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Re: PiecewiseExpand problem.

  • To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
  • Subject: [mg84530] Re: PiecewiseExpand problem.
  • From: "David W.Cantrell" <DWCantrell at sigmaxi.net>
  • Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2008 06:57:04 -0500 (EST)
  • References: <fl6qon$kkd$1@smc.vnet.net>

jackgold at umich.edu wrote:
> I am puzzled by the behavior of PiecewiseExpand.  In its simplest
> version, my question is this:
>
> In 1:  PiecewiseExpand[UnitStep[x]]
>
> Out 1:  1  x >= 0
>
> Are we to assume from "Out 1" that UnitStep[x] for x < 0 is zero?

Sure. Your Out[1] is expressed using Piecewise, so just look at the
documentation for Piecewise and note that the default value is 0.

> And note the following:
>
> In 1:  PiecewiseExpand[UnitStep[x],x < 0]
>
> Out 2:  0
>
> By the way,  PiecewiseExpand[UnitStep[x], -1 < x < 1] returns the
> same value as "Out 1".

That's correct as well, of course.

David


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