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Bilinear Transformations(Complex Analysis)

Research · April 2016

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.3807.5284

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Complex Analysis
Lecture Note-1

Bilinear Transformation

1
 !
a b
Definition 1.1. Let a, b, c, d ∈ C, det = ad − bc 6= 0.
c d
We define a bilinear transformation or a Möbius Transformation
T : C∞ → C∞ as:

for c 6= 0,

az+b
 cz+d ,


 z ∈ C \ {− dc }
T (z) = ac z=∞

z = − dc

∞,


and for c = 0,

 az+b , z∈C
T (z) = d
∞, z=∞

In general we will write a bilinear transformation T : C∞ → C∞

as w = T (z) = az+b
cz+d , ad − bc 6= 0 without any ambiguity.
2
 Example: T (z) = 2z+3i
iz+5 , S(z) = iz−6 , T (z) = 2z + 3, T (z) =
3z 1 2
2z, S1(z) = 3z etc.

3
 Note: If we define another transformation S : C∞ → C∞ as
z = S(w) = −dw+b
cw−a and since (−d)(a) − bc = ad − bc 6= 0, S is
again a biliniear transformation.

If you check, you can see that S ◦ T = T ◦ S = I the iden-

tity transformation of C∞,i.e. I(z) = z, which is also a bilinear
transformation since I(z) = 1z+0
0z+1 and 1.1 − 0.0 = 1 6= 0. So T is
invertible i.e. bijective and T −1 = S, similarly S is also invertible
and S −1 = T .

Note 1.3. Every bilinear transformation is bijective and hence

invertible, i.e. inverse exists which is again a blininear transfor-
mation. The inverse of a bilinear transformation T (z) = az+bcz+d is
given by T −1 = −dz+b
cz−a

4
 Class Task 1.4. Show that the composition of two bilinear
transformation is a bilinear transformation.

Hint: Take two bilinear transformations T (z) = az+b

cz+d , ad − bc 6=
0 and S(z) = αz+β
γz+δ , αδ − βγ 6= 0. Now find (T ◦ S)(z) = T (S(z))
Az+B
and express in the form of Cz+D and show AD − BC 6= 0.

5
 Definition 1.2.(Elementary bilinear transformations)

(i) Translation: We define a translation as T (z) = z+a, where

1z+a
a is a finite complex number, i.e. a ∈ C. since T (z) = 0z+1 and
1.1 − a.0 = 1 6= 0, so T is a bilinear transformation.

(ii) Inversion: We define inversion T (z) = 1z . since T (z) =

0z+1
1z+0 and 0.0 − 1.1 = −1 6= 0, so T is a bilinear transformation.

(iii) Rotation: We define a rotation as T (z) = eiθ z, θ ∈ R\{0}.

eiθ z+0
since T (z) = 0z+1 and eiθ .1 − 0.0 = eiθ 6= 0, so T is a bilinear
transformation.

(iv) Magnification: We define a magnification T (z) = rz,

rz+0
r ∈ R+. since T (z) = 0z+1 and r.1 − 0.0 = r 6= 0, so T is a
bilinear transformation.

6
 (v) Dilation: = magnification+Rotation, i.e. we define dila-
tion T (z) = αz, α ∈ C \ {0}. since T (z) = αz+0
0z+1 and α.1 − 0.0 =
α 6= 0, so T is a bilinear transformation. Here note that α = reiθ ,
r 6= 0, i.e. T (z) = reiθ z, i.e. dilation is mix of magnification and
rotation.
 Theorem 1.1. Every bilinear transformation is a composi-
tion of elementary bilinear transformations, i.e. composition of
translation, inversion and dilation(one or two of them may be
missing).

7
 Proof: Let us consider a bilinear transformation T : C∞ → C∞
defined as T (z) = az+b
cz+d , where a, b, c, d ∈ C and ad − bc 6= 0

Case-I: c = 0.

Hence ad 6= 0, i.e. a 6= 0 6= d and

T (z) = az+b
d

= ad z + db

= T1(z) + db , (where T1(z) = ad z and ad 6= 0, i.e. T1 is a dilation)

T2(T1(z)), (where T2(z) = z + db z a translation).

