Multiplicities in Hayman's alternative

Abstract

AbstractIn 1959 Hayman proved an inequality from which it follows that if f is transcendental and meromorphic in the plane then either f takes every finite complex value infinitely often or each derivative f(k), k ≥1, takes every finite non-zero value infinitely often. We investigate the extent to which these values may be ramified, and we establish a generalization of Hayman's inequality in which multiplicities are not taken into account.