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Re: Some problems with complex functions like Sqrt[z]

  • To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
  • Subject: [mg18210] Re: Some problems with complex functions like Sqrt[z]
  • From: Mirek Gruszkiewicz <xuk at ornl.gov>
  • Date: Tue, 22 Jun 1999 20:41:08 -0400
  • Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab, Oak Ridge, TN
  • References: <7kho0g$qmq@smc.vnet.net>
  • Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com


Robert Prus wrote:

>
>
> In the following one can use the substitutions:
>
> Abs'[x_+I y_] -> x/Sqrt[x^2+y^2]
>
> Arg'[x_+I y_] -> -y/(x^2+y^2)
>
>

This seems to be the problem, the above are not true.
Mathematica's Abs'[x_+I y_] is *not* the derivative of the real function of two variables Sqrt[x^2+y^2] wth respect to
either x or y.
Similarly, Arg'[x_+I y_] does *not* mean the partial derivative of any real function of two variables with respect to one
of these variables (which one x or y would that be?)

Instead, they are derivatives of functions of one complex variable, Abs[z]  and Arg[z].

Abs'[z] = Abs[z] / z               (since z = Abs[z](cos phi + i sin phi)   )
Then,  Abs'[a+bi] = Sqrt[a^2+b^2]/(a+bi)

Arg'[z] = d phi/ d z = 1/(z i)                 (from z = Abs[z]*Exp[i phi])
so, Arg'[z] = 1/((a+bi)i)

Now we can try

f[z_]:=Sqrt[z]
re=Re[f[a+I b]]//ComplexExpand
im=Im[f[a+I b]]//ComplexExpand

Answer:
Sqrt[Abs[a + I*b]]*Cos[1/2*Arg[a + I*b]]
Sqrt[Abs[a + I*b]]*Sin[1/2*Arg[a + I*b]]

And

Simplify[D[{re, im}, a] . D[{re, im}, b]]

I*Abs'[a + I*b]^2 + Abs[a + I*b]^2*Arg'[a + I*b]^2)
----------------------------------------------------------
4*Abs[a + I*b]

which is same as your result.

But now use the above expressions,

%/. {Abs'[x_ + I*y_] -> Sqrt[x^2 + y^2]/(x + I*y),
          Arg'[x_ + I*y_] -> 1/((x + I*y)*I)}
Answer:

(I*((a^2 + b^2)/(a + I*b)^2 - Abs[a + I*b]^2/
     (a + I*b)^2))/(4*Abs[a + I*b])

now tell Mathematica what is Abs[x_ + I*y_]

%/.Abs[x_ + I*y_] -> Sqrt[x^2 + y^2]

and you get zero, cbdo.

***********************

To do everything as functions of real variables (as you probably intended), try this:

re = FunctionExpand[
ComplexExpand[Re[f[a + I*b]]] /.
    {Abs[x_ + I*y_] -> Sqrt[x^2 + y^2],
     Arg[x_ + I*y_] -> ArcCos[x/Sqrt[x^2 + y^2]]}
]

im = FunctionExpand[
ComplexExpand[Im[f[a + I*b]]] /.
    {Abs[x_ + I*y_] -> Sqrt[x^2 + y^2],
     Arg[x_ + I*y_] -> ArcCos[x/Sqrt[x^2 + y^2]]}
]

Simplify[D[{re, im}, a] . D[{re, im}, b]]

Answer:

((a^2 + b^2)^(1/4)*Sqrt[1 + a/Sqrt[a^2 + b^2]])/Sqrt[2]
((a^2 + b^2)^(1/4)*Sqrt[1 - a/Sqrt[a^2 + b^2]])/Sqrt[2]
0

, CND. :-)

Mirek Gruszkiewicz
ornl



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