Laurent Series-Finding Contour Integrals

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around evaluating contour integrals of various functions using Laurent series. Participants are exploring the implications of singularities and series expansions in complex analysis.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss isolating singularities and expanding functions, particularly focusing on the function \(\frac{1}{z^2 \sin z}\). There are attempts to apply Taylor series and long division methods to derive Laurent series. Questions arise about the application of the binomial theorem and the use of limits in the context of contour integrals.

Discussion Status

Several participants are actively engaging with the problem, suggesting different methods for expansion and questioning the effectiveness of those methods. There is acknowledgment of the need to extract specific coefficients for evaluation, but no consensus on the best approach has been reached.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the absence of residue calculus in their studies, which may limit their approaches to evaluating the integrals. There is also mention of challenges with LaTeX formatting, indicating a focus on clarity in mathematical representation.

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Homework Statement


Evaluate ∫f(z)dz around the unit circle where f(z) is given by the following:

a) \frac{e^{z}}{z^{3}}
b) \frac{1}{z^{2}sinz}
c) tanh(z)
d) \frac{1}{cos2z}
e) e^{\frac{1}{z}}

Homework Equations


This is the chapter on Laurent Series, so I'm pretty sure:
C_{n}=\frac{1}{2πi}\oint\frac{f(z)}{(z-z_{0})^{n+1}}dz
Is importnat

The Attempt at a Solution


My teacher has also given the hint to 'isolate the singulatiry' and expand the remaining function. For example: \frac{1}{z^{2}sinz}=\frac{1}{z^{3}}\frac{z}{sinz}
Then I expand \frac{z}{sinz}=\frac{z}{\sum\frac{(-1)^{j}}{(2j+1)!}z^{2j+1}}


My problem is that I'm not sure what to do from here. I'm having trouble reciprocating the sum. I want to use the binomial theorem but am not sure how to apply it for an infinite sum. I also don't know what to do once I get it in summation notation.
Could I use uniform convergence to swap summation and integration and note that the only contribution to the sum is the integral with \frac{1}{z} by Cauchy's integral formula??
f^{(k)}(z_{0})=\frac{k!}{2πi}\oint\frac{f(z)}{(z-z_{0})^{n+1}}dz
 
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stephenkeiths said:

The Attempt at a Solution


My teacher has also given the hint to 'isolate the singulatiry' and expand the remaining function. For example: \frac{1}{z^{2}sinz}=\frac{1}{z^{3}}\frac{z}{sinz}
Then I expand \frac{z}{sinz}=\frac{z}{\sum\frac{(-1)^{j}}{(2j+1)!}z^{2j+1}}

This is no good; you should use a regular Taylor expansion on sin(z)/z instead. Or you don't even need an expansion, all you need is the limit z→0.

Did you manage to do the first one? Start by using the integral theorem
f''(z_0) = \frac{2}{2\pi i} \int_C \frac{f(z)}{(z-z_0)^3}
Then choose appropriate f(z), evaluate it at the point you're interested z0 and solve for the integral.
 
I could choose f(z)=exp(z), but then I'm just using Cauchy Integral Theorem. This is the chapter on Laurent series I'm trying to figure out how Laurent series can help me evaluate this.

And the taylor series for sinz/z is the same as its Laurent series no? And that is a regular taylor expansion. I just don't know how to 'reciporicate' the sum. Or I don't know how to find the series for z/sinz

What do you mean when you say "all you need is the limit as z-->0"? We haven't done residue calculus yet by the way.
 
Last edited:
You can expand all those in Laurent series then use the coefficient on the 1/z term to compute the integral. For example:

\frac{1}{z^2} \frac{1}{\sin(z)}

use long division. Divide z-z^3/6+z^5/120+\cdots into 1. You can do that right? Lemme try and find the latex for that . . .
 
jackmell said:
You can expand all those in Laurent series then use the coefficient on the 1/z term to compute the integral.

This part makes sense.

jackmell said:
\frac{1}{z^2} \frac{1}{\sin(z)}

use long division. Divide z-z^3/6+z^5/120+\cdots into 1. You can do that right? Lemme try and find the latex for that . . .
____
Still a little unclear on this. I just wrote (z-z^3/6+z^5/120+...)| 1

And I don't see how to compute this. I'll keep trying.

Thanks for the help!
 
stephenkeiths said:
This part makes sense.


____
Still a little unclear on this. I just wrote (z-z^3/6+z^5/120+...)| 1

And I don't see how to compute this. I'll keep trying.

Thanks for the help!

Best if I show you what it looks like but unfortunately the Latex code doesn't seem to work. I'll start a thread down there where you ask latex questions to see if I can get it right.
 
You can also deal with it using geometric series after writing it into: \frac{z}{\sin(z)} = \frac{1}{1-z^2/6 + ...}
 
I don't really see how geometric series would help. That would give a mess: I'd be a sum of a series plus a series squared plus...
yuck
what I need is the method of long division for an infinite series
 
stephenkeiths said:
I don't really see how geometric series would help. That would give a mess: I'd be a sum of a series plus a series squared plus...
yuck
what I need is the method of long division for an infinite series

So the trick here is that you only need to extract one number. You don't need to care what the actual series is, just that single number.
 

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