RE: Piecewise functions
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg23150] RE: [mg23119] Piecewise functions
- From: "David Park" <djmp at earthlink.net>
- Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2000 03:21:15 -0400 (EDT)
- Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com
An Le asked:
>
> Can someone send me some notebook and package files to do piecewise
> functions? I can't seem to be able to do it with mathematica.
>
> The only thing i get close to is using the Which[] function, but I can't
> integrate with that function.
>
> Thanks...
>
An Le,
If you wish to integrate and differentiate, the best approach is to use the
UnitStep function. This defines a piecewise trapezoidal function.
f[x_] = x(UnitStep[x] - UnitStep[x - 1]) + UnitStep[x - 1] -
UnitStep[x - 2] + (3 - x)(UnitStep[x - 2] - UnitStep[x - 3]) //
Simplify
(-3 + x) UnitStep[-3 + x] - (-2 + x) UnitStep[-2 + x] + UnitStep[-1 + x] -
x UnitStep[-1 + x] + x UnitStep[x]
It can be directly plotted.
Plot[f[x], {x, 0, 3}];
It can also be directly integrated.
g[x_] = Integrate[f[x], x] // Simplify
1/2*((-3 + x)^2*UnitStep[-3 + x] - (-2 + x)^2*UnitStep[-2 + x] -
UnitStep[-1 + x] + 2*x*UnitStep[-1 + x] - x^2*UnitStep[-1 + x] +
x^2*UnitStep[x])
And the integral can be directly plotted.
Plot[g[x], {x, 0, 3}];
David Park
djmp at earthlink.net
http://home.earthlink.net/~djmp/