Problem 60
Medium Geometry in the Plane

If the point z' is in the half-plane Re(z')>1 , show that…

If the point $z'$ is in the half-plane $\text{Re}(z')>1$, show that the point $z=\dfrac{1}{z'}$ is in the disk $\left|z-\dfrac12\right|<\dfrac12$.

Explanation of Method

Rewrite $\left|\frac1{z'}-\frac12\right|$ as $\dfrac{|z'-2|}{2|z'|}$ and show the assumption $\text{Re}(z')>1$ is exactly the geometric statement "$z'$ is closer to $2$ than to $0$", i.e. $|z'-2|<|z'|$. Substituting this bound directly gives the result.

Step 1 · Rewrite the target inequality

$$ \left|\frac1{z'}-\frac12\right| = \left|\frac{2-z'}{2z'}\right| = \frac{|z'-2|}{2|z'|} $$

so we must show $\dfrac{|z'-2|}{2|z'|} < \dfrac12$, i.e. $|z'-2|<|z'|$.

Step 2 · Translate the hypothesis geometrically

With $z'=x'+iy'$, the condition $|z'-2|<|z'|$ becomes:

$$ (x'-2)^2+(y')^2 < (x')^2+(y')^2 \quad\Longrightarrow\quad -4x'+4<0 \quad\Longrightarrow\quad x'>1 $$

which is exactly the hypothesis $\text{Re}(z')>1$: "$z'$ is strictly closer to $2$ than to the origin" is equivalent to lying to the right of the perpendicular bisector of $[0,2]$, i.e. $\text{Re}(z')>1$.

Step 3 · Conclude

Since $\text{Re}(z')>1 \iff |z'-2|<|z'|$, and $z'\neq0$ (as $\text{Re}(z')>1>0$):

$$ \left|\frac1{z'}-\frac12\right| = \frac{|z'-2|}{2|z'|} < \frac{|z'|}{2|z'|} = \frac12 $$

$$ \boxed{\left|z-\frac12\right| < \frac12} $$

Step 4 · Direct Cartesian check (alternative route)

With $z'=x'+iy'$, $x'>1$: $\ z=\dfrac1{z'}=\dfrac{x'-iy'}{(x')^2+(y')^2}$, so $x=\dfrac{x'}{r^2}$, $y=\dfrac{-y'}{r^2}$ where $r^2=(x')^2+(y')^2$. Then:

$$ \left(x-\frac12\right)^2+y^2 = \frac{1-x'}{r^2}+\frac14 $$

Since $x'>1$ and $r^2>0$, $\dfrac{1-x'}{r^2}<0$, so this sum is $<\dfrac14$ — the same conclusion.

$\text{Re}(z')=1$ $z'$-plane / $z$-plane (schematic) $z'=2\to z=1/2$ Re Im

Schematic: the half-plane $\text{Re}(z')>1$ (shaded) is mapped by $z=1/z'$ onto the open disk $|z-\frac12|<\frac12$; the boundary line $\text{Re}(z')=1$ maps to the boundary circle.

Step 5 · Check some key points

$z'$$z=1/z'$Location
$1$ (boundary)$1$$|1-\frac12|=\frac12$ — on the boundary circle
$2$ (interior)$\frac12$center of the disk
$1+i$ (boundary)$\frac{1-i}{2}$$\left|\frac{1-i}{2}-\frac12\right|=\frac12$ — on the boundary circle

Result

$$ \text{Re}(z')>1 \ \Longrightarrow\ \left|\frac1{z'}-\frac12\right|<\frac12 $$

Inversion maps the half-plane to the right of $\text{Re}(z)=1$ onto the open disk of radius $\frac12$ centered at $\frac12$, and its boundary line onto the boundary circle.