Re: A Problem with Simplify
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg87444] Re: A Problem with Simplify
- From: dh <dh at metrohm.ch>
- Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2008 01:40:10 -0400 (EDT)
- References: <ftkb7f$a9m$1@smc.vnet.net>
Hi Kevin,
the culprit is Integrate not Simplify. In the manual one finds:
"For indefinite integrals, Integrate tries to find results that are
correct for almost all values of parameters."
I think this to be a trap for the unwary.
hope this helps, Daniel
Kevin J. McCann wrote:
> I have the following rather simple integral of two sines, which should
> evaluate to zero if m is not equal to n and to L/2 if they are the same.
>
> The following is just fine
>
> Imn = Simplify[Integrate[
> Sin[(m*Pi*x)/L]*
> Sin[(n*Pi*x)/L],
> {x, 0, L}]]
>
>
> However, if I specify that m and n are integers, I only get the
> "general" solution of zero, i.e. when m and n are not equal.
>
> Imn = Simplify[Integrate[
> Sin[(m*Pi*x)/L]*
> Sin[(n*Pi*x)/L],
> {x, 0, L}],
> Element[m, Integers] &&
> Element[n, Integers]]
>
> The workaround is obvious in this case, but shouldn't Mathematica give multiple
> answers? Perhaps something similar to what it already does with Integrate?
>
> Kevin