Re: Integrate 5.0
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg44253] Re: Integrate 5.0
- From: "David W. Cantrell" <DWCantrell at sigmaxi.org>
- Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2003 03:01:24 -0500 (EST)
- References: <bnnvfj$61s$1@smc.vnet.net>
- Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com
Selwyn, > Perhaps this a better example: > > Integrate[Sqrt[Cos[t]^2 + 1], {t, 0, x}] > > For any real x, this is Sqrt[2] EllipticE[x,1/2], but here's the output > you get: [monstrosity snipped] > To coax Sqrt[2] EllipticE[x,1/2] out of this mess, it's not enough to > simplify with x\[Element]Reals, > > Simplify[Integrate[Sqrt[Cos[t]^2 + 1], {t, 0, x}],x\[Element]Reals] > > << similar output >> > > one has to simplify either with x\[Element]Reals&&x>0 or > x\[Element]Reals&&x<0 > > Simplify[Integrate[Sqrt[Cos[t]^2 + 1], {t, 0, x}], > x\[Element]Reals&&x>0] > > Sqrt[2] EllipticE[x,1/2] Thinking that perhaps it's better to let Mathematica know your intentions during the integration, rather than afterward, I tried Integrate[Sqrt[Cos[t]^2 + 1], {t, 0, x}, Assumptions -> x \[Element] Reals] The result If[x != 0, Sqrt[2]*EllipticE[x, 1/2], Integrate[Sqrt[1 + Cos[t]^2], {t, 0, x}, Assumptions -> x \[Element] Reals && x == 0]] while not unwieldy, is certainly strange. It's clearly equivalent to Sqrt[2] EllipticE[x,1/2]. (So why doesn't Mathematica see that, and simplify accordingly?) > I'm just saying there's got to be a better way. Having a small number > of functions that do very general things is a good philosophy, in > general. However, in the case of Integrate, there sorely needs to be > some simple, elegant way to integrate on the real line. But then again, > I could be wrong. I agree that there needs to be a way to do that. BTW, one can throw caution to the wind and just use Integrate[Sqrt[Cos[t]^2 + 1], {t, 0, x}, GenerateConditions -> False] which gives the desired result immediately. Regards, David