Re: Why doesn't Mathematica know this?
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg21977] Re: Why doesn't Mathematica know this?
- From: Matthias Weber <weber at math.uni-bonn.de>
- Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2000 13:02:29 -0500 (EST)
- Organization: RHRZ - University of Bonn (Germany)
- References: <87lu84$6q9@smc.vnet.net>
- Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com
In article <87lu84$6q9 at smc.vnet.net>, "ginsand" <gar at none.home> wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> I think this is true:
>
> 4/Sqrt[Pi]*Integrate[x^2*Log[1 + z*Exp[-(x^2)]],{x, 0, Infinity}]
>
> Is actually:
>
> -PolyLog[5/2, -z]
>
> Yet Mathematica doesn't know that.
> Moreover, even if I type a numerical value instead of z in the Integral,
> and
> evaluate the expression numericaly (//N), Mathematica doesn't generally
> converges (a $RecursionLimit message, supressed and hang), except for
> special values of z.
>
> And finally, look at this:
>
> In[1]:=Timing[N[4/Sqrt[Pi]*
> Integrate[x^2*Log[1 + 1*Exp[-x^2]], {x, 0, Infinity}]]]
>
> Out[1]={22.67999999999999*Second, 0.8671998802871057}
>
> In[2]:=Timing[N[-PolyLog[5/2, -1]]]
>
> Out[2]={0.3300000000000054*Second, 0.8671998890121841}
>
> It isn't exactly the same result... Still I think the equallity should
> hold
> (It has a known physical meaning).
>
>
> Comments, suggestions or insight on this issue?
>
>
Knowledge about special functions is poor. You can convince yourself
of your claim by developing both expressions into a power series at z=0.
Mathematica can help finding the (simple) general coefficient:
Normal[4/Sqrt[Pi]*Series[x^2*Log[1 + z*Exp[-(x^2)]], {z, 0, 6}]]
Integrate[%, {x, 0, Infinity}]
gives the same as
Series[-PolyLog[5/2, -z], {z, 0, 6}]
An actual proof of your identity is easily derived from this.
Hope that helps.
Matthias