1.II.11G

Topics in Analysis
Part II, 2006

Let T={z:z=1}\mathbb{T}=\{z:|z|=1\} be the unit circle in C\mathbb{C}, and let ϕ:TC\phi: \mathbb{T} \rightarrow \mathbb{C} be a continuous function that never takes the value 0 . Define the degree (or winding number) of ϕ\phi about 0 . [You need not prove that the degree is well-defined.]

Denote the degree of ϕ\phi about 0 by w(ϕ)w(\phi). Prove the following facts.

(i) If ϕ1\phi_{1} and ϕ2\phi_{2} are two functions with the properties of ϕ\phi above, then w(ϕ1ϕ2)=w\left(\phi_{1} \cdot \phi_{2}\right)= w(ϕ1)+w(ϕ2)w\left(\phi_{1}\right)+w\left(\phi_{2}\right)

(ii) If ψ\psi is any continuous function such that ψ(z)<ϕ(z)|\psi(z)|<|\phi(z)| for every zTz \in \mathbb{T}, then w(ϕ+ψ)=w(ϕ)w(\phi+\psi)=w(\phi).

Using these facts, calculate the degree w(ϕ)w(\phi) when ϕ\phi is given by the formula ϕ(z)=\phi(z)= (3z2)(z3)(2z+1)+1.(3 z-2)(z-3)(2 z+1)+1 .