Why is this integral hard for mathematica?
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg92672] Why is this integral hard for mathematica?
- From: Kristian Schmidt <kristian at kreutz.us>
- Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:33:56 -0400 (EDT)
Hello
Consider this indefinite integral: Integrate[Sqrt[
4 k (1 + \[Alpha] (-1 + \[Epsilon])) + (h + \[Epsilon] -
h \[Epsilon])^2], \[Epsilon]]
This evaluates fine. Now try the same integral with limits of 1/2 and 3/2:
Integrate[Sqrt[
4 k (1 + \[Alpha] (-1 + \[Epsilon])) + (h + \[Epsilon] -
h \[Epsilon])^2], {\[Epsilon], 1/2, 3/2}]
This hangs, and I haven't been patient enough to wait it out yet :)
k and alpha are just real numbers, and 0<= h <= 1. Adding these assumptions didn't seem to help though.
I cannot see why it hangs. If mathematica is able to compute the antiderivative just fine, isn't it just a matter of substracting the antiderivative with itself in the two limits?