Hence T = T2 ◦ T1.

8
Case-II: c 6= 0.

Now, T (z) = az+b

cz+d − a+a
c c

=( bc−ad
2 ) 1 + a , (Here bc−ad 6= 0)
c2
c z+ dc
c

=( bc−ad
c2 ) 1 + a , (where T (z) = z + d a translation)
T (z) c 1 c
1

=( bc−ad
c2 )T2 (T1 (z)) + a , (where T (z) = 1 is the inversion)
c 2 z

=T3(T2(T1(z))) + ac , (where T3(z) = bc−ad

c2
z is a dilation)

=T4(T3(T2(T1(z)))), (where T4(z) = z + ac is a translation).

Hence T = T4 ◦ T3 ◦ T2 ◦ T1.

Hence the proof.

9
 Definition 1.3. Let X be a non-empty set, and f : X → X.
a ∈ X is said to be a fixed point of f if f (a) = a.

Example(i) If f : R → R be the mapping defined as f (x) = x2,

0 and 1 are fixed points of f .

(ii) If f : R → R be the mapping defined as f (x) = x3, 0 and

±1 are fixed points of f .

(iii) If f : R → R be the mapping defined as f (x) = sin(x), 0 is

the only fixed points of f .

Note: For f : X → X, the fixed points can be find out by

solving the equation f (x) = x on X.

10
 Example: Find all fixed points of the bilinear transformation
T (z) = 3z+2
z−5 .

Solution: Here T (∞) = 3

1 = 3 6= ∞, ∞ is not a fixed point of
T.

So, all possible fixed points are finite complex numbers and
they are given by the solution of the equation z = T (z) in C, i.e.

z = 3z+2
z−5

i.e. z 2 − 8z − 2 = 0

√
and the solutions are 4 ± 3 2.

√
Hence the fixed points of T are 4 ± 3 2.

11
 Exercise: Find all fixed points of the bilinear transformations:

iz−2 , (ii) S(z) = 3z + 4i, (iii) w =

(i) T (z) = 4z+3i 5 , (iv)
3z−4i
T (z) = 2z, (v) T (z) = z , (vi) T (z) = z, (vii) T (z) = 2i
1
z , (viii)
z−1 , T (z) = z + 3i.
w = z+3

12
 Note: Have you notice that: In all the examples we are not
getting more than two fixed points for a bilinear transformation
except the identity transformation.

Is it true for any bilinear transformation?

13
 Theorem 1.2. Any bilinear transformation has at most two
fixed points unless it is the identity transformation.

14
 Proof: Let us consider a bilinear transformation T : C∞ → C∞
defined as T (z) = az+b
cz+d , where a, b, c, d ∈ C and ad − bc 6= 0

Case-I: c = 0.

Hence ad 6= 0, i.e. a 6= 0 6= d and

T (z) = az+b
d = az + b .
d d

Here ab 6= 0 a finite complex number.

So T (∞) = ∞, i.e. ∞ is a fixed point in this case.

The other possible fixed points of T are given by the solution

of the equation z = T (z), i.e. z = ad z + db in C.

15
Now three subcases arise here:

Subcase IA: a = d, b = 0;

Subcase IB: a = d, b 6= 0 and

Subcase IC : a 6= d.

16
 Subcase IA: a = d, b = 0;

In this subcase T = I, the identity transformation, i.e. every

point of C is also its fixed point.

Hence in this subcase every point of C∞ is a fixed point of T .

17
 Subcase IB: a = d, b 6= 0

Here the equation z = T (z) has no solution in C.

Hence in this subcase there is only one fixed point of T which

is ∞.

18
 Subcase IC : a 6= d.

b is the only fixed point of T in C.

Here z = d−a

Hence in this subcase there are two fixed points and the fixed
b .
points of T are ∞ and d−a

19
 Case-II c 6= 0.

Now T (∞) = ac 6= ∞. So ∞ is not a fixed point of T .

