How to see that cos(z) is unbounded, but cos(xy)+isin(xy) is bounded?

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter am4th
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Bounded
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the boundedness of the complex cosine function, specifically comparing cos(z) with the function f(x+iy) = cos(xy) + i sin(xy). Participants explore the implications of Liouville's theorem and the behavior of these functions in the complex plane.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that cos(z) is unbounded, referencing Liouville's theorem, which states that an entire function that is bounded must be constant.
  • Others explain that cos(z) can be expressed in terms of real and imaginary parts, showing that the real part involves cosh(y), which is unbounded as y increases.
  • One participant notes that while cos(z) is bounded on the real axis, it is not bounded over the entire complex plane.
  • Another argument presented states that if cos(z) were bounded, then sin(z) would also have to be bounded, leading to the conclusion that e^z would be bounded, which contradicts the known behavior of e^x.
  • Some participants provide mathematical expressions to illustrate their points, including the expansion of cos(z) and its relationship to the exponential function.
  • A later reply mentions Picard's little theorem as a supporting argument for the unboundedness of cos(z).
  • There is a repeated expression of confusion regarding why the boundedness of cos(xy) + i sin(xy) does not apply to cos(z), indicating a need for clarification on the differences between real and complex variables.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus. There are competing views on the boundedness of cos(z) and the implications of the properties of complex functions.

Contextual Notes

Some arguments depend on the definitions of boundedness in the context of complex analysis, and there are unresolved mathematical steps regarding the implications of the relationships between the functions discussed.

am4th
Messages
4
Reaction score
1
I'm looking at a tutorial right now and using Liouville's theorem cos(z) is unbounded. On the next slide we are looking at the function f(x+iy)=cos(xy)+isin(xy), and the reasoning is that: |cos(xy)|≤1, |sin(xy)|≤1 so |f(x+iy)|≤2, so f(x+iy) is bounded.

I don't understand why this doesn't also apply to cos(z), that is: |cos(z)|≤1, so cos(z) is bounded.

Grateful for any insights.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
$$\cos(z)=\cos(x+i y)=\cos(x)\cos(iy)-\sin(x)\sin(iy)=\cos(x)\cosh(y)-i\sin(x)\sinh(y)$$
Now the real part is multiplied by ##-1\leq\cos(x) \leq 1## and ##\cosh(y)## which is unbounded above (times -1 is also unbounded below). Similar analysis works for the imaginary part.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: am4th, PeroK and fresh_42
am4th said:
I don't understand why this doesn't also apply to cos(z), that is: |cos(z)|≤1,
This is not right.
am4th said:
so cos(z) is bounded.
This would be true if the first statement was right, but it is not.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: am4th
am4th said:
I don't understand why this doesn't also apply to cos(z), that is: |cos(z)|≤1, so cos(z) is bounded.
The difference is that ##x## and ##y## are real whereas ##z## is complex. To put it another way, ##\cos z## is bounded on the real axis, but it's not bounded over the entire complex plane.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: FactChecker and am4th
Cosine is analytic in the whole plane, if it were bounded it would be constant by Liouville.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: am4th and pines-demon
pines-demon said:
$$\cos(z)=\cos(x+i y)=\cos(x)\cos(iy)-\sin(x)\sin(iy)=\cos(x)\cosh(y)-i\sin(x)\sinh(y)$$
Now the real part is multiplied by ##-1\leq\cos(x) \leq 1## and ##\cosh(y)## which is unbounded above (times -1 is also unbounded below). Similar analysis works for the imaginary part.
Or, let ##z = iy##, and note that:
$$\cos(iy) = \cosh(y)$$
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: am4th and pines-demon
another argument, is to note that since cos^2 + sin^2 = 1, hence cos(z) is bounded if and only if sin(z) is bounded. And since e^(iz) = cos(z) + i.sin(z), hence if cos(z) is bounded then e^z is bounded. But e^z = e^(x+iy) = e^x.(e^iy) = e^x.(cos(y)+i.sin(y)), thus |e^z| =|e^x|, and I suppose you know that e^x is unbounded. E.g. e^x = 1+x + x^2/2 +.... > x, for x positive.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: FactChecker, am4th and fresh_42
It also follows from Picard's little theorem.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: fresh_42
am4th said:
I'm looking at a tutorial right now and using Liouville's theorem cos(z) is unbounded. On the next slide we are looking at the function f(x+iy)=cos(xy)+isin(xy), and the reasoning is that: |cos(xy)|≤1, |sin(xy)|≤1 so |f(x+iy)|≤2, so f(x+iy) is bounded.

I don't understand why this doesn't also apply to cos(z), that is: |cos(z)|≤1, so cos(z) is bounded.

Grateful for any insights.

Note that if z = x + iy then
xy = \operatorname{Re}(z)\operatorname{Im}(z) = \frac{(z + \bar{z})(z - \bar{z})}{4i} so f(x + iy) = \cos(xy) + i\sin(xy) is not complex analytic.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K