Re: ArcCos[x] with x > 1
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg49267] Re: ArcCos[x] with x > 1
- From: John Doty <jpd at whispertel.LoseTheH.net>
- Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 02:48:37 -0400 (EDT)
- References: <cclev9$kb3$1@smc.vnet.net>
- Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com
jaegerm at ibmt.fhg.de wrote:
> Hi,
>
> as the result of a definite integral (Integrate[r ArcCos[1/(2 r)] (1 +
> 4 r^2)^(1/2), {r, 1/2, 1/2^(1/2)}]) I received the expression
> i*ArcCos[2]. How does Mathematica calculate ArcCos[x] with x > 1 which
> is outside the function's domain [-1,1]?
By using Euler's Exp[I x] == Cos[x] + I Sin[x]
> In Mathematica's
> opinion, ArcCos[2] is a purely imaginary number, so why isn't
> i*ArcCos[2] reduced to a real expession?
Because (I ArcCos[2]) is a perfectly good analytic expression, and
Mathematica has no built-in preference for the representation you want.
> How do I get an analytical
> expression for the imaginary part of ArcCos[2]?
ComplexExpand[I ArcCos[2]] will convert your result to the
representation you prefer.
-jpd