What do I need to know before studying complex number calculus?

[hannibalisfun]

In a futile effort to get through Roger Penrose's Road to Reality, I’ve come upon complex number calculus and I have no back round in this topic. So what I am wondering is what do I need to understand before I can do complex number calculus and if there are any good textbooks on this topic.

 

[Gib Z]

Topic 1 - Complex Numbers
Topic 2 - Calculus

 

[Eighty]

You only need to know real analysis/calculus before. No need for multivariable calculus. A good, easy-to-read introductory book on complex analysis is Complex Variables with Applications by Wunsch.

 

[HallsofIvy]

An excellent textbook is "Invitation to Complex Analysis" by Ralph Boas.

 

[dx]

Visual Complex Analysis - Tristan Needham
Just basic calculus and algebra will get you through this book.

 

[nightowl03d]

If you are like me and tend to do too many problems as you read through books, you might want to take this approach, which will prioritize what problems to do, and get you up to speed quicker.

Go and get:

Saff, Edward B., and Arthur David Snider. Fundamentals of Complex Analysis with Applications to Engineering, Science, and Mathematics.

And do the problems suggested on this page as you work through it.

http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Mathematics/18-04Fall-2003/Readings/index.htm