# If $f$ is entire and $\lim_\limits{z\to\infty} \frac{f(z)}{z} = 0$ show that $f$ is constant

I'm learning Complex Analysis and need to verify my work to this problem since my textbook does not provide any solution:

If $f$ is entire and $\lim_\limits{z\to\infty} \dfrac{f(z)}{z} = 0$ show that $f$ is constant.

My work and thoughts:

From the $\varepsilon$ — $\delta$ definition of the limit we have that $$\forall{\varepsilon} > 0, \exists{n_0} \in \mathbb{N} : \forall{\left|z\right|} \geq n: \left| \frac{f(z)}{z} \right| < \varepsilon \iff \frac{\left| f(z) \right|}{\left| z \right|} < \varepsilon\iff \left| f(z) \right| < \varepsilon \left| z \right|.$$

Now let $C_R = \{z \in \mathbb{C} : \left| z \right| = R \}$.

For every $\left| z \right| < R$, by Cauchy's integral formula for derivatives we have that

$$\left| f'(z) \right| = \frac{1}{2 \pi } \left| \int_{|\zeta|=R} \frac{f(\zeta)}{(\zeta - z)^2} \, d\zeta \right|= \frac{1}{2 \pi } \left| \int_{0}^{2\pi} \frac{f(\zeta)}{(\zeta - z)^2} \, \zeta'(t) dt \right| \le$$

$$\le \frac{1}{2\pi} \frac{\varepsilon \left| z \right|}{(R - \left| z \right|)^2} 2\pi R = \frac{\varepsilon \left| z \right|}{(R - \left| z \right|)^2} R.$$

Thus, letting $R \rightarrow \infty$ yields the desired result, that is $$\left| f'(z) \right| \leq \lim_{R \to \infty} \frac{\varepsilon \left| z \right|}{(R - \left| z \right|)^2} R = 0 \implies f(z) = c \;\; \text{with} \; c \in \mathbb{C}.$$

Is my work correct? Are there parts of the proof that need improvements? I'm also looking for other (possibly quicker) solutions using the "big guns" theorems. The only one I'm familiar with is Picard's little theorem but it doesn't apply here.

• Yet another method might be to consider the function $g(z) := f(\frac{1}{z})$ and prove that g is entire (only have to check that g has a removable singularity at 0). Now go back to the Taylor expansion of f at $\infty$ and conclude – TheOscillator Apr 17 '16 at 10:33

There is a flaw in the proof. Note that for the given $\epsilon>0$, $|f(z)|<\epsilon |z|$ for $|z|>n_0$.

Therefore, on $|\zeta|=R$, $|f(\zeta)|<\epsilon |\zeta|=\epsilon R$. Then, we can write for $R>z$

\begin{align} |f'(z)|&=\left|\frac{1}{2\pi i}\oint_{|\zeta|=R}\frac{f(\zeta)}{(\zeta-z)^2}\,d\zeta\right|\\\\ &\le \frac{1}{2\pi}\frac{\epsilon R}{(R-|z|)^2}\,(2\pi R)\\\\ &=\epsilon \frac{R^2}{(R-|z|)^2} \end{align}

As $R\to \infty$, we find that for any $\epsilon>0$, there exists a number $n_0$, such that whenever $|z|>n_0$, $|f'(z)|<\epsilon$. We can conclude from this only that

$$\lim_{z\to \infty}f'(z)=0$$

Another approach is to write $f(z)$ in terms of its Taylor series. Then, we see that

\begin{align} \lim_{z\to \infty}\frac{f(z)}{z}&=\lim_{z\to \infty}\sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac{f^{(n)}(0)}{n!}z^{n-1}\\\\ &=\lim_{z\to \infty}\left(\frac{f(0)}{z}+f'(0)+\frac12 f''(0)z+\cdots \right)\\\\ &=0 \end{align}

only if all terms in the series are zero, except possibly $f(0)$. Therefore, $f(z)$ must be a constant.

• I was looking back to your answer to prepare myself for an exam and I think there's a typo in the series expansion of $f(z)/z$. For $n=2$ the term in the series is $\frac12 f''(0)z^1$ (the power of $z$ should be $1$). – Von Kar Jul 2 '16 at 19:52
• Von, yes you're correct. I've edited. – Mark Viola Jul 2 '16 at 20:24
• @MarkViola Sorry for a question about your answer from a year ago. Regarding the second approach, can you please explain how should one justify it? For example, if we write the taylor expansion of $e^{-x}=1-x+\frac{x^{2}}{2}-\frac{x^3}{3}+....$ then the limit as $x$ goes to infinity is zero, but non of the coeffiecients is zero... Thanks in advance for any comment! – Kiko May 4 '18 at 17:06
• @kiko One cannot say that $\lim_{z\to \infty}e^{-z}=0$ for $z\in \mathbb{C}$. – Mark Viola May 4 '18 at 17:27
• @Kiko That suffices. – Mark Viola May 4 '18 at 17:37

A simpler solution with the use of maximum modulus theorem.

Define $g : \mathbb{C} \rightarrow \mathbb{C}$, $g(z)=\begin{cases} \frac{f(z)-f(0)}{z-0}, & \text{if }z \neq 0 \\ f'(0), & \text{if }z=0 \end{cases}$

So $g$ is also an entire function by addition and quotient of entire functions. $\lim_{z\to\infty}|g(z)|=\lim_{z\to\infty} |\frac{f(z)}{z}|=0$. So $\exists L$ such as $\forall z > L, |g(z)|< \epsilon$. In particular it is true on the circle of center $0$ and of radius $L$.

With the maximum modulus theorem we have that the $max$ of $g$ on the closed discus of center $0$ and of radius $L$ is equal to the $max$ of $g$ on the circle of center $0$ and of radius $L$. So $\forall z \in \mathbb{C}, |g(z)|< \epsilon$. So $\forall z \in \mathbb{C}, g(z)=0$. So $\forall z \in \mathbb{C},f(z)=f(0)$. So $f$ is constant.

• Jennifer, I was proceeding under the assumption that the OP had not yet learned either the maximum modulus principle or Liouville's Theorem. And the series approach that I presented seems to be quite straightforward. ;-)) -Mark – Mark Viola Apr 16 '16 at 20:35
• Oh my remark of simpler was not about your solution, but about OP's approach, actually I did not see your answer while I was writing mine. But indeed your approach is concise and more straightforward. :) – Jennifer Apr 16 '16 at 20:37
• Jennifer, no worry at all please. You've posted a solid answer! Well done. -Mark – Mark Viola Apr 16 '16 at 20:38

As @Dr.Mv said, we have that $\lim_{z\rightarrow\infty}f'(z)=0$, which means that $f'$ is bounded. By Liouville's theorem $f'$ is constant and, since $\lim_{z\rightarrow\infty}f'(z)=0$, $f'=0$. Thus , $f$ is constant.

• Chris, this is fine. I was proceeding under the assumption that the OP had not yet learned either the maximum modulus principle or Liouville's Theorem. -Mark – Mark Viola Apr 16 '16 at 20:33