| 1 | initial version |
To expand on the comment by @kcrisman, limits are sent to maxima by default. Maxima can evaluate the limit of the step function: entering
unit_step(x).limit(x=0,dir='right')
returns 1 as expected. Maxima cannot evaluate the limit of the Dirac delta: entering
dirac_delta(x).limit(x=0,dir='right')
returns an unevaluated expression. Since part of your limit cannot be evaluated by Maxima, it all comes back unevaluated.
The other option for limit evaluation is to set algorithm='sympy': entering
dirac_delta(x).limit(x=0,algorithm='sympy')
returns zero as expected. Unfortunately, entering
dirac_delta(x).limit(x=0,dir='right',algorithm='sympy')
gives the message
sympy does not support one-sided limits
Even more problematic, entering
unit_step(x).limit(x=0,algorithm='sympy')
gives the message
SymPy function 'unit_step' doesn't exist
so SymPy won't get the complete job done either.
Not exactly the answer you want, but hopefully it helps you understand what's happening.
| 2 | No.2 Revision |
To expand on the comment by @kcrisman, limits are sent to maxima Maxima by default. Maxima can evaluate the limit of the step function: entering
unit_step(x).limit(x=0,dir='right')
returns 1 as expected. Maxima cannot evaluate the limit of the Dirac delta: entering
dirac_delta(x).limit(x=0,dir='right')
returns an unevaluated expression. Since part of your limit cannot be evaluated by Maxima, it all comes back unevaluated.
The other option for limit evaluation is to set algorithm='sympy': entering
dirac_delta(x).limit(x=0,algorithm='sympy')
returns zero as expected. Unfortunately, entering
dirac_delta(x).limit(x=0,dir='right',algorithm='sympy')
gives the message
sympy does not support one-sided limits
Even more problematic, entering
unit_step(x).limit(x=0,algorithm='sympy')
gives the message
SymPy function 'unit_step' doesn't exist
so SymPy won't get the complete job done either.
Not exactly the answer you want, but hopefully it helps you understand what's happening.
Copyright Sage, 2010. Some rights reserved under creative commons license. Content on this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 3.0 license.