Complex Numbers (Laurent Series)

  • Thread starter Thread starter jojosg
  • Start date Start date
jojosg
Messages
9
Reaction score
2
Homework Statement
Am attempting a Laurent Series question but I'm not confident in my answers. would appreciate any corrections.
Relevant Equations
f(z) = sigma (cnz^n)
see attached.
 

Attachments

  • question.webp
    question.webp
    11.3 KB · Views: 2
  • 1.webp
    1.webp
    24.8 KB · Views: 1
  • 2.webp
    2.webp
    17.4 KB · Views: 2
  • 3.webp
    3.webp
    17.4 KB · Views: 2
Physics news on Phys.org
Are you sure this problem is valid? The domains of the two expansions would make more sense to me if the function was
##\frac {z+1}{z^3(z^2-1)}##
or if the domains were ##0\lt z \lt \sqrt 2## and ##\sqrt 2 \lt z \lt \infty##

PS. I can not read your work.
 
FactChecker said:
Are you sure this problem is valid? The domains of the two expansions would make more sense to me if the function was
##\frac {z+1}{z^3(z^2-1)}##
or if the domains were ##0\lt z \lt \sqrt 2## and ##\sqrt 2 \lt z \lt \infty##

PS. I can not read your work.
It was given by my teacher so I assume the problem is valid. Hope these are clearer.
 

Attachments

  • 20251021_081602.webp
    20251021_081602.webp
    40 KB · Views: 3
  • 20251021_081553.webp
    20251021_081553.webp
    38.4 KB · Views: 4
  • 20251021_081529.webp
    20251021_081529.webp
    34.8 KB · Views: 1
jojosg said:
It was given by my teacher so I assume the problem is valid. Hope these are clearer.
I don't believe there is a Laurent series for that function that converges for ##1 \lt |z| \lt \infty##
 
##\boxed{
\textbf{Problem 3: Find the Laurent series of } f(z) = \frac{z+1}{z^3(z^2-2)} \text{ for:}
\quad \text{(1) } 0 < |z| < 1 \quad \text{(2) } 1 < |z| < +\infty
}##

**Partial Fraction Decomposition**

We begin with the partial fraction decomposition:

$$f(z) = \frac{z+1}{z^3(z^2-2)} = \frac{A}{z} + \frac{B}{z^2} + \frac{C}{z^3} + \frac{Dz+E}{z^2-2}$$

Multiply both sides by ##z^3(z^2-2)##:

$$z+1 = Az^2(z^2-2) + Bz(z^2-2) + C(z^2-2) + (Dz+E)z^3$$

$$z+1 = A(z^4-2z^2) + B(z^3-2z) + C(z^2-2) + Dz^4 + Ez^3$$

$$z+1 = (A+D)z^4 + (B+E)z^3 + (-2A+C)z^2 - 2Bz - 2C$$

Comparing coefficients:

$$\begin{cases}
z^4: & A + D = 0 \\
z^3: & B + E = 0 \\
z^2: & -2A + C = 0 \\
z^1: & -2B = 1 \\
\text{Constant}: & -2C = 1
\end{cases}$$

Solving:

$$B = -\frac{1}{2}, \quad C = -\frac{1}{2}, \quad -2A - \frac{1}{2} = 0 \Rightarrow A = -\frac{1}{4}$$
$$D = -A = \frac{1}{4}, \quad E = -B = \frac{1}{2}$$

Thus:

$$f(z) = -\frac{1}{4z} - \frac{1}{2z^2} - \frac{1}{2z^3} + \frac{\frac{1}{4}z + \frac{1}{2}}{z^2-2}$$

**1. Laurent Series for ##0 < |z| < 1##**

For ##|z| < 1##, we expand ##\frac{1}{z^2-2}##:

$$\frac{1}{z^2-2} = -\frac{1}{2} \cdot \frac{1}{1 - \frac{z^2}{2}} = -\frac{1}{2} \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \left(\frac{z^2}{2}\right)^n = -\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{z^{2n}}{2^{n+1}}$$

Then:

$$\frac{\frac{1}{4}z + \frac{1}{2}}{z^2-2} = \left(\frac{1}{4}z + \frac{1}{2}\right) \left(-\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{z^{2n}}{2^{n+1}}\right) = -\frac{1}{4} \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{z^{2n+1}}{2^{n+1}} - \frac{1}{2} \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{z^{2n}}{2^{n+1}}$$

So the Laurent series for ##0 < |z| < 1## is:

$$f(z) = -\frac{1}{4z} - \frac{1}{2z^2} - \frac{1}{2z^3} - \frac{1}{4} \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{z^{2n+1}}{2^{n+1}} - \frac{1}{2} \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{z^{2n}}{2^{n+1}}$$

**2. Laurent Series for ##1 < |z| < +\infty##**

For ##|z| > 1##, we expand ##\frac{1}{z^2-2}## differently:

$$\frac{1}{z^2-2} = \frac{1}{z^2} \cdot \frac{1}{1 - \frac{2}{z^2}} = \frac{1}{z^2} \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \left(\frac{2}{z^2}\right)^n = \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{2^n}{z^{2n+2}}$$

Then:

$$\frac{\frac{1}{4}z + \frac{1}{2}}{z^2-2} = \left(\frac{1}{4}z + \frac{1}{2}\right) \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{2^n}{z^{2n+2}} = \frac{1}{4} \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{2^n}{z^{2n+1}} + \frac{1}{2} \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{2^n}{z^{2n+2}}$$

So the Laurent series for ##1 < |z| < +\infty## is:

$$f(z) = -\frac{1}{4z} - \frac{1}{2z^2} - \frac{1}{2z^3} + \frac{1}{4} \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{2^n}{z^{2n+1}} + \frac{1}{2} \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{2^n}{z^{2n+2}}$$

