Let T={z:∣z∣=1} be the unit circle in C, and let ϕ:T→C be a continuous function that never takes the value 0 . Define the degree (or winding number) of ϕ about 0 . [You need not prove that the degree is well-defined.]
Denote the degree of ϕ about 0 by w(ϕ). Prove the following facts.
(i) If ϕ1 and ϕ2 are two functions with the properties of ϕ above, then w(ϕ1⋅ϕ2)= w(ϕ1)+w(ϕ2)
(ii) If ψ is any continuous function such that ∣ψ(z)∣<∣ϕ(z)∣ for every z∈T, then w(ϕ+ψ)=w(ϕ).
Using these facts, calculate the degree w(ϕ) when ϕ is given by the formula ϕ(z)= (3z−2)(z−3)(2z+1)+1.