So all possible fixed points of T are in C and they are given

by the solution of the equation z = T (z) i.e. z = az+b
cz+d , i.e.
cz 2 + (d − a)z − b = 0 in C. .....(i)

Fundamental theorem of algebra says this equation has at most

two solutions in C, i.e. in this case T has at most two fixed points
and the are given by the solutions of the equation (i) in C.

20
 Thus every bilinear transformation has at most two fixed points
unless it is the identity transformation.

21
 Corollary: If a bilinear transformation have three fixed points
(or more than two fixed points), then it is the identity transfor-
mation.

22
 2
The general equation of circle in C is αr | z | +βzp
+ βz + γ,
|β|2 −γ |β|2 −γ
α, γ ∈ R and β ∈ C, α 6= 0 also the radius α2
= |α|
> 0,
i.e. | β |2> γ.

The general equation of straight line in C is βz + βz + γ, γ ∈ R

and β ∈ C, β 6= 0.

A straight line meets at ∞ in C∞, so a straight line or circle

in C is called circle in the extended complex plane C∞.

Thus the general equation of circle in C∞ is α | z |2 +βz+βz+γ,

α, γ ∈ R and β ∈ C; α and β are not simultaneously zero, if α 6= 0
| β |2> γ.

23
 Example: Find the image of the circle | z |= r, r 6= 1 under
z−i . What happen if r = 1?
the bilinear transformation T (z) = z+i
Which point will map onto 1+i?

z−i , so z = iw+i . .... (i)

Solution: Let w = z+i −w+1

Now, | z |= r iff | z |2= r2, i.e. z.z = r2

iw+i −iw−i |w|2 +w+w+1

2
i.e. −w+1 . −w+1 = r , i.e. |w|2−w−w+1 = r2

i.e. (1 − r2) | w |2 +(1 + r2)w + (1 + r2)w + (1 − r2) = 0 .......(ii)

1+r2 2r |,
i.e. | w − 1−r2 |=| 1−r 2

which is a equation of circle, thus the circle | z |= r, r 6= 1

1+r2 2r |.
mapped onto the circle of center 1−r2 + i0 and radius | 1−r 2

24
 If r = 1 we get from the equation (ii) that w + w = 0, i.e
Re(w) = 0, i.e. the unit circle | z |= 1 mapped onto the straight
line of imaginary axis.

If w = 1 + i we have from (i) z = −2 − i, i.e. the point −2 − i

mapped onto the point 1 + i.
 z−1 . (a)
Exercise:(i)Consider the bilinear transformation w = z+1
Show that it maps the upper half plane onto the interior of
the unit circle. (b) Where does it map the unit circle and the
imaginary axis? (c) where does it maps the 1st and 3rd quadrant
of the complex plane? (d) What is the image of the point i − 1
and ∞? (e) Which point mapped onto i and ∞?

1−z . (a) Find

(ii) Consider the bilinear transformation T (z) = i 1+z
the region which mapped onto the upper half plane. (b) Where
does it map the unit circle | z |= 1?

(iii) Find the image of the region Re(z) ≤ 0 under the bilinear
transformation w = 2z+i
iz−1 .

z+i
(iv) Consider the bilinear transformation T (z) = i 2z−1 . (a)
Find the image of the unit circle | z |= 1? (b) Find the image
of the first quadrant? (c) Find the image of the point 12 (1 + i).
(d) Which point mapped onto the point i?
25
 Class Task: Find the general form of a bilinear transformation
for which

(i)∞ is a fixed point,

(ii) 1 and -1 are the only fixed points.

26
 Definition 1.4.(Cross Ratio:) Let z2, z3, z4 ∈ C∞ be three
distinct points. Consider T : C∞ → C∞ as

z−z3 z2 −z3


 z−z / z −z , z2 , z3 , z4 ∈ C

 4 2 4
 z−z3 z2 = ∞


T (z) = z−z4
 1 / 1 , z3 = ∞
z−z4 z2 −z4




z − z /z − z ,

z4 = ∞
3 2 3

T is a bilinear transformation.

