Math 451, Review for the Midterm.

Here are a few practice problems in the mould of those which can appear on the exam
itself. Also look at related homework problems for extra practice as necessary. Make sure
you know the statements of key theorems and definitions well!

1. Compute the twelve twelfth roots of unity (simplify these to a + bi form) and plot
them in the complex plane. Do you notice anything familiar about any of these
results?

2. Find all values of (−4i)1/4 . Which one is the principal value?

πi
3. Compute (i) exp(−1 + 4
), (ii) log(8 + 15i).

4. Find all values of (7i)i/2 . Which of these is the principal value?

5. Prove that sin(iz) = i sinh z for all z ∈ C.

6. Given f (z) = z 2 Re z, determine whether f is differentiable at z = 0 by (a) The

definition of the derivative, and (b) The Cauchy-Riemann Equations.

7. Find a harmonic conjugate v(x, y) of u(x, y) = x − y + 2x2 − 2y 2 . Then, find a

function f (z) such that f (z) = u(x, y) + iv(x, y).

8. Find the 5th derivative of e−2t sin(2t). Hint: Consider e(−2+2i)t .

9. For which complex numbers is it true that z 2 = |z|2 ?

10. Suppose that f (z) = u(x, y) + iv(x, y) is holomorphic (analytic) on C whose real and
imaginary parts satisfy 2u(x, y) + v(x, y) = 5 for all z ∈ C. Prove that f is constant.
Sketches of Solutions:

1. Compute cos(2πik/12) + i sin(2πik/12) for k = 0, 1, . . . , 11; these form the vertices of

a regular dodecagon. Which ones are cube roots of unity? Fourth roots of unity?
Sixth roots of unity?

2. (−4i)1/4 = (4e−πi/2+2πik )1/4 = 41/4 e−πi/8+πik/2 for k = 0, 1, 2, 3. (None of these simplify

too nicely.) Principal value occurs when k = 0.
√ √
3. (i) exp(−1 + πi/4) = e−1 ( 22 + i 22 ),
(ii) log(8 + 15i) = ln |8 + 15i| + i arg(8 + 15i) = ln 17 + i(arctan( 15
8
) + 2πk) for any
k ∈ Z.

4. (7i)i/2 = exp[( 2i ) log(7i)] = exp{ 2i [ln 7 + ( πi

2
)(4k + 1)]} = exp[ 2i ln 7 − π
4
(4k + 1)] for
any k ∈ Z.
Principal value occurs when k = 0: e−π/4 cos( 12 ln 7) + i sin( 21 ln 7) .

5. This follows directly from the complex definitions for sine and hyperbolic sine.

6. f (z) = z 2 Re z is differentiable at z = 0:
f (∆z) − f (0)
(i) f 0 (0) = lim = lim (∆z)2 Re (∆z) = 0.
∆z→0 ∆z ∆z→0

(ii) First of all, check that f (z) = u(x, y) + iv(x, y), where u = x3 − xy 2 and
v = 2x2 y. Then, verify that ux = vy and uy = −vx at (0, 0).

7. v(x, y) = 4xy + y + x, and f (z) = z + iz + 2z 2 .

8. The fifth derivative of e(−2+2i)t equals

(−2 + 2i)5 e(−2+2i)t = 128(1 − i) · e−2t (cos(2t) + i sin(2t)). Its imaginary part yields
the desired fifth derivative and equals 128e−2t (sin(2t) − cos(2t)).

9. Writing z = x + iy, this equation yields (x2 − y 2 ) + (2xy)i = x2 + y 2 . Equating

imaginary entries yields x = 0 or y = 0. If x = 0, then the real parts yields y = 0. If
y = 0, then the real parts are always equal. In summary, any real z is a solution.

10. Differentiating with respect to x as well as y yields 2ux + vx = 0 and 2uy + vy = 0.

Rewrite the second equation as −2vx + ux = 0 by the Cauchy-Riemann Equations.
Solving for ux and vx shows that ux = 0 and vx = 0 on C. Hence,
f 0 (z) = ux + ivx = 0 on D, and thus f is constant.