Quick/easy question about analytic (holomorphic) functions

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between differentiability and analyticity (holomorphicity) of functions, particularly in the context of complex analysis. Participants explore whether being differentiable implies being analytic, and whether the concept of being analytic applies at a single point or requires a neighborhood around that point.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions if "f is differentiable" is equivalent to "f is analytic/holomorphic," and whether analyticity can be discussed at a point or only in a neighborhood.
  • Another participant cites a Wikipedia article stating that analytic and holomorphic functions are often considered equivalent, and that being holomorphic at a point implies holomorphicity in a neighborhood.
  • A different participant reinforces the idea that being holomorphic at a point is equivalent to being holomorphic in a neighborhood, while also noting that a function can be continuous or differentiable at a point without being so in a neighborhood, providing an example.
  • One participant reiterates the initial question about differentiability and analyticity and presents an example of a function that has a derivative at a point but is not analytic there.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the implications of differentiability for analyticity, with some asserting equivalence and others providing counterexamples. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the conditions under which a function can be considered analytic.

Contextual Notes

Some statements rely on the definitions of differentiability and analyticity, and the examples provided highlight the nuances in these concepts without reaching a consensus on their implications.

AxiomOfChoice
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Is saying "[itex]f[/itex] is differentiable" equivalent to saying "[itex]f[/itex] is analytic/holomorphic?"

Also, does it make sense to talk about functions being analytic/holomorphic at a POINT, or do we always need to talk about them being analytic in some NEIGHBORHOOD of a point (i.e., on an open set)?
 
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holomorphic_function

The term analytic function is often used interchangeably with “holomorphic function”. The fact that the class of complex analytic functions coincides with the class of holomorphic functions is a major theorem in complex analysis.

Being holomorphic at a point is also the same as saying it's holomorphic in some neighborhood of that point. (Just like being differentiable or continuous at a point).
 
Tac-Tics said:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holomorphic_function



Being holomorphic at a point is also the same as saying it's holomorphic in some neighborhood of that point. (Just like being differentiable or continuous at a point).

A function can actually be continuous or differentiable at a point without being continuous or differentiable in a neighborhood. One example is f(x)=x2 if x is rational, 0 if x is irrational.
 
AxiomOfChoice said:
Is saying "[itex]f[/itex] is differentiable" equivalent to saying "[itex]f[/itex] is analytic/holomorphic?"

Also, does it make sense to talk about functions being analytic/holomorphic at a POINT, or do we always need to talk about them being analytic in some NEIGHBORHOOD of a point (i.e., on an open set)?

The function [itex]f(z) = |z|^2[/itex] has a derivative at z = 0, but not at any other point (verification is left as an exercise). Therefore, although the derivative exists at z = 0, the function isn't analytic at z = 0.

Petek
 

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