Re: Same Limit: OK in 5.2, fails in 6.0; Packages gone
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg78003] Re: [mg77959] Same Limit: OK in 5.2, fails in 6.0; Packages gone
- From: Daniel Lichtblau <danl at wolfram.com>
- Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2007 05:42:23 -0400 (EDT)
- References: <200706200941.FAA10343@smc.vnet.net>
jrc wrote:
> Why?
>
> I have,
>
> $Assumptions = {a > 0, k1 > 0, k2 >0, x e(in) Reals}
> (repeats ok)
>
> i1b = (1/a)* Integral from -a/2 to +a/2 of integrand:
>
> exp(- i k2 x) exp(i k1 x) dx
>
> with the expected result,
>
> i1b = fraction with numerator = 2 Sin[(1/2)a(k1-k2)]
> and denominator = a(k1-k2)
>
> Now I want the limit of this result, as the parameter a goes to infinity:
>
> Limit[i1b, a -> Infinity]
>
> Mathematica 5.2 gives correct result, zero;
> (note this is just lim(sin(x)/x, x -> inf), which is obviously zero)
>
> Mathematica 6.0 is unable to evaluate the limit.
This is a glitch in Limit handling of $Assumptions. It was written to
work with an Assumptions option and sometimes messes up the more global
$Assumptions. Offhand I do not know why it did not also mess up in
version 5.2.
Workarounds include
(1) Use explicit And (instead of List) for $Assumptions.
$Assumptions = Apply[And,{a>0,k1>0,k2>0,Element[x,Reals]}]
In[10]:= Limit[i1b, a->Infinity]
Out[10]= 0
(2) Use Assumptions option in Limit.
In[12]:= $Assumptions = .
In[13]:= ClearSystemCache[]
In[14]:= Limit[i1b, a->Infinity,
Assumptions->{a>0,k1>0,k2>0,Element[x,Reals]}]
Out[14]= 0
We'll get the underlying problem fixed.
> Ruskeepaa's "Navigator", 2nd ed, (written for v5.2) claims there
> is a package, "Calculus`Limit`" that makes 'Limit' work better
> (p. 395 and p. 430). However, no such package seems to exist in
> v6.0.
That claim was a stretch. By any reasonable metric that package made
Limit substantially more error-prone. Which is why the package is gone.
> How many packages no longer exist in 6.0 ???? Is there a list ????
>
> Can anyone give me a reason for this obvious failure?
>
> jrc
Daniel Lichtblau
Wolfram Research
- References:
- Same Limit: OK in 5.2, fails in 6.0; Packages gone in 6.0 ???
- From: jrc <jrchaff@mcn.net>
- Same Limit: OK in 5.2, fails in 6.0; Packages gone in 6.0 ???