RE: Exponential forms and substitution
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg34490] RE: [mg34460] Exponential forms and substitution
- From: "DrBob" <majort at cox-internet.com>
- Date: Thu, 23 May 2002 03:32:42 -0400 (EDT)
- Reply-to: <drbob at bigfoot.com>
- Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com
For the second problem, you could leave g undefined, but use a substitution rule when you WANT it to have a value. For instance, if we want to compute acceleration due to the earth's gravity at various distances (r) measured in earth radii, we might start with the basic formula and a few rules: a = -g/r^2; earthGrav = g -> 9.80655 meter/Second^2; moonDistance = r -> 384403/12756; a // InputForm -g/r^2 Acceleration at any radius, measured in earth radii: a /. earthGrav // InputForm (-9.80655*meter)/(r^2*Second^2) Acceleration at the moon's orbit (approximate): a /. {earthGrav, moonDistance} // InputForm (-0.010798706345925642*meter)/ Second^2 These are not sophisticated examples, but maybe they'll give you ideas. Bobby Treat -----Original Message----- From: Steve Gray [mailto:stevebg at adelphia.net] To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net Subject: [mg34490] [mg34460] Exponential forms and substitution For various reasons I have complex exponentials written both as (for example) (-1)^(2/5) and the equivalent E^(I Pi/5). How do I convert both forms into the same form of my choice? Also I have a variable, say g, defined as (-1)^(2/5) . In the complex matrices I work with it is important for visual reasons to have the symbol g itself appear when I need it, instead of one of its numeric equivalents. Using the usual substitution rules as I understand them does not seem to work. Any tips will be greatly welcomed!