex]. Then it's easy.
 
Or just write z=2*exp(i*theta), zbar=2*exp(-i*theta), dz=2*i*exp(i*theta)*d(theta) and integrate theta from 0 to 2pi. Same thing really. If you are following nicksauce's suggestion be sure and replace z*zbar by 4. zbar isn't analytic. Don't try and do the whole thing as a complex integral.
 
nrqed said:
Just write z in polar representation [tex]z = e^{i r \theta}[/tex]. Then it's easy.

Uh, z=r*exp(i*theta), right?
 
Dick said:
Uh, z=r*exp(i*theta), right?

Of course! Sorry for the typo!
 
nrqed said:
Of course! Sorry for the typo!

S'alright. Just didn't want to confuse LostEngKid.
 
Dick said:
S'alright. Just didn't want to confuse LostEngKid.

I know. That's why I apologized. I know that if it was just for you, it would not matter much because it is obvious to you that it's a typo. But I am glad you pointed it out for the OP and others reading this thread!

Regards
 
Thanks for the help guys i really appreciate it, i think ill definitely need this site to pass maths this semester, god i hope i don't have another maths subject next year

Just on a side note, I am doing electrical engineering and I am wondering when complex analysis would be used in a practical sense, i mean at the moment it seems like maths for the sake of maths and no1 has given me an example of an application for it. What is is used for?
 
  • #10
LostEngKid said:
Thanks for the help guys i really appreciate it, i think ill definitely need this site to pass maths this semester, god i hope i don't have another maths subject next year

Just on a side note, I am doing electrical engineering and I am wondering when complex analysis would be used in a practical sense, i mean at the moment it seems like maths for the sake of maths and no1 has given me an example of an application for it. What is is used for?

I thought electrical engineering was a hotbed of complex numbers, so much so that they use 'j' instead of 'i' so it won't be confused with 'i' for current. Aside from their general uses in differential equations and contour integration, voltage/current and capacitance/inductance are handy to represent as components of complex numbers.
 

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