# Computing the residue of a complex function

I have the following contour integral (with C the positively oriented unit circle centered at the origin):

$$\frac{-i}{4}\int_{C}\frac{\left(z^2+1\right)^2}{z\left(-z^4+3z^2-1\right)}dz$$

It has isolated singularities inside $C$ at $z = 0, \pm\sqrt{\frac{3-\sqrt{5}}{2}}$

$z = 0$ is a simple pole and the residue at that point is easily computed. I am unsure how to compute the residues at $z = \pm\sqrt{\frac{3-\sqrt{5}}{2}}$, without having to write the Laurent series?

If $z_0$ is a pole of $f$ of order $m$, you can use the formula $$Res(f,z_0)=\frac{1}{(m-1)!} \lim_{z\to z_0} [(z-z_0)^m \cdot f(z)]^{(m-1)}$$
where $g^{(n)}$ means the $n$-th derivative of $g$.
• sorry, I can't see the difference actually, $f^{(n)}$ means the $n$-th derivative. I'll explain it anyway, thanks. Jan 9 '17 at 22:39
• I am familiar with that formula, however I don't see a way to factor the denominator in such a way that the order is the power of $(z-z_0)$. (I might be missing something obvious) Jan 9 '17 at 22:44
• @Tom The notation $f^{(n)}$ is pretty standard for the $n$th derivative of $f$. Jan 9 '17 at 22:44
• @user405561 you can solve the equation $-z^4+3z^2-1$ by substituting $t=z^2$. Jan 9 '17 at 22:47
• Indeed, that's how I arrived at $$z0 = \pm\srqt{\frac{3-\sqrt{5}}{2}}$$, I still don't know $m$, though. Jan 9 '17 at 22:51