Math 2.0

Functions of a complex variable Proof

Proof that power series are holomorphic in the disc of convergence

Builds on Power series in the complex planeDisc of convergenceHolomorphic functionComplex differentiabilityRatio testComparison testAbsolutely convergent series in a Banach space convergeSum of a finite geometric seriesTriangle inequality for norms

Proof

We bound the error of the difference quotient by ∣h∣\abs{h} times a convergent series.

  1. Let q∈[0,1)q \in [0, 1). The series ∑n≥1nqn−1\sum_{n \ge 1} n q^{n-1} and ∑n≥2n(n−1)qn−2\sum_{n \ge 2} n (n-1) q^{n-2} converge. For q=0q = 0 this is clear. For q>0q > 0 the ratio of consecutive terms tends to q<1q < 1, so the ratio test applies.
  2. Let 0≤s<R0 \le s < R, where RR is the radius of convergence. Choose tt with s<t<Rs < t < R. Since RR is a supremum, some t′>tt' > t has (∣an∣t′n)(\abs{a_n} t'^n) bounded, say by MM. Then ∣an∣tn≤M\abs{a_n} t^n \le M for all nn.
  3. Then ∣an∣sn≤M(s/t)n\abs{a_n} s^n \le M (s/t)^n,  n∣an∣sn−1≤Mtn(s/t)n−1\ n \abs{a_n} s^{n-1} \le \frac{M}{t} n (s/t)^{n-1} and n(n−1)∣an∣sn−2≤Mt2n(n−1)(s/t)n−2n(n-1) \abs{a_n} s^{n-2} \le \frac{M}{t^2} n(n-1) (s/t)^{n-2}.
  4. By step 1 with q=s/tq = s/t and the comparison test, the series ∑∣an∣sn\sum \abs{a_n} s^n, ∑n∣an∣sn−1\sum n \abs{a_n} s^{n-1} and ∑n(n−1)∣an∣sn−2\sum n(n-1) \abs{a_n} s^{n-2} converge.
  5. Let z∈Dz \in D, and take s=∣z−c∣s = \abs{z - c} in step 4. The series ∑an(z−c)n\sum a_n (z - c)^n and ∑nan(z−c)n−1\sum n a_n (z - c)^{n-1} converge absolutely. Since ℂ\C is complete, they converge. Put g(z)=∑n≥1nan(z−c)n−1g(z) = \sum_{n \ge 1} n a_n (z - c)^{n-1}.
  6. The series for gg is the power series ∑m≥0bm(z−c)m\sum_{m \ge 0} b_m (z - c)^m with bm=(m+1)am+1b_m = (m+1) a_{m+1}. Let R′R' be its radius of convergence.
  7. If 0<s<R0 < s < R, the terms ∣bm∣sm=(m+1)∣am+1∣sm\abs{b_m} s^m = (m+1) \abs{a_{m+1}} s^m are bounded, since their series converges by step 4. So R′≥RR' \ge R.
  8. If s>0s > 0 and ∣bm∣sm≤K\abs{b_m} s^m \le K for all mm, then ∣am+1∣sm+1≤(m+1)∣am+1∣sm+1≤Ks\abs{a_{m+1}} s^{m+1} \le (m+1) \abs{a_{m+1}} s^{m+1} \le K s for all mm. So (∣an∣sn)(\abs{a_n} s^n) is bounded and s≤Rs \le R. Hence R′≤RR' \le R, and R′=RR' = R.
  9. Let A,B∈ℂA, B \in \C and n≥1n \ge 1. Expanding the product and cancelling gives An−Bn=(A−B)∑k=0n−1AkBn−1−kA^n - B^n = (A - B) \sum_{k=0}^{n-1} A^k B^{n-1-k}, as for the finite geometric sum.
  10. Assume ∣A∣,∣B∣≤s\abs{A}, \abs{B} \le s. By step 9 and the triangle inequality, ∣Ak−Bk∣≤ksk−1∣A−B∣\abs{A^k - B^k} \le k s^{k-1} \abs{A - B} for each k≥1k \ge 1. This also holds for k=0k = 0.
  11. Assume moreover A≠BA \ne B and n≥1n \ge 1. By step 9, An−BnA−B−nBn−1=∑k=0n−1(Ak−Bk)Bn−1−k\frac{A^n - B^n}{A - B} - n B^{n-1} = \sum_{k=0}^{n-1} (A^k - B^k) B^{n-1-k}.
  12. By step 10, the modulus of this sum is at most ∑k=0n−1ksk−1∣A−B∣sn−1−k=n(n−1)2sn−2∣A−B∣\sum_{k=0}^{n-1} k s^{k-1} \abs{A - B} s^{n-1-k} = \frac{n(n-1)}{2} s^{n-2} \abs{A - B}. For n=1n = 1 the sum is 00.
  13. Fix z∈Dz \in D and choose ss with ∣z−c∣<s<R\abs{z - c} < s < R. Let h≠0h \ne 0 with ∣h∣<s−∣z−c∣\abs{h} < s - \abs{z - c}. Put B=z−cB = z - c and A=z+h−cA = z + h - c. Then ∣A∣,∣B∣<s\abs{A}, \abs{B} < s, A−B=hA - B = h, and z+h∈Dz + h \in D.
  14. Subtracting the convergent series termwise, f(z+h)−f(z)h−g(z)=∑n≥1an(An−Bnh−nBn−1)\frac{f(z + h) - f(z)}{h} - g(z) = \sum_{n \ge 1} a_n \left( \frac{A^n - B^n}{h} - n B^{n-1} \right).
  15. By step 12, the modulus of this is at most ∣h∣2∑n≥2n(n−1)∣an∣sn−2=C∣h∣2\frac{\abs{h}}{2} \sum_{n \ge 2} n (n-1) \abs{a_n} s^{n-2} = \frac{C \abs{h}}{2}, where CC is finite by step 4.
  16. So the difference quotient tends to g(z)g(z) as h→0h \to 0. Thus ff is complex differentiable at zz with f′(z)=∑n=1∞nan(z−c)n−1f'(z) = \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} n a_n (z - c)^{n-1}.
  17. This holds for each zz in the open disc DD. So ff is holomorphic on DD, and by step 8 the series for f′f' has radius RR.

