MathGroup Archive 2004

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

Search the Archive

Simplify[] and Sign[]

  • To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
  • Subject: [mg48529] Simplify[] and Sign[]
  • From: thom.covert at gmail.com (Thomas R. Covert)
  • Date: Fri, 4 Jun 2004 04:49:55 -0400 (EDT)
  • Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com

I have a handful of 5-variable algebraic expressions that I am pretty
sure have constant signs (I make this assumption based on many tests
using random numbers).  By hand, I've been able to prove that a few of
them do indeed have a constant sign, but the others have eluded me so
far.

Supposing I have, for example, F[w,a,b,c,d,e] = some rational function
in {w,a,b,c,d,e} where the variables w,a,b,c,d,e are strictly
positive.  By hand, I can manipulate some of the partial derivatives
of F in such a manner that I am sure that they have unambiguous signs.
 However, for the rest,
Simplify[Sign[D[F,c],{w>0,a>0,b>0,c>0,d>0,e>0}] 

just returns: Sign[D[F,c]] (using c as an example).

My question is two-fold: should I give FullSimplify[] a try in this
case?  or is there a better way of doing this?

If I can somehow "guide" Simplify[] into manipulating these
expressions as I did for the first one then I will be ok.  Perhaps
there is a way to step-through the Simplify[] process?

-Thomas R. Covert


  • Prev by Date: System of NonLinear Inequalities
  • Next by Date: Re: Problem with the Derivative of a Arg-function
  • Previous by thread: Re: System of NonLinear Inequalities
  • Next by thread: Running two silmultaneous instances of mathematica using a command line