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Learner Reviews & Feedback for Introduction to Complex Analysis by Wesleyan University

4.8
stars
1,035 ratings

About the Course

This course provides an introduction to complex analysis which is the theory of complex functions of a complex variable. We will start by introducing the complex plane, along with the algebra and geometry of complex numbers, and then we will make our way via differentiation, integration, complex dynamics, power series representation and Laurent series into territories at the edge of what is known today. Each module consists of five video lectures with embedded quizzes, followed by an electronically graded homework assignment. Additionally, modules 1, 3, and 5 also contain a peer assessment. The homework assignments will require time to think through and practice the concepts discussed in the lectures. In fact, a significant amount of your learning will happen while completing the homework assignments. These assignments are not meant to be completed quickly; rather you'll need paper and pen with you to work through the questions. In total, we expect that the course will take 6-12 hours of work per module, depending on your background....

Top reviews

RK

Apr 5, 2018

The lectures were very easy to follow and the exercises fitted these lectures well. This course was not always very rigorous, but a great introduction to complex analysis nevertheless. Thank you!

RK

Aug 9, 2022

Very useful course that can be followed regardless of your mathematical background - whether you have even heard of imaginary numbers or only have done pre-calculus work. A gem of a course.

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301 - 325 of 344 Reviews for Introduction to Complex Analysis

By Deleted A

Jun 8, 2017

good

By Tanvi p

May 29, 2020

-

By Ron T

Aug 14, 2020

Area of special interest for me, and what I was hoping to prepare myself for in this course, for example include

1. Nyquist stability criterion, as it relates to classical approach to analysis and design of the control systems,

2. Fourier, Laplace and Z-transforms, with rigorous approach to definition of the region of convergence, and generalized functions transformations,

Nyquist stability criterion actually comes from residue theorem, so with addition of the week 7, that goal is partially fulfilled.

Actually, without week 7, this course would not have much of the sense at all. To include topics like Julia and Mandelbrot sets, and even Riemann Hypothesis, while skimping on Cauchy’s Theorem and Integral Formula, and actually to completely left out Residue Theorem and its applications altogether… well that would be pure "l'art pour l'art".

From each sentence, this course instructor knowledge and expertise clearly shines, but so does the fascinations with pretty, fractal like, pictures or open problems in mathematics. From that kind of fascinations the greatest results in mathematics came. Complex analysis is one of those gems, so don’t cut corners on it.

Most of the proofs are just sketched, or omitted altogether. That is really unfortunate, because proofs of the complex analysis theorems are really good way to gain in depth understanding of the subject meter. Very much like in vector calculus, the approach and ideas in those proofs, have universal applicability in wide range of engineering areas. To state complex analysis theorem without proof is like teaching student a recipe to solve differential equitation, without teaching him to properly set the equitation together with appropriate boundary conditions.

By simon w

Aug 27, 2020

much of the course is excellent, I found some better aids along the way which gave well worked out examples; the peer assessed exercises were very good but the standard shown by some participants seemed low in terms of presentation (neatness, clarity of argument) the final exam was quite hard and even if one achieves a pass mark of > 80% it is not possible to see exactly where one went wrong. I found the course stimulated my personal research : https://learn.lboro.ac.uk/archive/olmp/olmp_resources/pages/wbooks_fulllist.html I also greatly appreciated the presentation in "Visual Complex Analysis" by Tristan Needham Clarendon Press Oxford

my background : Calculus at School until 18, 1 year maths for sciences at Uni, Khan Academy Maths in the last 5 years, Intro to Math Thinking Keith Devlin Coursera

By Joshua H

Mar 27, 2018

Its an overall satisfactory course. It balances the understanding of functions in the complex plane and the processing of functions in the complex plane. Throughout this course, there are in depth (as in depth as an introductory course can be) mention of topics such as properties and implications of analytic functions, transformations, residue calculus, power series, and more. Apart from this, the only drawback is the occasional omission of proofs. In general, there is always an attempt to either prove a given theorem, or at least give an idea as to how it would be proved, but quite often the student is entrusted to apply a theorem without fully understanding it. All-in-all, I would recommend this course to others.

By The S F

Jun 9, 2020

Everything in the course was explained in great detail and clarity, and the assignments that were assigned for the course provided educational value. However, I feel that the quizzes and the problems on them were considerably more difficult than most of the example problems that were gone over during the lectures, and that can be a problem considering you need at least a 4/5 (80%) to pass each quiz (each quiz consisting of 5 questions at the time I'm writing this).The difficulty spike being slightly too high is the only problem that I experienced in this course, and aside from that, everything else was great!

