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

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The discussion clarifies that the function cos(z) is unbounded in the complex plane, while the function f(x+iy) = cos(xy) + i*sin(xy) is bounded. This conclusion is drawn using Liouville's theorem, which states that a bounded entire function must be constant. The key distinction lies in the nature of the variables: x and y are real, whereas z is complex. The analysis shows that cos(z) is bounded on the real axis but unbounded over the entire complex plane due to the behavior of the hyperbolic cosine function, cosh(y).

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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.
 
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$$\cos(z)=\cos(x+i y)=\cos(x)\cos(iy)-\sin(x)\sin(iy)=\cos(x)\cosh(y)-i\sin(x)\sinh(y)$$
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.
 
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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.
 
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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.
 
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Cosine is analytic in the whole plane, if it were bounded it would be constant by Liouville.
 
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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:
$$\cos(iy) = \cosh(y)$$
 
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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.
 
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It also follows from Picard's little theorem.
 
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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.
 

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