Integration of complex functions

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the integration of complex functions, specifically focusing on the integration of the function f(z) = z. Participants explore the relationship between direct integration and integration using substitution in the context of complex variables, as presented in a calculus textbook.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents an equation from their textbook and attempts to prove its validity through substitution and integration, leading to different results.
  • Another participant suggests visualizing the integration path to clarify the discrepancy in results, indicating that the integration path affects the imaginary part of the integral.
  • A third participant mentions a teaching point about the behavior of analytic functions in the complex domain compared to the real domain, expressing a desire for a deeper understanding of this concept.
  • A later reply seeks clarification on the integration process and presents a detailed breakdown of the integration steps, highlighting the differences in results obtained through direct integration versus substitution.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the integration results, with some suggesting that the path of integration impacts the outcome. There is no consensus on the correct approach or resolution of the discrepancies in the integration results.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference specific integration paths and substitution methods, but the discussion does not resolve the assumptions or conditions under which the different results arise.

saneisjus
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I'm doing a bit of studying on calculus of complex functions.
The book I'm reading from is "Mathematical Methods For Physicists", and in the course of reading the chapter on 'functions of a complex variable' I have run across the equation

[tex]\int^{z_{2}}_{z_{1}}[/tex]f(z) dz =[tex]\int^{x_{2},y_{2}}_{x_{1},y{2}}[/tex][u(x,y) + iv(x,y)][dx + idy]

So to really understand this I tried proving it to myself, that it's true.
When you substitute u(x,y) + iv(x,y) for f(x) you do get what's up there. so simplify that and you get

= [tex]\int^{x_{2},y_{2}}_{x_{1},y{2}}[/tex][u(x,y)dx-v(x,y)]+i[tex]\int^{x_{2},y_{2}}_{x_{1},y{2}}[/tex][v(x,y)dy + u(x,y)dy)]

which is great, but when I try to integrate f(z) = z I get two different answers.
directly integrating
[tex]\int[/tex] z dz =
[tex]\frac{z^{2}}{2}[/tex]
substitute in x + iy for z
and you get
[tex]\frac{x^{2}-y^{2}}{2}[/tex] + ixy

integrating using the substituted formula
we get
[tex]\frac{x^{2}-y^{2}}{2}[/tex] + i2xy

I can't for the life of me prove to myself that those two equations (the substituted integral and the direct integral) are equal.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
 
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Draw a picture of the path that you are integrating. I bet you are going from (0,0) -> (x,0) -> (x,y) then you should see that on the first leg, the imaginary part of the integral is 0, and on the second leg the imaginary part is xy. I think that you didn't make the connection that the y-coordinate on the first leg was 0, you thought it was y and that's why you had the 2?
 
We were taught, without name of theorem or proof unfortunately :/, that you can let y=0 and x=z and it kicks out the complex representation for your function. What it essentially is saying is that the way an analytic function behaves in the complex domain is the same as it behaves in the real domain.

I've used it and it works (you get the right answer) but I would love to see why.
 
DavidWhitbeck:
You've lost me. I understand how the path is (0,0)->(x,0)->(x,y), but I don't understand how that would leave me without a two.
When I posted it was late, and I was sufficiently frustrated with the the latex codes, so neglected to show how I got those two answers, I'll post that now, and perhaps it will make my questions more clear.

f(z) = z
z = x + iy
dz = dx + idy ( <-- for some reason this doesn't look right, this time around, but I can't place it)
splitting f(x) into real and imaginary parts we get
f(z) = u(x,y) + iv(x,y)
u(x,y) = x
v(x,y) = y

[tex]\int[/tex]f(z) dz= [tex]\int[/tex]z dz
=[tex]\int[/tex][u(x,y) + iv(x,y)][dx + idy]
=[tex]\int[/tex]u(x,y)dx - [tex]\int[/tex]v(x,y)dy +i[[tex]\int[/tex]u(x,y)dy + [tex]\int[/tex]v(x,y)dx]

then integrating z dz
[tex]\int[/tex] z dz
= [tex]\frac{z^{2}}{2}[/tex]
plug in z = x + iy
=[tex]\frac{(x + iy)^{2}}{2}[/tex]
=[tex]\frac{x^{2} - y^{2} + i2xy}{2}[/tex]
=[tex]\frac{x^{2} - y^{2}}{2} + ixy[/tex]

but if we integrate with the substituted formula

[tex]\int[/tex]x dx - [tex]\int[/tex] y dy + i[[tex]\int[/tex] x dy + [tex]\int[/tex] y dx]
= [tex]\frac{x^{2}}{2} - frac{y^{2}}{2} + i[xy + yx][/tex]
= [tex]\frac{x^{2} - y^{2}}{2} + i2xy[/tex]
 

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