In-Class Example (4) for Laurent Series

Math 128, Fall 2013

Instructor: Dr. Doreen De Leon
1
Write the Laurent series expansion of f (z) =
(z 2)(z 1)

The singularities of f (z) are z = 1 and z = 2. Therefore, there are three potential regions of
interest, if we choose z0 = 0. They are |z| < 1, 1 < |z| < 2, and 2 < |z| < .

(a) We can use partial fractions to write

1 1 1
= .
(z 2)(z 1) z2 z1

Lets look at the Taylor series expansions of the above terms to hopefully gain some insight.
1
The Taylor series expansion of about z = 0 is
1z

1 X
= 1 + z + z2 + = z n , |z| < 1.
1z
n=0

Then,
1 1
= ;
z1 1z

and

1 1
=
z2 2z
1
=
2 1 z2



1 X  z n
=
2 2
n=0
 
X 1
= zn,
2n+1
n=0
z 
which converges for 0 <   < 1 = |z| < 2. Therefore,
 
2
   
1 X 1 n
X
n
X 1
= z + z = 1 n+1 z n , |z| < 1.
(z 2)(z 1) 2n+1 2
n=0 n=0 n=0

(b) Suppose we want the Laurent expansion that converges to f (z) in the annulus 1 < |z| < 2.
 
1 z 
In that domain, each point z satisfies |z| > 1 =   < 1 and   < 1. So, we need to rewrite
 
z 2

1
 f (z).
1 1
f (z) =
z2 z1
1 1
=
z 1 z1


z2
1 1 1
= .
z2 z 1 z1
1 1 1
1 =1+ + +
1 z
z z2

X 1
= ,
zn
n=0
 
1
which converges for 0 <   < 1 = 1 < |z| < . Then,
z
 
X 1 n 1X 1
= z
2n+1 z zn
n=0 n=0
 
X 1 n
X 1
= z + n+1 .
2n+1 z
n=0 n=0

Therefore,
 
X 1 n
X 1
f (z) = z + n , 1 < |z| < 2.
2n+1 z
n=0 n=1

(c) Find the Laurent series for f (z) in the domain 2 < |z| < .
   
2 1
In this case, |z| > 2 =   < 1 and we need |z| > 1 =   < 1. So, rewrite f (z) again.
 
z z
1 1
f (z) =
z2 z1 !
1 1 1
= 2 .
z 1z 1 z1
 n
!
1 X 2 X 1
=
z z zn
n=0 n=0

X 2n X 1
=
z n+1 z n+1
n=0 n=0

X 1
= (2n 1)
z n+1
n=0

X 1
= (2n1 1) , 2 < |z| < .
zn
n=1