Re: "Assuming"
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg85622] Re: "Assuming"
- From: David Bailey <dave at Remove_Thisdbailey.co.uk>
- Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2008 06:52:58 -0500 (EST)
- References: <fp0m11$5u7$1@smc.vnet.net> <fp192b$gju$1@smc.vnet.net> <fp2khg$pka$1@smc.vnet.net>
>
> Compare the following:
>
> In[8]:= Assuming[x == 0, {x/x^2, x/x, x^2/x}]
> Out[8]= {1/x, 1, x}
>
> In[9]:= x = 0; {x/x^2, x/x, x^2/x}
> Out[9]= {Indeterminate, Indeterminate, Indeterminate}
>
Assuming supplies conditions for use by a Simplify (or similar)
operations within it. It does not initiate a Simplify operation itself.
Compare for example:
Assuming[x == 1, Simplify[x/x^2]]
Assuming[x == 1, x/x^2]
More generally, I think if Simplify[(a^2-1)(a-1)] returned a conditional
expression (or did not evaluate at all, as in Simplify[Sqrt[x^2]] ), it
would be practically useless in more complicated cases - A CAS is meant
to be a practical tool.
David Bailey
http://www.dbaileyconsultancy.co.uk