By Carlo

Nov 28, 2017

This is a very good course. Professor Bonfert-Taylor only uses slides so it is a traditional maths course (for awesome non-traditional maths courses on Coursera Cf Jim Fowler calculus 1 and 2). However, the content is very homogeneous in terms of level of difficulty, the progression is perfect and she explains everything there is on each one of the slides. It's a pity she doesn't try to appeal to our geometrical intuition (I know it's less easy to do than in real analysis, but still, it would have been helpful in some places).

By Santiago R R

Jun 12, 2020

A really tough and complete introduction to complex analysis. With the added lectures about the residue theorem and Laurent series, the course feels really useful and fun to apply.

The pop-up questions seem a bit out of place for me, and confused me more times than they helped me comprehend the concept at hand.

Besides that, this was really a great experience, and one of the most challenging and fun math courses I have done here in Coursera.

By PANKAJ C

May 22, 2017

clearly explained, clear voice, teaching style is perfect and instant reply on discussion board. i guess more no. of questions are required in the assignments and homework. assignments and homework questions are average level kind, it needs to be improved to a little higher level thinking kind. i really enjoyed each part of the course.

By Greg L

Aug 11, 2022

Graphical display problems came into the html later in the course - line spacing was messed up.

Generally very well presented, and I hadn't done this before, but I am not motivated to pursue it further

I made several attempt to complete with 100% and fell short at the final exam! Grrr . Not far short though.

By Александр Р

Apr 30, 2020

Some tasks contain errors and typos. Also, the lecture material should be with the proof of the theorems, because the technique of proofs also gives many practical methods that can be used in practice. Just a set of facts lectures and trivial examples make a very elementary introduction to complex analysis.

By Glenn R

Aug 17, 2016

I found this very interesting, covering some topics I did not expect an introduction. I think the pace of the course is about right, but I would have liked more questions. Unfortunately I became very busy during the course and failed to keep up. I look forward to repeating it when I have more time.

By Alexander L

Oct 13, 2018

This was a pretty interesting course with a lot of useful information. It was taught at an intermediate level which was good for me because I don't do a lot of pure math. This was mainly used as a refresher of complex analysis for an EE masters. Did the job!

By Eleomar C J

Dec 29, 2020

This course is good for anyone who wants to know how to handle the tools associated with complex numbers. But, it is less formal than I iniatilly expected. It was a good particular experience because it was my first course in a non-native language.

By Reymundo F F

Aug 27, 2019

in my humble opinion I think this course is very well but exists several topic more important for touch, and manner for made the exams and the homeworks in my opinion is bad because you will not need to do a lot of the equations for solve that

By Arthur G

Sep 29, 2020

Very interesting and stimulating. It was difficult but I am a bit elderly (84). It was well explained for the most part. I am not sure about the value of the peer graded assignments. I have learned a lot. Thank you Prof Bonfert-Taylor.

By Артур Ш

Jul 22, 2021

Очень интересно, познавательно, узнал для себя много нового. Но в этом и проблема, пришлось уделять много времени курсу, потому что много информации для самостоятельного обучения. Автопереводчик на русский язык справляется средне.

By Stewart A

Nov 10, 2022

Excellent course! Dr. Bonfert-Taylor was an excellent present & very straightforward in her approach to the subject material. Only thing I would change is to present Julia and Mandelbrot sets later in the course.

By Samuel K

Mar 7, 2019

Excellent instructor and good range of material. There are some theorems that aren't proved though and I was hoping that an analysis course would have proofs for all theorems students are required to use.

By Ditiro M

Apr 1, 2019

Even though I haven't completed the course, I managed to do up to week 3. It is nice and the lecture videos are easy to follow and understand. Hopefully i'll retake it and complete it this time around.

By Malcolm G

May 15, 2018

Fun course and learned lots. Its tough to do maths without doing lots of practice so be prepared to do lots of examples outside of the course in order to master the material.

By Martin J

Feb 28, 2021

Très intéressant, mais le début (week 1&2) est trop simple par rapport à la suite.

Il manque beaucoup de démonstrations difficiles.

Parfait après une CPGE scientifique.

By David T M

Jan 11, 2021

Excellent lectures. Great insights into how complex integration works. Tests and assignments are fair. Extra practice problems would be nice to help understanding.

By Alex Y

May 6, 2020

A well taught course that merges well into undergraduate mathematics, and provided useful experience of higher level maths for a student deciding which degree to do.

By Blake C

Sep 9, 2018

Some of the latter lessons should have been put up front so as to better present the intuitions of what you're proofing, but overall found it to be a good course.