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Re: Another damn simplifying problem: ArcTan

  • To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
  • Subject: [mg59945] Re: Another damn simplifying problem: ArcTan
  • From: Jean-Marc Gulliet <jeanmarc.gulliet at gmail.com>
  • Date: Fri, 26 Aug 2005 04:53:34 -0400 (EDT)
  • Organization: The Open University, Milton Keynes, U.K.
  • References: <dek7hq$a2t$1@smc.vnet.net>
  • Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com

Mathieu McPhie wrote:
> Can someone please explain this to me: (M v4.something)
> 
> In:=  Simplify[ArcTan[-x]+ArcTan[x]]
> Out= 0
> 
> In:=  Simplify[ArcTan[-x,1]+ArcTan[x,1]]
> Out= ArcTan[-x,1]+ArcTan[x,1]
> 
> Note, I want something more complicated than this obviously. Actually 
> want something like
> 
> Simplify[ArcTan[-x,y]+ArcTan[x,y]]
> 
> but above is the easiest example of this infuriating programs problem.
> 
> Cheers, Mathieu
> 
Hi Mathieu,

What value do you expect? Zero in all cases?

In[1]:=
Simplify[ArcTan[-x, y] + ArcTan[x, y] /. {x -> I^2, y -> 1}]

Out[1]=
Pi

In[2]:=
Simplify[ArcTan[-x, y] + ArcTan[x, y] /. {x -> I^2, y -> -1}]

Out[2]=
-Pi

Regards,
/J.M.


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