Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-year-2-of-the-natural-sciences-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2022/paper-2/4/b/i/solution

The factor has algebraic branch points at zero and infinity. Near zero the leading behaviour is ; with , the behaviour near infinity is . These are four-sheeted branch points.
The polynomial denominator vanishes at , with nonzero derivative , and the fractional factor is finite and nonzero near either point on any chosen local branch. Hence
A single-valued holomorphic branch is obtained by choosing a branch cut joining zero to infinity. Points along the chosen cut mark its discontinuity, rather than additional isolated poles.

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