Paper 1, Section II, E

Complex Analysis or Complex Methods
Part IB, 2013

Suppose p(z)p(z) is a polynomial of even degree, all of whose roots satisfy z<R|z|<R. Explain why there is a holomorphic (i.e. analytic) function h(z)h(z) defined on the region R<z<R<|z|<\infty which satisfies h(z)2=p(z)h(z)^{2}=p(z). We write h(z)=p(z)h(z)=\sqrt{p(z)}

By expanding in a Laurent series or otherwise, evaluate

Cz4zdz\int_{C} \sqrt{z^{4}-z} d z

where CC is the circle of radius 2 with the anticlockwise orientation. (Your answer will be well-defined up to a factor of ±1\pm 1, depending on which square root you pick.)