If f(z) is 1-1, then f'(z) is not zero.

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the mathematical assertion that if a function \( f(z) \) is one-to-one (injective) in a region \( R \), then its derivative \( f'(z) \) cannot be zero in that region. Participants explore various approaches to rigorously prove this result, including the use of local expressions for \( f(z) \), properties of holomorphic functions, and implications of the inverse function theorem.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose a contradiction approach, assuming \( f'(z_0) = 0 \) and expressing \( f(z) \) locally as \( f(z) = z^k g(z) \), where \( g(z) \) is analytic and non-zero in a neighborhood of \( z_0 \).
  • Others argue that if \( f(z) = z^k g(z) \) for \( k > 1 \), then \( f(z) \) cannot be one-to-one due to the multi-valued nature of \( z^k \) in the complex plane.
  • A later reply questions the justification for the existence of a holomorphic \( k \)-th root, suggesting that the simply-connected nature of the disc around \( z_0 \) could be used to define a branch of the logarithm.
  • Some participants discuss the implications of the inverse function theorem, noting that if \( f \) is one-to-one, then its inverse must exist and that \( f'(z) \) cannot be zero to ensure the differentiability of the inverse.
  • One participant raises a specific example, \( f(z) = z^3 \), questioning whether it is one-to-one and noting that it is not in the complex plane, while it is on the real line.
  • Another participant discusses the Jacobian matrix of an analytic function and its implications for the invertibility of the function, suggesting that if \( f'(z) \) is zero, the Jacobian determinant would also be zero, leading to complications in defining the inverse.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the validity of the original assertion, with some supporting it through various mathematical arguments while others challenge the assumptions or provide counterexamples. The discussion remains unresolved, with multiple competing perspectives on the implications of \( f'(z) \) being zero.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the need for further justification of the existence of holomorphic roots and the conditions under which the inverse function theorem applies. The discussion also highlights the complexity of injectivity in the context of complex functions versus real functions.

Bacle
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Esteemed Analysts:

I am trying to rigorize the result that if f is 1-1 in a region R, then f'(z) is not zero in R.

This is what I have: Assume, by contradiction, that f'(zo)=0 for zo in R. Then

f can be expressed locally as :

f(z)=z^k.g(z)

for g(z) analytic and non-zero for some open ball B(zo,r)-{zo}

From this, we have to somehow use the fact that z^k is k-to-1, contradicting the

assumption that f is 1-1.

I don't know if we can use the fact that an open ball is simply-connected to

define a branch of log, from which we can define a branch of z^k, and then

conclude with the contradiction that f(z) is not 1-1.

Any suggestions for rigorizing?

Thanks.
 
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One argument goes as follows:

WLOG z0=0 and f(0)=f'(0)=0. So f(z)=zkg(z) for some integer k>1, g analytic and nonzero in a n'hood of 0. So we can take a kth root of g, say g(z)=h(z)k. So f(z)=(zh(z))k. Now zh(z) is a nonconstant holomorphic function (if it's constant, it's zero, so f is 0 identically) and so it's an open map. So the image of any open n'hood of zero is open, and hence contains some open disc around 0. This must include points different by a factor \exp(2\pi i/k), from which f is not injective.
 
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Thanks, henry_m:

Yes, that is along the lines I was thinking, but I did know how to justify the
existence of a holomorphic k-th root in a ball about 0; I was thinking of using
the fact that a ball is symply-connected, so that we can define a branch of log,
from which we can define a root, but there may be other ways of showing the
existence of a k-th root in B(zo,r)?
 
Are you worried about the step of finding h given g? You don't quite need to use the fact that a disc is simply connected, basically because we only need to be able to work in a tiny disc around z0.

In more detail:

Pick some disc around g(z0) not containing zero. It should be clear that we can define a branch on the logarithm in this disc. Then h(z)=exp(log(g(z))/k) defines h on the preimage of this disc, which contains z0.
 
Question: Consider f(z)=z^3. Then, isn't f(z) 1-1 and f'(0)=0?
 
3.1415926535 said:
Question: Consider f(z)=z^3. Then, isn't f(z) 1-1 and f'(0)=0?

Not in the complex plane. For instance, let \zeta = e^{2 \pi i/3}. Then \zeta is a primitive third root of unity, so
<br /> 1 = \zeta^3 = (\zeta^2)^3 = 1^3.<br />

So f is actually 3-to-1. You are correct for the real line, though, f(x) = x3 is one-to-one on the reals.
 
As for the original question:

If f is one-to-one on R, then it has an inverse f^{-1} \colon f(R) \to R. I think the derivative of the inverse is given by
<br /> (f^{-1})&#039;(w) = \frac{1}{f&#039;(z)}<br />
where f(z) = w. So f'(z) can't be 0 or (f-1)' will blow up at f(0).

Does this work? I might have forgotten a condition...
 
spamiam said:
As for the original question:

If f is one-to-one on R, then it has an inverse f^{-1} \colon f(R) \to R. I think the derivative of the inverse is given by
<br /> (f^{-1})&#039;(w) = \frac{1}{f&#039;(z)}<br />
where f(z) = w. So f'(z) can't be 0 or (f-1)' will blow up at f(0).

Does this work? I might have forgotten a condition...

The problem with this argument is that you assume that the inverse is analytic, which must be proved.

The normal complex inverse function theorem assumes nonzero derivative, and proves existence of a continuous inverse, and then analyticity of the inverse and the formula for the inverse. You are trying to use the formula without the first assumption. To see what goes wrong if we try to use the formula here, the argument for the last part goes like this:

Let g be an inverse for f, and w, w' be in the domain of g and not equal. Let z=g(w), z'=g(w'). Then z and z' are not equal, and:
\frac{g(w)-g(w&#039;)}{w-w&#039;}=\frac{z-z&#039;}{f(z)-f(z&#039;)}
Now as w tends to w', z tends to z' (continuity of g needed) and so the RHS tends to 1/f'(z'), which proves what we wanted; g is differentiable with g'(w')=1/f'(z').

BUT if we haven't assumed that f' is nonzero, we have proved only that the limit, and hence the derivative of g, does not exist if f' vanishes somewhere. There is no contradiction since we haven't proved that the inverse is differentiable.
 
Spamiam:

The problem is that I don't know how to tell if 1/f'(z) is analytic or not.

My approach is this, assuming that if f is 1-1, then f'(z) is not 0:

The Jacobian matrix of an analytic function is an antisymmetric Jacobian,

with the entries the partials of U,V with respect to x,y respectively. Since

f'(z) is not zero, the determinant J(f):=U_x^2+U_y^2 is itself not zero, so J(f)

is invertible. You can then show that the form of the inverse J(f)^-1 is the same

as that of J(f), i.e., J(f)^-1 is also antisymmetric, and contains the partials

of f^-1(z) with respect to x,y, and these satisfy Cauchy Riemann, by the

symmetry of the inverse matrix.
 
  • #10
Ah okay, I thought I was forgetting something. Thanks for the correction.
 
  • #11
Actually, Spamiam, I think your statement is true if f(z) is real ( tho the names are changed

the innocent :) ):

If f(z)=U+iV is analytic, then:

Ux=Vy

Uy=-Vx

But , given 1/f'(z)= f'(z)^/f'(z).f'(z)^ (with ^ complex conjugation )

=U-iV/|f'(z)| , forces Ux=Vy=-Vy , so that Vy is constant; same for other component functions.
 

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