Mobius Transformations and Geometric Interpretations

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on Mobius transformations, specifically how to decompose them into four components: Translation, Dilation-Rotation, Inversion, and Translation. The Mobius transformation is defined as (az+b)/(cz+d) with the condition that ad-bc ≠ 0. The participants confirm that any straight line or circle is mapped to another straight line or circle through these transformations, although challenges arise in demonstrating the inversion aspect of the transformation.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Mobius transformations and their mathematical form (az+b)/(cz+d)
  • Knowledge of geometric transformations including Translation, Dilation-Rotation, and Inversion
  • Familiarity with complex numbers and their geometric interpretations
  • Basic skills in algebraic manipulation and function decomposition
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the properties of Mobius transformations in complex analysis
  • Learn about the geometric interpretations of Inversion in the context of complex numbers
  • Explore the concept of conformal mappings and their applications
  • Investigate the relationship between Mobius transformations and the Riemann sphere
USEFUL FOR

Mathematicians, students studying complex analysis, and anyone interested in geometric transformations and their applications in mathematics.

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Homework Statement


a) Show that you can split any transformation into a Translation, Dilation-Rotation, Inversion, and Translation.

b) Show using part a) that any straight line or circle is send to a straight line or circle when applying the mobius transformation.



Homework Equations



Mobius transformation is of the form:
(az+b)/(cz+d)
WHERE:
ad-bc != 0



The Attempt at a Solution


I believe I finished part a (mostly) though I'm a little unsure how to do the simple case.

First if c!=0 then we can split up the equation (az+b)/(cz+d)

into:

(a/c) - (ad-bc)/c^2 * 1/(z+d/c)
Thus
T_4(z) = z + (a/c)
T_3(z) = z * -(ad-bc)/c^2
T_2(z) = 1/z
T_1(z) = z + (d/c)

Where (az+b)/(cz+d) = T_4(T_3(T_2(T_1(z))))

If c = 0 then d!=0 and the mobius transformation takes the form:
(az+b)/d = (a/d)z + (b/d) which is just a rotation-dilation and a translation. Though I have no clue how to show this as 4 different functions (one of which being an inversion). I'm thinking that's its ok for me to leave my answer for part a as is, though if anyone has any hints on finding 4 functions for this then by all means don't hesitate to tell me to keep looking.

b) This is where I'm having trouble.

Translations don't change the geometric structure so I'm not going to discuss them.

Inversions send z to z_bar / |z|^2 ~ Ie: Flips z over the real axis and then scales them to 1/|z|.

I can see how this may send a straight line to a half circle.. though I don't see how it could possibly encompass an entire disk.

Rotation-Dilation rotates z by some theta and then scales it by some radius.

Basically I'm a little lost on how to start on these, any hints you can provide would be appreciated.
 
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Your part a) is fine. When c=0, you can't decompose the mobius transformation in the way they suggest. For b) what part don't you get? You seem to have the right idea for translations and rotation-dilations. It's just inversions, right?
I can see how this may send a straight line to a half circle.. though I don't see how it could possibly encompass an entire disk.
Why?
 

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