Complex Function Grapher
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| This applet graphs complex functions where the domain is the
base plane,
the modulus is graphed on the vertical and the color represents the
arguments. See the help text for more details.
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Graphing a complex function is difficult because you need 2
(real) dimensions for the domain and 2 (real) dimensions for the range - a
total of 4 dimensions. In this applet, the domain of a complex function is
graphed on the base plane. The range is graphed using polar
coordinates. The modulus (magnitude) of the complex function is graphed on
the vertical axis. The argument (angle) is graphed by using different
colors - light blue for positive real, dark blue (shading to purple) for
positive imaginary, red for negative real, and yellow-green for negative
imaginary. This allows four dimensions to be represented in three spatial
dimensions, which are then projected onto a two dimensional screen using a
simple orthogonal projection.
Enter complex functions into the f(z) = text box using standard calculator
notation. You must use * for multiplication, i.e. 2*z not 2z. Functions
must have parentheses, i.e. sin(z) not sin z. The parser understands the
following operations, functions, and constants: +, -, *, /, ^,
sqrt(),
sin(), cos(), tan(), exp(), ln(), log() (synonymous with ln),
sinh(), cosh(), abs(), mod() (synonymous with abs), arg(), conj(), e, pi,
i.
To adjust the domain of the graph, right-click (or shift-click if you have
a one-button mouse) on the graph. The domain editor only accepts numerical
input, i.e. 3.14 not pi.
One referee tried checking identities using this applet and discovered
some peculiar effects which are explained here.
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I usually go over a couple of graphs with students in class the first
time I introduce this applet to be sure
they understand what they are looking at. For example, we will look at
the first three functions listed
under the argument principle below in class. I use both the Top View and
the Side
View initially; afterwards students often use both views but
occasionally find just one view is sufficient for a particular assignment.
Once the students are comfortable with the graphs, I have them
work look at graphs and discuss them in pairs, then write short individual
answers about what they
observe, often asking them to verify mathematically patterns they
notice. I've listed typical graphs I ask students to look at when studying
particular ideas below.
- The argument principle
- f(z) = z
- f(z) = z^2
- f(z) = z^2+1
- f(z) = 1/z
- f(z) = (z^2 + 1)/z
- Branch cuts and Riemann surfaces
- f(z) = sqrt(z)
- f(z) = -sqrt(z)
- Periodicity of the the complex exponential function
- f(z) = exp(pi*z), or alternatively
- f(z) = exp(z) (change domain to -6.28 <= Im(z) <= 6.28)
- Regular and hyperbolic trig functions
- f(z) = cos(pi*z)
- f(z) = cosh(pi*z)
- Alternatively they can look at cos(z) and cosh(z) with the
domains set to
-6.28 <= Re(z) <= 6.28, -2 <= Im(z) <= 2 for cos and
-2 <= Re(z) <= 2, -6.28 <= Im(z) <= 6.28 for cosh
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The documentation was produced with javadoc and is designed to document
the use of the classes developed for this applet for programmers who want
to use the classess as-is
in their own projects. Commented source code is also provided for
programmers who want to modify these classes and also for the applet
itself (which is basically just a user-interface). The code is copyrighted
but may be used freely for non-commercial purposes provided the original
source is acknowledged and the author is informed. Contact the author at
bennett@math.ksu.edu
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Please report any problems with this page to
bennett@math.ksu.edu
©2001 Andrew G. Bennett