# Complex Derivatives ... Palka, Examples 1.1 and 1.2, Chapter III, Section 1.2 ...

#### Peter

##### Well-known member
MHB Site Helper
I am reading Bruce P. Palka's book: An Introduction to Complex Function Theory ...

I am focused on Chapter III: Analytic Functions, Section 1.2 Differentiation Rules ...

I need help with some aspects of Examples 1.1 and 1.2, Section 1.2, Chapter III ...

Examples 1.1 and 1.2, Section 1.2, Chapter III read as follows:

My questions regarding the above two examples from Palka are as follows:

Question 1

Can someone please explain where in the calculations of Example 1.1 does the assumption of n being positive becomes relevant ...

I am puzzled because it appears that each of the steps of the calculation are true whether n is positive or negative ...

Question 2

Can someone please explain where in the calculations of Example 1.2 does the assumption of n being negative becomes relevant ...

I am puzzled because it appears that each of the steps of the argument/calculation are true whether n is positive or negative ...

Hope someone can help ...

Help will be much appreciated ...

Peter

#### HallsofIvy

##### Well-known member
MHB Math Helper
In $$z^n- z_0^n= (z- z_0)(z^{n-1}+ z_0z^{n-2}+ \cdot\cdot\cdot+ z_0^{n-2}z+ z_0^{n-1})$$, with n positive, powers of z are decreasing and eventually become 0 in the $$z_0^{n-1}$$ term. If n is negative powers of z decreasing become more negative so do not eventually become 0. We get a infinite series. It might well be true that you could prove the desired statement using infinite series but that Palka wants to avoid the additional complications of infinite series (which may not have been introduced at this point). And since the proof given is only for n positive, a separate proof has to be given for n negative.

#### Peter

##### Well-known member
MHB Site Helper
In $$z^n- z_0^n= (z- z_0)(z^{n-1}+ z_0z^{n-2}+ \cdot\cdot\cdot+ z_0^{n-2}z+ z_0^{n-1})$$, with n positive, powers of z are decreasing and eventually become 0 in the $$z_0^{n-1}$$ term. If n is negative powers of z decreasing become more negative so do not eventually become 0. We get a infinite series. It might well be true that you could prove the desired statement using infinite series but that Palka wants to avoid the additional complications of infinite series (which may not have been introduced at this point). And since the proof given is only for n positive, a separate proof has to be given for n negative.

Thanks for the help, HallsofIvy ...

Peter