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Possible inconsistency in symbolic limits

asked 4 years ago

cav_rt gravatar image

updated 2 years ago

tmonteil gravatar image

I was trying to manipulate some symbolic expressions and got an unexpected error. Here is a minimal example,

u=integrate(x**3/(exp(x)-1),(x,0,oo))

The expression is quite messy, but the result is known. When I try to use any simplification routine, like

u.simplify()

sage displays the error message

RuntimeError: ECL says: Error executing code in Maxima: limit: direction must be either 'plus' or 'minus'; found: _SAGE_VAR_minus

As far I understood, the expression is defining lateral limits by symbolic variables, while maxima handle such limits as strings. If it is the case there is an internal conflict here. Is it the case?

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answered 4 years ago

FrédéricC gravatar image

Looks like a bug indeed. You may use instead

sage: u=integrate(x**3/(exp(x)-1),(x,0,oo),algorithm='giac');u                  
1/15*pi^4
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Smaller display of the same bug:

sage: maxima('limit(polylog(4,e^x),x,+Infinity,minus)').sage()                  
limit(polylog(4, _e^x), x, +Infinity, minus)
sage: _.simplify()
FrédéricC gravatar imageFrédéricC ( 4 years ago )

Thank you!

cav_rt gravatar imagecav_rt ( 4 years ago )

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Asked: 4 years ago

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Last updated: Jan 20 '21