<s>[INST] Finding the complex integral as follows Let $C$ be a contour that is formed by an arc $y = x^2$ from $(0,0)$ to $(1,1)$, and a line segment from $(1,1)$ to $(0,1)$. Find the integral $\int_C f(z) dz$ where $f(z) = 2xy+ i(-x^2+y^2)$.
Attempt:
Let $C_1$ be the arc $y=x^2$ and $C_2$ be the line segment such that $C=  C_1 \cup C_2$.
Parametrizing $C_1$ and $C_2$ gives
\begin{align*}
C_1 &: z = z(t) = t + it^2, \,0 \le t \le 1 \\
C_2 &: z = z(u) = (1-u) + i, \,0 \le u \le 1.
\end{align*}
and $z'(t) = 1 + i2t$ and $z'(u) = -1$.
Now, for $C_1$, we have
\begin{align*}
\int_{C_1} f(z) dz &= \int_{C_1} f(z(t))z'(t) \ dt \\
&= \int_0^1 (2t(t^2) + i \cdot (-t^2 + (t^2)^2)(1+i2t)) \ dt \\
&= \int_0^1 (2t^3 + i \cdot (t^4 - t^2)(1+i2t)) \ dt \\
&= \int_0^1 (-2t^5 + 4t^3) \ dt + i \cdot \int_0^1 (5t^4 - t^2 ) \ dt \\
&= \left[-\frac{t^6}{3} + t^4\right]_0^1 + i \cdot \left[t^5 - \frac{t^3}{3}\right]_0^1 \\
&= \left(-\frac{1}{3} + 1\right) + \left(1 - \frac{1}{3}\right) \\
&= \frac{2}{3} + i \cdot \frac{2}{3}.
\end{align*}
Now, for $C_2$, we have
\begin{align*}
\int_{C_2} f(z) dz &= \int_{C_2} f(z(u)) z'(u) du \\
&= \int_0^1 (2(1-u) + i \cdot (-(1-u)^2 + 1^2)(-1)) du \\
&= - \int_0^1 (2-2u + i \cdot (-u^2 + 2u) du \\
&= -([2u - u^2]_0^1 + i \cdot \left[-\frac{u^3}{3} + u^2\right]_0^1) \\
&= -((2 - 1) + i \cdot \left(-\frac{1}{3} + 1)\right) \\
&= -1 - i \cdot \frac{2}{3}.
\end{align*}
Hence,
\begin{align*}
\int_C f(z) \ dz &= \int_{C_1} f(z) \ dz + \int_{C_2} f(z) \ dz \\
&= \frac{2}{3} + i \cdot \frac{2}{3} - 1 - i \cdot \frac{2}{3} \\ 
&= - \frac{1}{3}.
\end{align*}

*

*Am I correct?

*How about an approach by Cauchy's theorem (if $f$ is analytic then the complex integral equals to zero.)? I doubt about using it since the contour $C$ isn't closed.

Thanks in advanced.
 [/INST] Since $f(z)=-iz^2$, $f$ is indeed analytic. If we "add" another path $C_3$ to the contour, namely the one from $(0,1)$ to $(0,0)$. Then $C$ is closed. Now we get $$\int_C f(z)dz=0$$ by Cauchy. Furthermore $$0=\int_C f(z)dz=\int_{C_1}f(z)dz+\int_{C_2}f(z)dz+\int_{C_3}f(z)dz$$ and $$\int_{C_1}f(z)dz+\int_{C_2}f(z)dz=-\int_{C_3}f(z)dz.$$ Now it suffices to only calculate the much simpler integral along the line segment from $(0,0)$ to $(0,1)$.
Now since a parametrization of $C_3$ is $it$, we get $$\int_{C_3}f(z)dz=\int_0^1f(it)idt=\int_0^1-i(it)^2idt=\int_0^1-i(it)^2idt=\int_0^1-t^2dt=-\frac{1}{3}$$
and furthermore $$-\int_{C_3}f(z)dz=-(-\frac{1}{3})=\frac{1}{3}.$$
And yes, you are indeed correct! This is just a much simpler way of calculating it.
</s>