MATH 427 Complex Analysis

Spring 1998 

Description

Complex analysis is a 200 year old mathematical discipline that is very rich in its own development and in its applications. The course will feature a rigorous treatment of the subject focused on the Cauchy Integral Theorem and the Cauchy Integral Formula. Everything in the development will flow from this source.

 The basic object of study is a class of functions defined on a region in the plane, taking values in the plane. Consequently the major prerequisite for the course is multi-variable calculus. However, unlike that subject which in its generality has little coherence, complex analysis limits its view to the class of holomorphic or analytic functions. Each of these functions individually has important and properties that give it substance, and the class of all such functions has attributes that provide a certain rigidity that is very useful.

 All in all, complex analysis is one of the most beautiful parts of mathematics. It is filled with surprises in itself, and its applications to other parts of mathematics and to other areas of science and engineering are many and exciting.

Staff

Instructor

 

John C. Polking
Office: HB 402

Office hours: 2:30 to 4:00 Wednesdays and Thursdays
Email: polking@rice.edu
Telephone: ext 4841
Assistant

 

Hope McIlwain

Text

The text for this course is Function Theory of One Complex Variable, By Robert Greene and Steven Krantz. Supplimentary materials will be provided.

 

Computer and Owlnet information

Computers will not be widely used in this course, but there is one program which you will find useful. It is called holo and it runs under MATLAB. You can find information about it here.

 In order to use holo on an owlnet workstation, you will have register your computer in Math 211. To do this enter register math427 at the UNIX prompt. You will then have to log out of owlnet and log back in before the needed change to your computer environment will take place.

 If you want to use holo on your home computer you will need to download the filec holo.m.

If you want other computer and owlnet information look here.

Grading

The final grade for the course will be determined by your performance on the homework and the final exam according to the following algorithm:

 

              Homework        70%
              Final exam      30%
The final exam will be a takehome exam, due the last day of exams.

Homework

There will be a homework assignment each week. The lowest homework grade will not be counted in determining the grade. You should notice that homework will count for 70% of the final grade. Working problems is the best way to learn the material in this course.

 All homework is due in class on the date announced. This will typically be about two weeks after the assignment is posted. Each student will be allowed to have at most one late homework assignment during the semester. The one late homework will be accepted up to seven days after the due date, with or without excuse, and without penalty. No other late homeworks will be accepted even with an excuse. There will be absolutely no exceptions to these rules.

The homework is not pledged. You are encouraged to discuss the homework, and to work together on the problems. However each student is responsible for the final preparation of his or her own homework papers.

 

Final Exam

The final exam is available in either postscript or in Adobe Acrobat versions.
John C. Polking <polking@rice.edu>

Last modified: Tue April 22, 1998