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I am trying to solve the following implicit equation for $g(x)$.

$F[ g(x) ] = y(x)$

For simplicity assume that $F$, $g$ and $y$ all map $\mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$. It is known that, for every $x$ there exists a unique (I added "unique") number $g(x)$ such that $F[g(x)] = y(x)$. So the equation is well-posed.

The function $y(x)$ has a power series expansion in $x$ valid for all real $x$. The function $F[ g ]$ has a power series expansion in $g$ valid for all $g$. I would like to argue that $g(x)$ must therefore have a power series expansion in $x$ valid for all real $x$.

This seems like sound logic. But, before I put this in a paper, I would like to be sure that this is correct. As always, thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.

EDIT: I should have phrased things slightly differently. Instead of saying "F is invertible" I should have said, for every $x$ there exists a number $g(x)$ such that $F[g(x)] = y(x)$. This is obviously not the same thing as saying $F$ is invertible. I made this edit above.

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I greatly appreciate all of the comments that people have left. Certainly, my understanding of what can go wrong with my initial assumption has been greatly clarified. In an effort to see if my solution to a specific problem is valid, I will write it below. As always, many thanks for your comments. And, thank you for being patient who does not have a rigorous mathematical background.

I would like to find $\sigma^\epsilon$ that solves $v(\sigma^\epsilon) = u^\epsilon$ where $$u^\epsilon = \int d \lambda e^{\phi_0 (\lambda) + \epsilon \phi_1 (\lambda)} h(\lambda,k) \qquad h(\lambda,k) = \frac{-e^{k-i k \lambda }}{\sqrt{2 \pi } \left(i \lambda +\lambda ^2\right)}$$ and $$v(\sigma^\epsilon) = \int d\lambda e^{ \phi(\lambda;\sigma^\epsilon)} h(\lambda,k) , \qquad \phi(\lambda;\sigma^\epsilon) = \frac{1}{2}(\sigma^\epsilon)^2(-\lambda^2 - i \lambda)$$

All functions of $\lambda$ are analytic on the set {Im$(\lambda)<1$}. Integration is over a line parallel to the real axis in the stip of analyticity.

The way that I "solved" this was by expanding both sides in powers of $\epsilon$ ASSUMING that $\sigma^\epsilon$ has a power series expansion $$\sigma^\epsilon = \sigma_0 + \epsilon \sigma_1 + \cdots$$. I then matched terms of like powers of $\epsilon$ to find the cofficients {$\sigma_n$}.

My "solution" is indistinguishable for values of $k$ near $0$ (for basically any size $\epsilon$. But, as $k$ moves away from $x$ the convergence is quite bad. I don't know if this is a problem with my series solution or my numerical intergration scheme. So, if I somehow knew that expanding $\sigma^\epsilon$ in powers of $\epsilon$ were valid, then I would know that it the numerical integration scheme that is causing problems, and not my series solution.

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  • $\begingroup$ This is false. Take $F[g] = g^2, y = x$. $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 28, 2012 at 0:33
  • $\begingroup$ Look for versions of the "implicit function theorem" to see what is possible. $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 28, 2012 at 0:35
  • $\begingroup$ (Well, this $F$ is not invertible, so take $F[g] = g^3$.) $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 28, 2012 at 0:36
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    $\begingroup$ Specifically, take $F[g(x)]=g(x)^3$ and $y(x)=x$, so they obey your regularity and invertibility conditions. The unique solution is $g(x)=x^{1/3}$, all of whose Taylor expansions around whatever point you choose have a finite radius of convergence, due to a branch point at $x=0$. $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 28, 2012 at 1:09
  • $\begingroup$ Ah...I see. That is unfortunate. Any suggestions on how I might find conditions under which g(x) DOES have a power series expansion? I phrased my question rather generally. But, in fact, my question refers to a very specific problem. So, I still have hope that my logic, which is generally incorrect, may still be correct for my particular problem. $\endgroup$
    – psyduck
    Commented Jun 28, 2012 at 1:19

2 Answers 2

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If $g$ and $y$ are entire functions and there is some complex number $w$ such that $g'(w) = 0$ but $y'(w) \ne 0$ (or both $g'$ and $y'$ have zeros at $w$ but that of $g'$ has higher multiplicity), then $F$ can't be differentiable at $g(w)$. In many cases, the radius of convergence of a Taylor series for an implicit function $F$ is determined by this fact.

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  • $\begingroup$ If $F$ and $y$ are given and analytic, as in the OP's hypotheses, then your argument simply says that $y'(w)\neq0$ implies $g'(w)\neq0$, which is a condition on the unknown $g$ and thus probably acceptable. $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 28, 2012 at 1:06
  • $\begingroup$ Thanks Emilio (and Robert). This is quite helpful. Might either of you have a reference for Robert's statement? Citing "MathOverflow" probably won't be acceptable to whichever journal I eventually submit to. $\endgroup$
    – psyduck
    Commented Jun 28, 2012 at 1:45
  • $\begingroup$ It's just the chain rule: $F \circ g = y$ with everything differentiable implies $F'(g(w)) g'(w) = y'(w)$, which is impossible if $g'(w) = 0$ and $y'(w) \ne 0$. $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 28, 2012 at 4:40
  • $\begingroup$ Sorry, I seem to have taken $y$ and $g$ to be "known" and $F$ unknown. Of course it can work in the other direction too: if $F'(g(w)) = 0$ and $y'(w) \ne 0$ then $g$ can't be differentiable at $w$. $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 28, 2012 at 4:52
  • $\begingroup$ For example, with $F(g) = g^3 + g$ and $y(z) = z$, the Maclaurin series of $g(z)$ (for the root with $g(0)=0$) has radius of convergence $2/(3 \sqrt{3})$, corresponding to the fact that $g(2 i/(3 \sqrt{3})) = i/3$ and $F'(i/3) = 0$. $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 28, 2012 at 5:17
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I found an acceptable answer to my particular question (not the general one).

  1. The inverse of an invertible analytic function whose derivative is nowhere zero is analytic.
  2. The composition of two analytic functions is analytic.

$F[ g(x) ] = y(x)$

$F[g]$ satisfies 1 in my case. And $y(x)$ is analytic. Therefore

$g(x) = F^{-1}[ y (x)]$ is analytic.

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  • $\begingroup$ Consider $F[g]=g^3+g$ and $y(x)=x$. Then, $F$ is an invertible analytic function with positive derivative, so $g(x)$ is analytic. But, the expansion of $g$ as a power series does not converge for all $x$. If it did, then $F$ would also be invertible as a map on the complex plane, but it is not one-to-one on $\mathbb{C}$. $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 28, 2012 at 23:01
  • $\begingroup$ actually, I see that Robert Isreal mentioned this example. $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 28, 2012 at 23:03
  • $\begingroup$ It may also be worth mentioning that the only invertible entire functions are $F(z) = az+b$. $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 29, 2012 at 1:39
  • $\begingroup$ I think what often happens when I post on this board is that people give me exactly the answer that I need, but it takes me a long time to realize it. In any case, I do learn a lot by posting my research question here. And there is no doubt that my papers are more rigorous for the help the MathOverflow community provides. $\endgroup$
    – psyduck
    Commented Jun 29, 2012 at 1:45

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