In this lecture, we shall give the definition of the derivative of a complex function.

In spite of its similarity with product, quotient and chain rule of differentiation of
real functions, there are still many differences. Terminology
Let z = x + iy and z0 = x0 + iy0 . Then
z = z − z0 = ( x − x0 ) + i ( y − y0 )
z = x + iy = change in z
If w = f ( z ) then
w = f ( z0 + z ) − f ( z0 )
= change in w
Derivative of a complex function
Suppose that the complex function f is defined in a neighbourhood of z0 . The
derivative of f at z0 , is denoted by f ( z0 ) and
f ( z0 + z ) − f ( z0 )
f ( z0 ) = lim (9.1)
z →0 z
provided this limit exists.
If the limit in exists, then the function f is said to be differentiable at z0 .
Notation
dw
The symbols denoting the derivative of w = f ( z ) are w and .
dz
Remark
In terms of  -  , (9.1) may be re-stated as follows:
A function f ( z ) is said to have a derivative at z = z0 if for   0 there exists a
  0 such that
f ( z0 + z ) − f ( z0 )
− f ( z0 )   whenever | z |  .
z

Example
Using the definition of derivative find f ( z ) , where f ( z ) = z 2 − 5 z .
Solution
f ( z + z ) = ( z + z ) 2 − 5( z + z )
= z 2 + 2 z (z ) + (z ) 2 − 5 z − 5(z ).

Therefore
 f ( z + z ) − f ( z )
= 2 z + z − 5
z
f ( z + z ) − f ( z )
lim = 2z − 5
z → 0 z
 f ( z ) = 2 z − 5.

Example
1
Find f ( z ) by definition if f ( z ) = z − .
z
Solution
1
f ( z + z ) = z + z −
z + z
z
f ( z + z ) − f ( z ) = z +
( z + z ) z
f ( z + z ) − f ( z ) 1
 = 1+
z ( z + z ) z
Taking limit as z → 0 , we have
1
f ( z ) = 1 + .
z2

Differentiation rule
d d
• (c) = 0 and cf ( z ) = cf ( z )
dz dz
d
• ( f ( z )  g ( z )) = f ( z )  g ( z )
dz
d
• ( f ( z ) g ( z )) = f ( z ) g ( z ) + f ( z ) g ( z )
dz
d f (z) g ( z ) f ( z ) − f ( z ) g ( z )
•  g ( z )  =
dz [ g ( z )]2
d
• f ( g ( z )) = f ( g ( z )) g ( z )
dz
d n
• ( z ) = nz n −1 , n is an integer.
dz
Example
Using the rules of differentiation find f ( z ) if
(a) f ( z ) = 3z 4 − 5 z 3 + 2 z
z2
(b) f ( z ) =
4z +1
(c) f ( z ) = (iz 2 + 3z )5
Solution
(a) f ( z ) = 3(4 z 3 ) − 5(3 z 2 ) + 2
= 12𝑧 3 − 15𝑧 2 + 2
(4 z + 1)2 z − z 2 (4)
(b) f ( z ) =
(4 z + 1)2
4z2 + 2z
=
(4 z + 1) 2
(c) f ( z ) = 5(iz 2 + 3z ) 4 (2iz + 3) .
Example
Show that f ( z) = z is nowhere differentiable.
Solution
f ( z + z ) − f ( z ) = z + z − z
f ( z + z ) − f ( z ) z
 =
z z
f ( z + z ) − f ( z ) z
 lim = lim (9.2)
z →0 z z →0 z

Put z = x + iy .
Limit along x -axis
Along x -axis y = 0 and x → 0 , (9.2) gives
f ( z + z ) − f ( z ) x
lim = lim =1
z →0 z x →0 x

Limit along y -axis

Along y -axis x = 0 and y → 0 , and therefore (9.2) reduces to
f ( z + z ) − f ( z ) iy
lim = lim = −1
z →0 z y →0 iy

So the limit does not exist, therefore f ( z ) is not differentiable at z .

Remark
Sometimes it is convenient to define the derivative of f in an alternative way as
f ( z ) − f ( z0 )
f ( z0 ) = lim
z → z0 z − z0

Theorem
If f is differentiable at a point z0 in a domain D , then f is continuous at z0 .
Proof.
Since f is differentiable at z0 , then f ( z0 ) exists. To prove f ( z ) is continuous
at z0 , it is enough to show that lim z →z f ( z) = f ( z0 ) or limz →z [ f ( z) − f ( z0 )] = 0.
0 0
 f ( z ) − f ( z0 )
lim z → z0 [ f ( z ) − f ( z0 )] = lim z → z0 [ ] ( z − z0 ) .
Consider z − z0
= f ( z0 ).0 = 0
Example
Show that the function
0, z=0
 3
f ( z) =  x − y 3
x +y
3 3

 x 2 + y 2 + i x 2 + y 2 , z  0.

is not differentiable at z = 0 by letting z → 0 first along x -axis and then along
y=x .
Solution Left as an exercise.
Example
Show that a polynomial
p( z ) = a0 + a1 z + a2 z 2 + + an z n , (an  0)
of degree n , (n  1) is differentiable everywhere, with
p( z ) = a1 + 2a2 z + + nan z n−1 .
Solution
For n = 1 , z is differentiable everywhere. For n = 2 , z 2 = z.z is differentiable
everywhere. Using induction on n . we have z n to be differentiable everywhere,
i.e. p( z) = a0 + a1 z + a2 z 2 + + an z n is differentiable. with p( z) = a1 + 2a2 z + + nan z n−1
.