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I need help with this exercise:

Let $$ f(z) = \left\{ \begin{align} &e^{-\frac{1}{z^4}} &\hspace{1mm} \mbox{if} \hspace{1mm} z \neq 0 \\ &0 &\hspace{1mm} \mbox{if} \hspace{1mm} z = 0 \\ \end{align} \right. $$ Show that $f$ satisfies Cauchy-Riemann equations, but $f$ is not differentiable in $z=0$.

I have to compute $u_x(x,y)$, $u_y(x,y)$, $v_x(x,y)$ and $v_y(x,y)$, so I have to find $u(x,y)$ and $v(x,y)$ explicitly. My attempts: if $z = x+iy$, then $z^4 = (x+iy)^4$, doing the math, I found

$$ z^4 = (x^4 - 6x^2y^2 + y^4)+i(4x^3y - 4xy^3) $$

I don't know how to find $-\dfrac{1}{z^4}$. My second attempt was this: (trying to find $f(z)$ in polar coordinates) let be $z = |z|e^{i\theta}$, then $z^4 = |z|^4e^{i(4\theta)}$, thus

$$ e^{-\frac{1}{z^4}} = e^{-|z|^4}e^{e^{i\theta}} $$

I appreciate any idea you have.

zoli
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Alexei0709
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1 Answers1

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The function $f$ is analytic off the origin, hence satisfies the CR equations at all $z\ne0$. For $z=0$ look at $$f_x(0,0)=\lim_{x\to0}{e^{-1/x^4}\over x}=0\ ,$$ and similarly $$f_y(0,0)=\lim_{y\to0}{e^{-1/(iy)^4}\over y}=0\ .$$ It follows that $u_x(0,0)=v_x(0,0)=u_y(0,0)=v_y(0,0)=0$; so $f$ satisfies the CR equations also at $z=0$.

But $f$ is not even continuous at $z=0$: Consider the points $z(t):=(1+i)t$ for real $t$ near $0$. I leave the details to you.

Christian Blatter
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    You probably mean $y\to 0$ instead of $x\to 0$ in the second equation. – anderstood Mar 04 '17 at 22:30
  • Cant we say straightaway that since $\dfrac{ \partial f}{\partial \bar{z}}=0 $ is satisfied for every complex number thus CR equations are satisfied for all complex numbers – Upstart Jun 20 '22 at 17:15