Piecewise vs. /; ?
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg103899] Piecewise vs. /; ?
- From: Erik Max Francis <max at alcyone.com>
- Date: Sun, 11 Oct 2009 08:06:46 -0400 (EDT)
I'm defining a piecewise function:
mmin = 0.08;
mmax = 100;
\[Xi][m_] := Piecewise[
{{0.035 m^-1.3, 0.08 <= m <= 0.50},
{0.019 m^-2.2, 0.50 < m <= 1.00},
{0.019 m^-2.7, 1.00 < m <= 100}}]; (* stars per pc^3 *)
This works fine for plotting (which I won't show) and integrating:
In[5]:= Integrate[\[Xi][m], {m, mmin, mmax}]
Out[5]= 0.136978
If I try to define \[Xi][m] with /;, it doesn't work. This version:
\[Xi][m_ /; 0.08 <= m <= 0.50] = 0.035 m^-1.3 ;
\[Xi][m_ /; 0.50 < m <= 1.00] = 0.019 m^-2.2;
\[Xi][m_ /; 1.00 < m <= 100] = 0.019 m^-2.7;
(* stars per pc^3 *)
plots correctly but integrate refuses to do anything:
In[26]:= Integrate[\[Xi]2[m], {m, mmin, mmax}]
Out[26]= \!\(
\*SubsuperscriptBox[\(\[Integral]\), \(0.08`\), \(100\)]\(\[Xi]2[
m] \[DifferentialD]m\)\)
This version (putting the /; in a different place):
\[Xi]3[m_] = 0.035 m^-1.3 /; 0.08 <= m <= 0.50;
\[Xi]3[m_] = 0.019 m^-2.2 /; 0.50 < m <= 1.00;
\[Xi]3[m_] = 0.019 m^-2.7 /; 1.00 < m <= 100;
(* stars per pc^3 *)
neither plots properly (the plot is blank) nor integrates properly:
In[27]:= Integrate[\[Xi]3[m], {m, mmin, mmax}]
Out[27]= \!\(
\*SubsuperscriptBox[\(\[Integral]\), \(0.08`\), \(100\)]\(\((
\*FractionBox[\(0.035`\),
SuperscriptBox[\(m\), \(1.3`\)]] /;
0.08` <= m <= 0.5`)\) \[DifferentialD]m\)\)
I was under the impression that these were equivalent; what am I missing?
--
Erik Max Francis && max at alcyone.com && http://www.alcyone.com/max/
San Jose, CA, USA && 37 18 N 121 57 W && AIM/Y!M/Skype erikmaxfrancis
If you're not beside me / I'll do your best / To carry on
-- India Arie