Understanding Smooth Extension to Boundary of D in C (or R^2)

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The discussion centers on the concept of a function extending smoothly to the boundary of a domain D in complex analysis. A function f(z) is considered to extend smoothly to the closure of D, denoted as D', if there exists a function g(z) that equals f(z) in D and is smooth (continuous and differentiable) throughout D'. The term "smooth" in this context does not imply complex differentiability at boundary points, as differentiability cannot be defined there. Instead, it refers to the continuity of the function at the boundary. Understanding this distinction is crucial for applying Cauchy's integral formula correctly.
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What does it mean to say something "extends smoothly" to a boundary in C (or R^2)?

I'm studying Cauchy's integral formula, and one of the assumptions of the theorem is that a function be analytic on a domain D and extend smoothly to the boundary of D. What does that mean, exactly?
 
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Let D be an (open) set on which a function f(z) is defined, and denote by D' the closure of D (i.e. D union its boundary).

Then the smooth extension of f to D' is the function g(z) defined by
g(z) = f(z) for all z in D
g(z) is smooth everywhere
 


CompuChip said:
Let D be an (open) set on which a function f(z) is defined, and denote by D' the closure of D (i.e. D union its boundary).

Then the smooth extension of f to D' is the function g(z) defined by
g(z) = f(z) for all z in D
g(z) is smooth everywhere

Thanks. And does "smooth" in this context mean "complex differentiable?" And if so, how do we make sense of differentiability at a point on the boundary?
 


Exactly, you can't. Smooth simply means it's continuous there (as of course you cannot define higher classes of smoothness on a boundry point)
 

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