Modular equations and distortion functions (Q987527)

Let \(\mu(r)\) denote the modulus of the Grötzsch ring, and assume the following definitions: \[ \varphi_K(r)= \mu^{-1}\big(K^{-1}\mu(r)\big),\quad \varphi_K(0)= 0,\quad K> 0,\quad 0< r< 1, \] \[ \lambda(K)= \Big[\varphi_K\big(1/\sqrt{2}\big)/\varphi_{K^{-1}}\big(1/\sqrt{2}\big)\Big]^2, \] \[ \eta_K(t)= \Big[\varphi_K(r)/\varphi_{K^{-1}}(r')\Big]^2,\quad r^2= t(1+ t)^{-1},\quad r^2+ (r')= 1. \] The distorion functions \(\varphi_K\) and \(\lambda(K)\) play an important role in the theory of quasiconformal mappings and in number theory, while the generalized distortion function \(\eta_K(t)\) has many important applications, for instance, in the theory of q.c., quasiregular, and quasisymmetric functions. These functions have been investigated by many authors. The present authors study monotonicity and convexity properties of several functions defined in terms of \(\lambda(K)\) and \(\eta_K(t)\), for instance, \(\eta_K(t)\exp\big(-2K\mu(r')\big)\) and \(\log\lambda(K)(K-1)^{-1}\). They obtain new information about distortion functions, including improvments of some known results, and new bounds for singular values of complete elliptic integrals.