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Taylor's theorem for complex functions

created by krimson

(idea) by krimson (3.2 hr) (print)   ?   (I like it!) 1 C! Fri May 23 2003 at 23:15:54

There is an analogue for complex functions of the well-known Taylor theorem for real functions. It roughly states that any analytic (i.e. complex differentiable) function is locally equal to a power series. Taylor's theorem is nice because power series are (in particular the convergence of the power series is uniform).
As usual the complex result is much nicer than the corresponding real one. Contrasting them we note that:

1) For real functions we only get an approximation (with error bounds) while for complex functions we actually have that the power series is equal to the original function.
2) We only require a complex function to be once complex differentiable, while a real function has to be several times differentiable to apply the theorem.

Indeed the complex Taylor theorem allows us to deduce that any analytic function is in fact infinitely complex differentiable, while on the other hand even if a real function is infinitely (real) differentiable this does not guarantee the existence of a power series that equals the function (the traditional counterexample being f(x) = exp(-x -2).
The proof is essentially an application of the Cauchy integral formula, together with some technical fiddling to ensure that everything converges properly. Unfortunately the HTML makes for very unpleasant reading.

Taylor's theorem for complex functions:
Let f : D → C be an analytic function on a domain D containing 0. Then if R > 0 is such that z ∈ D for all |z| ≤ R then for any |z| < R (sum from k = 0 to ∞)

f(z) = Σ zkak

where (integrals round the circle of radius R centred at 0)

ak = (2πi)-1∫ f(w)/wk dw

Proof:
Note the identity (this and subsequent sums from k = 0 to n)

(w-z)-1 = w-1(Σ (z/w)k) + (z/w)n+1/(z-w)

which holds for all n ∈ N when |z| < |w|. Hence by the Cauchy integral formula

2π*|f(z) - Σ zkak| = |∫ (w-z)-1f(w) dw - Σ (z/w)kf(w) dw| = |∫ (z/w)n+1(z-w)-1f(w) dw| ≤ (|z|/R)n+1|∫ (z-w)-1f(w) dw| → 0

as n → ∞ for any |z| < R. So the series converges to f(z).

Corollary:
Any analytic function f : D → C is infinitely complex differentiable on D.

Proof:
By Taylor's theorem f can be written locally as a power series, and any power series is infinitely differentiable.


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Cauchy integral formula Taylor's Theorem yearbook holomorphic function
counterexample domain power series mathematics
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natural number differentiable Quadratic approximation in three variables function
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