Let $f,g:\mathbb C \to \mathbb C$ be two analytic functions such that $f(z)(g(z)+z^2)=0$ for all $z$ .Then prove that either $f(z)=0$ or $g(z)=-z^2$.
A question on complex analysis
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0@N Jana: Good. (You meant $h$ the last time you wrote $f$.) If you want, now that you have answered your own question, you could post it as an official answer. – 2011-02-04
2 Answers
I thought it might be a good idea to attempt to get this off of the Unanswered list by posting what is essentially the solution N Jana gave in the comments.
If there exists $a\in\mathbb C$ such that $f(a)\neq 0$, then by continuity there is an open disk at $a$ where $f$ is nonzero. Then $g(z)+z^2$ is zero on this disk, and by the identity theorem for analytic functions, $g(z)+z^2=0$ for all $z\in\mathbb{C}$.
The $z^2$ here adds nothing essential. The obvious generalization is that if a product of analytic functions on a connected open set is identically $0$, then one of the functions is identically zero. (And this means that the ring of analytic functions on a connected open set is an integral domain with pointwise operations.)
If $f=0$ you have done, so can assume this is not the case. Can assume there is a point where both $f$ and $g-z^2$ are both different from zero otherwise you have done. Up to traslation can assume this point is the origin. So there exists integers $h,k$ such that f=z^hf' and g=z^kg' with f',g' different from zero at the origin. then you have f'(z^{h+k}g'-z^{2+k})=0. Since f' not zero at the origin this means that locally z^{h+k}g'-z^{2+k}=0 from which the thesis follows.