3.1: Mappings

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A complex function \(w=f(z)\) can be regarded as a mapping or transformation of the points in the \(z=x+iy\) plane to the points of the \(w=u+iv\) plane. In real variables in one dimension, this notion amounts to understanding the graph \(y=f(x)\), that is, the mapping of the points \(x\) to \(y=f(x)\).

In complex variables, the situation is more difficult due to the fact that we have four dimensions. Thus a graphical depiction such as in the real one-dimensional case is not feasible. Rather, one considers the two complex planes, \(z\) and \(w\), separately and asks how a region in the \(z\) plane transforms or maps to a corresponding region or image in the \(w\) plane.

The applet below visualizes the action of a complex function as a mapping from a subset of the \(z\)-plane to the \(w\)-plane. For example, the light purple regions are the domain set and the range of the function, respectively. Any point \(z\) of the domain set is mapped to the corresponding point \(f(z)=w\) in the range. Of course, we can also choose a different domain (i.e. a triangle or square) to apply the mapping. In this manner the function maps (transforms) the colored objects from the domain to the range. Drag the triangle and square (or points) defined on the \(z\)-plane to observe the effect of the transformation in the \(w\)-plane.

INTERACTIVE GRAPH

Remark: In complex analysis the notion of domain has two different meanings. The first one alludes to the domain set of a function, while the second pertains to any open and connected subset of the complex plane or the Riemann sphere. Most domain sets of complex functions we shall encounter in this book will indeed be domains in the topological sense.