Idea

Inside the disc we can compare with a geometric series, which makes even the series with extra factors nn and n(n−1)n(n-1) converge. The error in the difference quotient of znz^n is at most about n2sn−2∣h∣n^2 s^{n-2} \abs{h}, so the total error is a constant times ∣h∣\abs{h}.

Reading path

To understand this page from the ground up, read these 125 pages in order. The foundations come first. The path takes the proofs Proof of the approximation property of the supremum, Proof of the diameter characterisation of Cauchy sequences, Proof of the triangle inequality for norms, Proof of the sum of a finite geometric series, Proof that convergent sequences are Cauchy, Proof that the reals form an ordered field, with the Cauchy sequence construction, Proof of the double negation law by a truth table, Proof of the squeeze theorem for sequences, Proof of the existence of square roots of nonnegative reals, Proof of the triangle inequality for real numbers, Proof of the epsilon-N definition of the limit of a sequence, Proof of the comparison test, Proof that limits preserve non-strict inequalities, Proof of the ratio test, Proof that convergent sequences are bounded, Proof of the monotone convergence theorem for sequences, Proof that absolutely convergent series in a Banach space converge, Proof that a series of nonnegative terms converges iff its partial sums are bounded.

  1. Complex numbers object
  2. Construction of the reals from Cauchy sequences concept
  3. Element definition
  4. Extended real number line object
  5. Integers object
  6. Mathematical induction concept
  7. Norm concept
  8. Ordered field definition
  9. Proposition concept
  10. Rational numbers object
  11. Real numbers object
  12. Sequence definition
  13. Set bounded above definition
  14. Vector space definition
  15. Power series in the complex plane definition
  16. Real and imaginary parts definition
  17. Set definition
  18. Ring of integers statement
  19. Conjunction definition
  20. Disjunction definition
  21. Implication definition
  22. Negation definition
  23. Predicate definition
  24. The reals form a field statement
  25. Real sequence definition
  26. Supremum definition
  27. Norm definition
  28. Disc of convergence definition
  29. Empty set object
  30. Family of sets definition
  31. Ordered pair definition
  32. Intersection definition
  33. Union definition
  34. Biconditional definition
  35. Truth table concept
  36. Modus ponens concept
  37. The rationals form a field statement
  38. Existential quantifier definition
  39. Universal quantifier definition
  40. Bounded sequence definition
  41. Cauchy sequence definition
  42. Geometric sequence definition
  43. Limit of a sequence definition
  44. Monotone sequence definition
  45. Series definition
  46. Completeness axiom statement
  47. Cartesian product definition
  48. Subset definition
  49. Union of a family of sets definition
  50. Propositional logic concept
  51. Mathematical proof concept
  52. The rationals form an ordered field statement
  53. Uniqueness quantifier definition
  54. Proof of the sum of a finite geometric series proof
  55. Convergent sequence definition
  56. Partial sum definition
  57. Binary relation definition
  58. Topological space definition
  59. Order on the reals definition
  60. Tautology definition
  61. Sum of a finite geometric series statement
  62. Convergent series definition
  63. Antisymmetric relation definition
  64. Reflexive relation definition
  65. Transitive relation definition
  66. Function definition
