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Math 411: Honours Complex Variables - University of Alberta

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24 CHAPTER 4. COMPLEX LINE INTEGRALS<br />

Definition. A curve γ: [a,b] → C is called closed if γ(a) = γ(b).<br />

Proposition 4.1. Let D ⊂ C be open, and let f : D → C be continuous with an<br />

antiderivative. Then �<br />

f = 0 holds for each closed, piecewise smooth curve γ in D.<br />

Example. Let z0 ∈ C, let r > 0, and let<br />

γ<br />

γ: [0,2π] → C, θ ↦→ re iθ +z0,<br />

i.e. γ is a counterclockwise-oriented circle centered at z0 with radius r.<br />

Let n ∈ Z, and consider �<br />

γ (ζ −z0) ndζ. For n �= −1, let<br />

n+1 (z −z0)<br />

F : C → C, z ↦→ ,<br />

n+1<br />

so that F ′ (z) = (z −z0) n for all z ∈ C. It follows that �<br />

On the other hand, we have<br />

Consequently,<br />

�<br />

has no antiderivative.<br />

γ<br />

(ζ −z0) −1 dζ =<br />

� 2π<br />

0<br />

γ (ζ −z0) n dζ = 0.<br />

rieiθ � 2π<br />

dθ = idt = 2πi.<br />

reiθ 0<br />

C\{z0} → C, z ↦→ 1<br />

z −z0<br />

Recall the following definition from multivariable calculus:<br />

Definition. A subset D ⊂ C is called connected if there are no open sets U,V ⊂ C<br />

with<br />

• U ∩D �= ∅ �= V ∩D;<br />

• U ∪V ⊃ D;<br />

• U ∩V ⊂ C\D.<br />

In other words, there are no open sets U and V, each containing points <strong>of</strong> D, such<br />

that every point <strong>of</strong> D lies in exactly one <strong>of</strong> the sets U and V.<br />

Definition. Let D ⊂ C be open. A function f : D → C is called locally constant if,<br />

for each z0 ∈ D, there exists ǫ > 0 such that Bǫ(z0) ⊂ D and f is constant on Bǫ(z0).<br />

The following curve constructions will be useful in understanding the relation<br />

between locally constant functions and connectivity.

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