**Final Answer:**

**(1) For ##0 < |z| < 1##:**
$$f(z) = -\frac{1}{4z} - \frac{1}{2z^2} - \frac{1}{2z^3} - \frac{1}{4} \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{z^{2n+1}}{2^{n+1}} - \frac{1}{2} \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{z^{2n}}{2^{n+1}}$$

**(2) For ##1 < |z| < +\infty##:**
$$f(z) = -\frac{1}{4z} - \frac{1}{2z^2} - \frac{1}{2z^3} + \frac{1}{4} \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{2^n}{z^{2n+1}} + \frac{1}{2} \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{2^n}{z^{2n+2}}$$
 
Last edited:
Series (2) can not converge at ##z=\sqrt 2## because the function is not defined there. The region of convergence (##1 \lt |z| \lt +\infty##) of a Laurent series can not include a pole (## z=\sqrt 2##) of the original function, .
I repeat that the problem statement is wrong.
 
Last edited:
Yes. Expanding ##(z - a)^{-k}## in binomial series can be done in two ways; one converges for ##|z| < |a|## and the other for ##|z| > |a|##.
 
  • Like
Likes FactChecker and fresh_42
FactChecker said:
I repeat that the problem statement is wrong.
I agree
 
  • #10
jojosg said:
It was given by my teacher so I assume the problem is valid. Hope these are clearer.
Your teacher is not infallible, so I'd reach out for clarification about the intended function and intended domain.

Note that your first series converges when ##\left\lvert \frac{z^2}2 \right\rvert < 1## or, equivalently, ##\lvert z \rvert < \sqrt 2##.
 
  • #11
I haven't looked at your work, but if it is correct, then it will be valid for the modified problem with domains specified as ##|z|\lt \sqrt 2## and ##\sqrt 2 \lt |z| \lt +\infty##.
 
  • #12
FactChecker said:
I haven't looked at your work, but if it is correct, then it will be valid for the modified problem with domains specified as ##|z|\lt \sqrt 2## and ##\sqrt 2 \lt |z| \lt +\infty##.
can I use this theorem to prove that its not analytic in that range for part 2?
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot_2025-10-22-18-27-55-103_com.microsoft.skydrive.webp
    Screenshot_2025-10-22-18-27-55-103_com.microsoft.skydrive.webp
    18.2 KB · Views: 1
  • Screenshot_2025-10-22-18-28-12-374_com.microsoft.skydrive.webp
    Screenshot_2025-10-22-18-28-12-374_com.microsoft.skydrive.webp
    21.5 KB · Views: 1
  • Screenshot_2025-10-22-18-28-31-656_com.microsoft.skydrive.webp
    Screenshot_2025-10-22-18-28-31-656_com.microsoft.skydrive.webp
    17.3 KB · Views: 1
  • #13
WA delivers a series for all values, just not the same. However, it does not provide the convergence radii.
 
  • #14
jojosg said:
##\boxed{
\textbf{Problem 3: Find the Laurent series of } f(z) = \frac{z+1}{z^3(z^2-2)} \text{ for:}
\quad \text{(1) } 0 < |z| < 1 \quad \text{(2) } 1 < |z| < +\infty
}##

**Partial Fraction Decomposition**

We begin with the partial fraction decomposition:

$$f(z) = \frac{z+1}{z^3(z^2-2)} = \frac{A}{z} + \frac{B}{z^2} + \frac{C}{z^3} + \frac{Dz+E}{z^2-2}$$

Multiply both sides by ##z^3(z^2-2)##:

$$z+1 = Az^2(z^2-2) + Bz(z^2-2) + C(z^2-2) + (Dz+E)z^3$$

$$z+1 = A(z^4-2z^2) + B(z^3-2z) + C(z^2-2) + Dz^4 + Ez^3$$

$$z+1 = (A+D)z^4 + (B+E)z^3 + (-2A+C)z^2 - 2Bz - 2C$$

Comparing coefficients:

$$\begin{cases}
z^4: & A + D = 0 \\
z^3: & B + E = 0 \\
z^2: & -2A + C = 0 \\
z^1: & -2B = 1 \\
\text{Constant}: & -2C = 1
\end{cases}$$

Solving:

$$B = -\frac{1}{2}, \quad C = -\frac{1}{2}, \quad -2A - \frac{1}{2} = 0 \Rightarrow A = -\frac{1}{4}$$
$$D = -A = \frac{1}{4}, \quad E = -B = \frac{1}{2}$$

Thus:

$$f(z) = -\frac{1}{4z} - \frac{1}{2z^2} - \frac{1}{2z^3} + \frac{\frac{1}{4}z + \frac{1}{2}}{z^2-2}$$
It is simpler to add the series expansions of ##\frac{z}{z^3(z^2-2)}## and ##\frac{1}{z^3(z^2-2)}##. Both series are simple to derive and valid for ##|z^2/2| \lt 1##. Your restriction of ##|z| \lt 1## is wrong.
 
  • #15
I don't think we should use the words wrong or false. The answer is simply not as simple as expected, since the crucial point is different from the one given by the problem statement.
 
  • Like
Likes FactChecker
  • #16
fresh_42 said:
I don't think we should use the words wrong or false. The answer is simply not as simple as expected, since the crucial point is different from the one given by the problem statement.
Maybe I should have said, unnecessary or misleading or arbitrary.
In any case, IMO, it is important to know and use the radius of convergence of the geometric series.
 

Similar threads

Replies
7
Views
2K
Replies
12
Views
5K
Replies
2
Views
3K
Replies
30
Views
3K
Replies
1
Views
5K
Replies
3
Views
1K
Back
Top