  67. Logical equivalence definition
  68. Sum of a series definition
  69. Absolute convergence definition
  70. Preorder definition
  71. Metric space definition
  72. Proof of the double negation law by a truth table proof
  73. Partial order definition
  74. Convergence of a sequence in a metric space definition
  75. Open ball definition
  76. Double negation law statement
  77. Diameter of a set definition
  78. Total order definition
  79. Metric topology definition
  80. Proof by contradiction concept
  81. Proof of the diameter characterisation of Cauchy sequences proof
  82. Open set definition
  83. Epsilon characterisation of Cauchy sequences statement
  84. Proof that the reals form an ordered field, with the Cauchy sequence construction proof
  85. Equivalent metrics definition
  86. Complete metric space definition
  87. The reals form an ordered field statement
  88. Equivalent norms definition
  89. Absolute value definition
  90. Proof of the approximation property of the supremum proof
  91. Proof of the existence of square roots of nonnegative reals proof
  92. Banach space definition
  93. Proof of the triangle inequality for real numbers proof
  94. Proof of the epsilon-N definition of the limit of a sequence proof
  95. Approximation property of the supremum statement
  96. Existence of square roots of nonnegative reals statement
  97. Triangle inequality statement
  98. Square root definition
  99. Epsilon-N definition of the limit of a sequence statement
  100. Modulus of a complex number definition
  101. Proof of the squeeze theorem for sequences proof
  102. Proof that limits preserve non-strict inequalities proof
  103. Proof that convergent sequences are bounded proof
  104. Proof that convergent sequences are Cauchy proof
  105. Proof of the monotone convergence theorem for sequences proof
  106. Complex differentiability definition
  107. Proof of the triangle inequality for norms proof
  108. Convergent sequences are bounded statement
  109. Limits preserve non-strict inequalities statement
  110. Squeeze theorem statement
  111. Convergent sequences are Cauchy statement
  112. Monotone convergence theorem for sequences statement
  113. Holomorphic function definition
  114. Triangle inequality for norms statement
  115. Proof that a series of nonnegative terms converges iff its partial sums are bounded proof
  116. The sequence r^n tends to zero for |r| < 1 example
  117. Proof that absolutely convergent series in a Banach space converge proof
  118. A series of nonnegative terms converges iff its partial sums are bounded statement
  119. Geometric series example
  120. Absolutely convergent series in a Banach space converge statement
  121. Proof of the comparison test proof
  122. Proof of the ratio test proof
  123. Comparison test statement
  124. Ratio test statement
  125. Proof that power series are holomorphic in the disc of convergence proof

Where this leads

225 pages build on this one.

Further reading

  1. Web https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_series, Differentiation and integration
About this page
TagVQ7709JWXR
URIm2://VQ7709JWXR
Kindproof
WritingW0 stub
MSC30B10
ProvesPower series are holomorphic in the disc of convergence
UsesPower series in the complex plane, Disc of convergence, Holomorphic function, Complex differentiability, Ratio test, Comparison test, Absolutely convergent series in a Banach space converge, Sum of a finite geometric series, Triangle inequality for norms
Changed4 November 2026

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