# zeros and poles of rational function

A rational function of a complex variable $z$ may be presented by the equation

 $\displaystyle R(z)\;=\;\frac{a_{0}z^{m}+a_{1}z^{m-1}+\ldots+a_{m}}{b_{0}z^{n}+% b_{1}z^{n-1}+\ldots+b_{n}},$ (1)

where the numerator and the denominator are mutually irreducible polynomials with complex coefficients $a_{j}$ and $b_{k}$ ($a_{0}b_{0}\neq 0$).  If  $z=x\!+\!iy$ ($x,\,y\in\mathbb{R}$), then the real and imaginary parts of $R(z)$ are rational functions of $x$ and $y$.

When we factorize the numerator and the denominator in the ring  $\mathbb{C}[z]$, we can write

 $\displaystyle R(z)\;=\;\frac{a_{0}(z-\alpha_{1})^{\mu_{1}}(z-\alpha_{2})^{\mu_% {2}}\ldots(z-\alpha_{r})^{\mu_{r}}}{b_{0}(z-\beta_{1})^{\nu_{1}}(z-\beta_{2})^% {\nu_{2}}\ldots(z-\beta_{s})^{\nu_{s}}},$ (2)

where  $\alpha_{j}\neq\beta_{k}$  for all $j,\,k$.

The form (2) of the rational function expresses the zeros $\alpha_{j}$ and the infinity places $\beta_{k}$ of the function.  One can write (2) as

 $R(z)\;=\;(z\!-\!\alpha_{j})^{\mu_{j}}S_{j}(z)$

where $S_{j}(z)$ is a rational function which in  $z=\alpha_{j}$  gets a finite non-zero value.  Accordingly one says that the point $\alpha_{j}$ is a zero of $R(z)$ with the order $\mu_{j}$ ($j=1,\,2,\,\ldots,\,r$).  One can also write (2) as

 $R(z)\;=\;\frac{1}{(z\!-\!\beta_{k})^{\nu_{k}}}T_{k}(z)$

where $T_{k}(z)$ is a rational function getting in the point $\beta_{k}$ a finite non-zero value.  As  $z\to\beta_{k}$,  the modulus $|R(z)|$ increases unboundedly in such a manner that  $|z-\beta_{k}|^{\nu_{k}}|R(z)|$  tends to a finite non-zero limit.  So one says that $R(z)$ has in the point $\beta_{k}$ a pole with the order $\nu_{k}$ ($k\,=\,1,\,2,\,\ldots,\,s$).

Behaviour at infinity

Now let $|z|$ increase unboundedly.  When we write

 $R(z)\;=\;z^{m-n}\cdot\frac{a_{0}+\frac{a_{1}}{z}+\ldots+\frac{a_{m}}{z^{m}}}{b% _{0}+\frac{b_{1}}{z}+\ldots+\frac{b_{n}}{z^{n}}},$

we get three cases:

• If  $m>n$,  then  $\lim_{z\to\infty}R(z)=\infty$.  Since  $\lim_{z\to\infty}\frac{R(z)}{z^{m-n}}=\frac{a_{0}}{b_{0}}$  is finite and non-zero, the point  $z=\infty$  is the pole of $R(z)$ with the order $m\!-\!n$.

• If  $m=n$,  we have  $\lim_{z\to\infty}R(z)=\frac{a_{0}}{b_{0}}$  and thus $R(z)$ has in the infinity a finite non-zero value.

• If  $m,  we have  $\lim_{z\to\infty}R(z)=0$  in such a manner that  $\lim_{z\to\infty}z^{n-m}R(z)=\frac{a_{0}}{b_{0}}$.  This means that $R(z)$ has in infinity a zero with the order $n\!-\!m$.

In any case, $R(z)$ has equally many zeros and poles, provided that each zero and pole is counted so many times as its order says.  The common number of the zeros and poles is called the order of the rational function.  It is the greatest of the degrees (http://planetmath.org/PolynomialRing) $m$ and $n$ of the numerator and denominator.

$c$-places

Denote by $c$ any non-zero complex number.  The $c$-place of $R(z)$ means such a point $z$ for which  $R(z)=c$.  If $z_{0}$ is a $c$-place of

 $R(z)\;=\;\frac{P(z)}{Q(z)}$

where the polynomials $P(z)$ and $Q(z)$ have no common factor (http://planetmath.org/DivisibilityInRings), then $z_{0}$ is a zero of

 $\displaystyle R(z)\!-\!c\;=\;\frac{P(z)\!-\!c\,Q(z)}{Q(z)}.$ (3)

If this zero is of order $\mu$, then one says that $z_{0}$ is of order $\mu$ as the $c$-place of $R(z)$.  The numerator and denominator of (3) cannot have common factor (otherwise any common factor would be also a factor of $P(z)$).  This implies that the order of the rational function defined by (3) is the same as the order $k$ of $R(z)$.  Because (3) gets $k$ times the value $0$, also $R(z)$ gets $k$ times the value $c$.  Thus we have derived the

Theorem.  A rational function attains any complex value so many times as its order is.

## References

• 1 R. Nevanlinna & V. Paatero: Funktioteoria.  Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. Helsinki (1963).

 Title zeros and poles of rational function Canonical name ZerosAndPolesOfRationalFunction Date of creation 2014-02-23 18:12:33 Last modified on 2014-02-23 18:12:33 Owner pahio (2872) Last modified by pahio (2872) Numerical id 15 Author pahio (2872) Entry type Topic Classification msc 30D10 Classification msc 30C15 Classification msc 30A99 Classification msc 26C15 Related topic MinimalAndMaximalNumber Related topic OrderValuation Related topic RolfNevanlinna Related topic PlacesOfHolomorphicFunction Related topic ZeroOfPolynomial Defines order of rational function Defines order Defines c-place Defines place