Re: Integrating Abs[Sin[]^2]
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg39052] Re: Integrating Abs[Sin[]^2]
- From: "Dana DeLouis" <delouis at bellsouth.net>
- Date: Sun, 26 Jan 2003 05:22:50 -0500 (EST)
- Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com
I am not an expert, but I believe the huge bug in Mathematica 4.2 causes this. Theoretically, one should be able to tell Mathematica that k is an element of Complexes by the "Element" command, or thru the use of "Assumptions" However, neither one works for Mathematica 4.2. If you tell Mathematica 4.2 that k is complex in the following way, then it should work as you expect. Note that "removeall" is my own program to clear Global Variables. removeall "All Global` variables Removed!" k = a + b*I; Integrate[Abs[Sin[k*z]]^2, {z, 0, 1}] This returns what you expected? ((-b)*Sin[2*a] + a*Sinh[2*b])/(4*a*b) However, this only works because you were lucky in picking the variable a & b that come before the letter x in the Alphabet If you had picked variable names that begin with y & z, which come after x in the alphabet, then your results should be much different. Let's see... removeall "All Global` variables Removed!" k = y + I*z; Integrate[Abs[Sin[k*z]]^2, {z, 0, 1}] (Sqrt[2*Pi]*y*Erf[Sqrt[2]] + Sqrt[2*Pi]*y*Erfi[Sqrt[2]] - 4*Sin[2*y])/(16*y) It is this fundamental bug in Mathematica 4.2 that makes searching for any further problems rather useless. One cannot really trust any output from Mathematica 4.2. -- Dana DeLouis Windows XP $VersionNumber -> 4.2 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Note: I have removed In / Out at the suggestion of other Newsgroup contributors. This appears to make it easier to copy into Mathematica. This option is found under <Kernal> <Show In/Out Names>