The image of a point z1 ∈ C∞ under T is called the cross ratio

of z1, z2, z3 and z4 written as (z1, z2, z3, z4), i.e. (z1, z2, z3, z4)=T (z1) ∈
C∞ .

Hence T (z) = (z, z2, z3, z4), z ∈ C∞

27
Note:

T (z2) = (z2, z2, z3, z4) = 1

T (z3) = (z3, z2, z3, z4) = 0

T (z4) = (z4, z2, z3, z4) = ∞

28
 Theorem 1.3. Cross ratio preserved under any bilinear trans-
formation.

29
 Proof: Let T be any bilinear transformation and z2, z3, z4 ∈ C∞
be three distinct points. Consider the bilinear transformations T1
and T2 as

T1(z) = (z, z2, z3, z4) and T2(z) = (z, T (z2), T (z3), T (z4)).

Now, S = T2 ◦ T ◦ T1−1, then S is a bilinear transformation.

We see that:

S(1) = 1, S(0) = 0 and S(∞) = ∞, i.e the bilinear transfor-

mation S has three fixed points.

So S = I, i.e. T2 ◦ T ◦ T1−1 = I, i.e. T2 ◦ T = T1

Hence for any z ∈ C∞, T2(T (z)) = T1(z),

Thus (T (z), T (z2), T (z3), T (z4)) = (z, z2, z3, z4), i.e. T pre-
serves the cross ratio.
30
 Example: Find the bilinear transformation which map 1, i, -1
onto 1 + i, 0, 1 − i respectively.

Solution: Let T be the bilinear transformation such that

T (1) = 1 + i, T (i) = 0, T (−1) = 1 − i.

Let w = T (z).

Since any bilinear transformation preserves the cross ratio, so

(T (z), T (1), T (i), T (−1)) = (z, 1, i, −1)

i.e., (w, 1 + i, 0, 1 − i) = (z, 1, i, −1)

w−0 / (1+i)−0
or, w−(1−i) (1+i)−(1−i)

i.e. w =?.
31
 Exercise: Find the bilinear transformation which map

(i) −1, 0, 1 onto 0, i, 3i,

(ii) i, 1, −1 onto 1, 0, ∞,

(iii) 1, i, −1 onto i, 0, −i. Find image of the (a) unit circle

|z| = 1 and the unit disc |z| ≤ 1, (b) |z| = r, r > 1.

(iv) i, 1, ∞ onto ∞, i, 0.

32
 Theorem 1.5. Let {z2, z3, z4} ⊂ C∞ and {w2, w3, w4} ⊂ C∞
be two set of three distinct points. Then there exists a unique
bilinear transformation T such that T (zk = wk ), k = 2, 3, 4.

33
 Proof: Consider two bilinear transformations T1 and T2 as

T1(z) = (z, z2, z3, z4) and T2(z) = (z, w2, w3, w4).

Now T = T2 ◦ T1−1 is a bilinear transformation. We see that

T (z2) = w2, T (z3) = w3 and T (z4) = w4.

Thus we have a bilinear transformation T such that T (zk ) =

wk , k = 2, 3, 4.

To show the uniqueness we consider any bilinear transforma-

tion S such that S(zk ) = wk , k = 2, 3, 4.

Now S ◦ T −1 is also a bilinear transformation and wee see that

S ◦ T −1(z2) = z2, S ◦ T −1(z3) = z3 and S ◦ T −1(z4) = z4.

So we have a bilinear transformation S ◦ T −1 which has 3 fixed

points, so S ◦ T −1 = I, i.e. S = T . Hence the proof.
34
 Theorem 1.6. Four distinct points z1, z2, z3, z4 ∈ C∞ lies on
a circle of C∞ iff the cross ratio (z1, z2, z3, z4) is a real number.

35
 Corollary Any bilinear transformation maps a circle of C∞ on
a circle of C∞

36
 References
1. Complex Analysis: S. Punnuswamy, Narosa Publication,
New Delhi.

2. Function of one complex variable: J. B. Conway, Narosa

Publication, New Delhi.

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