Re: Piecewise vs. /; ?
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg103915] Re: Piecewise vs. /; ?
- From: David Bailey <dave at removedbailey.co.uk>
- Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2009 06:38:15 -0400 (EDT)
- References: <hashpc$qu8$1@smc.vnet.net>
Erik Max Francis wrote:
> 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?
>
Integrate operates on Mathematical expressions - which Piecewise is
considered to be - not on arbitrary pieces of code, which would be an
impossibly demanding and somewhat ill-defined task.
David Bailey
http://www.dbaileyconsultancy.co.uk