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18.112 Functions of a Complex Variable

Fall 2008

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Lecture 14: The Residue Theorem and Application

(Replacing Text 148-154)

Let Ω be a region and a ∈ Ω. Let f (z) be holomorphic in Ω� = Ω − a

Definition 1 The residue is defined as
�
1
R = Resz=a f (z) � f (z) dz,
2πi C
where C is any circle contained in Ω with center a.

If C � is another circle with

center a and
C � ⊂ Ω,
C
then Cauchy’s Theorem for the
annulus shows that
C` Resz=a f (z)
is independence of the choice of
C.
While the definition can be
shown to be equivalent to Defi­
nition 3 on p.149 in the text, we
Fig. 14-1 shall not need this.
In place of Theorem 17 (Text p.150) we shall prove the following version:
Theorem 17 � Let f be analytic except for isolated singularities aj in a region Ω.
Let γ be a simple closed curve which has interior contained in Ω and aj ∈
/ γ (all j).
Then �
1 �
f (z) dz = Resz=aj f (z).
2πi γ j

where the sum ranges over all aj inside γ.

1
Proof:

Fig. 14-2
By compactness of γ and its interior, the sum above is finite. For simplicity let
a1 , a2 be the singularities inside γ.

The outside of γ is
γ connected and if we take
two disks D1 , D2 around
a1 and a2 and connect
their boundaries to γ with
“bridges” as in Fig. 14-3,
a₂ a₁ the piece remaining in the
interior of γ is simply con­
nected (the complement is
Fig 14-3 connected). Thus the in­
tegral over the boundary
of this region is 0.

Letting the widths of the bridges tend to 0, the theorem follows. Q.E.D.

Calculation of residues.

1. If
lim f (z)(z − a)
z →a
exists and is finite, then it equals Resz=a f (z).
In fact a is then a pole of f (z), so
f (z) = Bh (z − a)−h + · · · + B1 (z − a)−1 + ϕ(z), Bh �= 0.
Then �
1
f (z) dz = B1
2πi C
and since the singular part above equals
(z − a)−h (Bh + Bh−1 (z − a) + · · · + B1 (z − a)h−1 )
the finiteness of the limit implies h ≤ 1.

g(z )
2. If f (z) = h (z )
where g(a) �= 0 and h(z) has a simple zero at z = a, then
g(a)
Resz=a f (z) = .
h� (a)

In fact
1 g(a)
lim f (a)(z − a) = lim g(z) h(z)−h(a) = � .
z → a z →a h (a)
z−a

3. If f has a pole of order h, then

dh−1
� �
1
Resz=a f (z) = (z − a)h f (z) .
(h − 1)! dz h−1 z=a

In fact
f (z) = (z − a)−h g(z),
where g is holomorphic at a. So
�
(h−1) 1 g (z )
g (a) = (h − 1)! dz = (h − 1)!Resz=a f (z).
2πi C (z − a)h
Example: (from text p.151.)
ez
� �
d z
f (z) = =⇒ Resz=a f (z) = e = ea .
(z − a)2 dz z=a

3
Application: The Argument Principle.

Theorem 18 � Let f (z) be meromorphic in Ω, γ ⊂ Ω a simple closed curve with

interior inside Ω. Assume γ passes through no zeros nor poles of f . Then
� �
1 f (z)
dz = N − P,
2πi γ f (z)

where N is the number of zeros, P the number of poles inside γ, all counted with
multiplicity.

Proof: By theorem 17� , the integral is the sum of the residues of f � (z)/f (z).
At a zero a of order h, we have

f (z) = (z − a)h fh (z), � 0

fh (a) =

and
f � (z) h f � (z)
= + h =⇒ Residue h,
f (z) z − a fh (z)
At a pole b of order k, we have similarly

f � (z ) −k fh� (z )
= + =⇒ Residue − k.
f (z ) z − b fh (z )

Now the result follows from Theorem 17� . Q.E.D.

Corollary 1 (Rouche’s Theorem) Let f and g be holomorphic in a region Ω.

Let γ be a simple closed curve in Ω with interior ⊂ Ω. Assume

|f (z) − g(z)| < f (z) on γ.

Then f and g have the same number of zeros inside γ, say Nf and Ng .

Proof: (The text does not take into account the case when f and g have common
zeros). The inequality implies that f and g are zero-free on γ. Put

g(z)
ψ(z) = ,
f (z)
then
|ψ(z) − 1| < 1

4
on γ, so the curve Γ = ψ(γ) lies in the disk |ζ − 1| < 1. Hence
� � �
1 ψ (z) dζ
dz = = n(Γ, 0) = 0
2πi γ ψ(z) Γ ζ

(book p.116). Now

g � (z)
�
1
Ng = dz
2πi γ g(z)
ψ � f + ψf �
�
1
= dz
2πi γ ψf
ψ � (z)
� � �
1 1 f (z)
= dz + dz
2πi γ ψ(z) 2πi γ f (z)
= Nf .

This proves the result. Q.E.D.

Exercise 2 p.154
We use Rouche’s theorem twice, first on γ : |z| = 2 and then on γ : |z| = 1.
For γ : |z| = 2, take f (z) = z 4 , g(z) = z 4 − 6z + 3.
For γ : |z| = 1, take f (z) = −6z, g(z) = z 4 − 6z + 3.