Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-year-2-of-the-natural-sciences-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2007/paper-2/3/i/solution

The square-root factor gives an algebraic branch point at . The logarithm is locally analytic there but has value an odd multiple of , which is nonzero, so it cannot cancel that branching. The zero and pole of give logarithmic branch points at and , respectively. Thus the finite singularities are
Infinity is also a branch point. On the logarithm branch tending to zero there, , so the product behaves as . Other logarithm branches add and retain branching. A chosen branch cut joins or separates these branch points; its ordinary interior points are not additional branch points of the underlying multivalued function.

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