Re: Defining derivatives
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg87899] Re: Defining derivatives
- From: Jean-Marc Gulliet <jeanmarc.gulliet at gmail.com>
- Date: Sat, 19 Apr 2008 23:49:23 -0400 (EDT)
- Organization: The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
- References: <fu9vnl$igu$1@smc.vnet.net>
dh wrote: > Hello All, > > does anybody know how to define symbolic derivatives. E.g.: > > f[x_]:=f1[x]; > > f'[x_]:=f2[x]; > > this does not work because f on the lefthand side is evaluated. To > > prevent this (do not forget to remove f before redefining it): > > f[x_]:=f1[x]; > > HoldPattern[f'[x_]]:=f2[x]; > > this gives no message, but f'[x] returns f1[x] instead of f2[x]. > > The same thinhg happens when you change the sequence of definitions: > > f'[x_]:=f2[x]; > > f[x_]:=f1[x]; <snip> Daniel, You should use *up values*. You can define them thanks to *UpSet[]* or *UpSetDelayed[]*. For instance, In[1]:= Remove[f] f[x_] := f1[x] f'[x] ^:= f2[x] f'[x] Out[4]= f2[x] Best regards, -- Jean-Marc