Does there exist an analytic function $f(\frac{1}{n})^2 = \frac{n}{n+1}$

544 Views Asked by At

Does there exist an analytic function $f(\frac{1}{n})^2 = \frac{n}{n+1}$ on (a) the complex plane and (b) the unit circle? If yes, how many? If no, why not?

I know I can write the function as: $f(\frac{1}{n}) = \pm \sqrt{\frac{1}{n}+1}$, so $f_{1}(z)=\sqrt{z+1}$ and $f_{2}(z)=-\sqrt{z+1}$. Now I have something to do with the identity theorem and accumulation points, but I'm not sure how this works... If someone could help me with this problem, that would be appreciated!

1

There are 1 best solutions below

4
On BEST ANSWER

Note that $\frac n{n+1}=\frac1{1+1/n}$. There is an analytic function $f\colon\mathbb{D}\longrightarrow\mathbb C$ satisfying your condition if and only if$$(\forall z\in\mathbb{D}):f^2(z)=\frac1{1+z},\tag1$$by the identity theorem. Consider $\log\colon\{z\in\mathbb{C}\,|\,|z-1|<1\}\longrightarrow\mathbb C$ defined by$$\log z=z-1-\frac{(z-1)^2}2+\frac{(z-1)^3}3+\cdots$$The you can take $f(z)=\pm\exp\left(\frac12\log(z+1)\right)$ and these are the only solutuions to your problem.

But if you replace $\mathbb D$ with $\mathbb C$, then there is no solution, because it follows from $(1)$ that $\lim_{z\to-1}f(z)$ does not exist.