MathGroup Archive 2004

[Date Index] [Thread Index] [Author Index]

Search the Archive

Re: problems with FindRoot: what worked with 4.2 does not work with 5.0

  • To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
  • Subject: [mg47369] Re: problems with FindRoot: what worked with 4.2 does not work with 5.0
  • From: Jens-Peer Kuska <kuska at informatik.uni-leipzig.de>
  • Date: Wed, 7 Apr 2004 03:16:27 -0400 (EDT)
  • Organization: Universitaet Leipzig
  • References: <c4u3gg$9l6$1@smc.vnet.net>
  • Reply-to: kuska at informatik.uni-leipzig.de
  • Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com

Hi,

a) change test[] to

test[x_?NumericQ] := Module[{y},
If[x > 0, y = x + 1];
If[x <= 0, y = x - 1];
Return[y]
]

b) call

FindRoot[test[x] == 5, {x, 8, 9}]

Regards
  Jens



Edgar Dachs wrote:
> 
> I have written a Mathematica program called PET (Petrological elementary
> tools) for Mathematica
> (Dachs, 1998, Computers & Geosciences, 24/3: 219-235) und worked out a
> new version that I tested with Mathematica version 4.2. With 5.0, I now
> find problems that several of my functions do not work any more,
> obviously do to changes that have been employed between 4.2 and 5.0
> concerning FindRoot.
> Below is a little test-function that illustrates the problem: the
> return-value of the function depends on the value of x, as in the much
> more complex petrological functions that I have written, where
> calculations depend e.g. on the value of the temperature.
> 
> test[x_] := Module[{y},
> If[x > 0, y = x + 1];
> If[x <= 0, y = x - 1];
> Return[y]
> ]
> With 4.2 FindRoot (using two startin values for x) could have been used
> to solve for a special value, e.g.
> 
> FindRoot[test[x] == 5, {x, {8, 9}}]
> 
> with the obvious result: {x -> 4.}
> 
> With 5.0 the call
> 
> FindRoot[test[x] == 5, {x, 9}]
> 
> (only one starting value can be specified with 5.0) yields the error
> message: FindRoot::nlnum "the function value {..} is not a list of
> numbers with dimension {1} at {x} = {9}
> 
> I would be grateful if someone could help me solving this problem, at
> the moment I don't know what to do, but it looks like a compatibility
> problem between Mathematica versions 4.2 and 5.0.
> 
> Thanks in advance,
> 
> Dr. Edgar Dachs
> Department of Mineralogy
> University Salzburg
> Austria


  • Prev by Date: Re: Scientific Notation in ListPlot Axes
  • Next by Date: Re: problems with FindRoot: what worked with 4.2 does not work with 5.0
  • Previous by thread: Re: problems with FindRoot: what worked with 4.2 does not work with 5.0
  • Next by thread: Re: problems with FindRoot: what worked with 4.2 does not work with 5.0