Complex Analysis: Theory and Applications · Problem 4.2.4

Sequences, Series, and Fractals — Howell & Matthews

Mathematics — Complex Analysis · iteration-f0-z-squared

Problem

Consider the function f0(z)=z2f_0(z) = z^2 and an initial point z0z_0. Let {zk}\{z_k\} be the sequence of iterates of z0z_0 generated by f0f_0. That is, z1=f0(z0)z_1 = f_0(z_0), z2=f0(z1)z_2 = f_0(z_1), and so on. (a) Show that, if ∣z0∣<1|z_0| < 1, the sequence {zk}\{z_k\} converges to 00. (b) Show that, if ∣z0∣>1|z_0| > 1, the sequence {zk}\{z_k\} is unbounded. (c) Show that, if ∣z0∣=1|z_0| = 1, the sequence {zk}\{z_k\} either converges to 11 or oscillates around the unit circle. Give a simple criterion that you can apply to z0z_0 that will reveal which of these two paths {zk}\{z_k\} takes.

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