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$$ f(z) = \left\{ \begin{array}{ll} \frac{z^{5}}{|z|^4} & \quad z \neq 0 \\ 0 & \quad z= 0 \end{array} \right. $$ I am trying to solve this past exam question. Similar question was asked in Show that $f(z)=\frac{z^5}{|z|^4}$ but has not been answered.

My attempt:

Let $z=x+iy$ then we can separate the real and imaginary parts of $f(z)$ as

$$ f(z)=u+iv=\left(\frac{x^5-10 x^3 y^2+5 x y^4}{\left(x^2+y^2\right)^2}\right)+i\left(\frac{5 x^4 y-10 x^2 y^3+y^5}{\left(x^2+y^2\right)^2}\right) $$

$$ \frac{\partial u}{\partial x}=\frac{5 x^4-30 x^2 y^2+5 y^4}{\left(x^2+y^2\right)^2}-\frac{4 x \left(x^5-10 x^3 y^2+5 x y^4\right)}{\left(x^2+y^2\right)^3} $$ $$ \frac{\partial v}{\partial y}=\frac{5 x^4-30 x^2 y^2+5 y^4}{\left(x^2+y^2\right)^2}-\frac{4 y \left(5 x^4 y-10 x^2 y^3+y^5\right)}{\left(x^2+y^2\right)^3} $$ $$ \frac{\partial u}{\partial y}=\frac{20 x y^3-20 x^3 y}{\left(x^2+y^2\right)^2}-\frac{4 y \left(x^5-10 x^3 y^2+5 x y^4\right)}{\left(x^2+y^2\right)^3} $$ $$ \frac{\partial v}{\partial x}=\frac{20 x^3 y-20 x y^3}{\left(x^2+y^2\right)^2}-\frac{4 x \left(5 x^4 y-10 x^2 y^3+y^5\right)}{\left(x^2+y^2\right)^3} $$

I am not sure what to do next. If I substitute $z=0\rightarrow x=0,y=0$ in the equations above then they become infinite because the bottom term $(x^{2}+y^{2})$ becomes zero. So how can I show that $f(z)$ satisfies the Cauchy Riemann equations at $z=0$. Also, how can I show that $f(z)$ is not differentiable at $z=0$?

Thanks.

2 Answers 2

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It must satisfy the CR condition in $0$, because they only involve partial derivatives in the $x-$ and $y-$ directions, and the function coincides with $f(z)=z$ both on $x$ and $y$-axis. (Note that $|ix|^4=x^4=(ix)^4$ for real $x$.)

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    I understand that but In the exam I have to prove mathematically. – 2017-01-05
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    This is a mathematical proof. A limit $\lim_{x\to 0} g(x)$ only depends on the values of $g(x)$ (and not on the values of a possible extension of $g$ to a higher-dimensional space). – 2017-01-05
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The formulas you obtained are only valid for $(x,y)\neq (0,0)$. We have $u(0,0) = v(0,0) = 0$. Now:

$$\frac{\partial u}{\partial x}(0,0) = \lim_{h\to 0}\frac{u(h,0)-u(0,0)}{h} = \lim_{h\to 0} \frac{h}{h} =1$$

Etc.

We have:

$$g(z):=\frac{f(z)-f(0)}{z-0} = \frac{z^4}{|z|^4} = e^{4i\arg(z)}$$

If $\lim_{z\to 0} g(z)$ exists, say equals $c$, then $\lim_{z\to 0} g(h(z)) = c$ for any $h$ with $\lim_{z\to 0}h(z) = 0$. Now consider:

  • $h_1(z) = (1+i)|z|$

  • $h_2(z) = i|z|$

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    How to show that $f(z)$ is not differentiable at $z=0$? – 2017-01-05
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    @gbd added that. – 2017-01-05