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Just another Mathematica "Gotcha"

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg120759] Just another Mathematica "Gotcha"
• From: AES <siegman at stanford.edu>
• Date: Tue, 9 Aug 2011 07:19:34 -0400 (EDT)
• Delivered-to: l-mathgroup@mail-archive0.wolfram.com

Seems as if the following two expression should yield the same output 
-- seems that way to me anyway -- but they don't.  I'll hide the 
actual outputs down below so Mathematica gurus (or "ordinary users") 
can make their predictions as to which one does what.

In[1]:= Series[a+(b1+b2)x,{x,0,1}] //Normal /.{b2->0}

In[2]:= Series[a+(b1+b2)x,{x,0,1}] /.{b2->0} //Normal

My conclusions:

1)  By any normal rules of interpretation or ordinary interpretations 
of these statements, they both should do the same same thing.

2)  This is just another Mathematica "Gotcha" -- and not a 
particularly forgivable one.















Out[1]= a+(b1+b2) x

Out[2]= a+b1 x

• Follow-Ups:
  • Re: Just another Mathematica "Gotcha"
    • From: DrMajorBob <btreat1@austin.rr.com>
  • Re: Just another Mathematica "Gotcha"
    • From: Murray Eisenberg <murray@math.umass.edu>
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  • Re: Just another Mathematica "Gotcha"
    • From: Andrzej Kozlowski <akoz@mimuw.edu.pl>
  • Re: Just another Mathematica "Gotcha"
    • From: James Stein <mathgroup@stein.org>
  • Re: Just another Mathematica "Gotcha"
    • From: Joerg Roesgen <biophys.hershey@me.com>