Looking for real zeros

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
December 13, 2022
3 replies
2845 views

MathCad 14 factored the function sinx(x). It is known from other investigations that this function has only real zeros. If you now look for the zeros of each factor (the terms are in parentheses), then MathCad calculates complex zeros that cannot be simplified. Where is the saw stuck here 😉 .

Kind regards, Alfred Flasshaar

1_Factor_sinnx.zip

Best answer by Werner_E

In the sheet you attached I can find no attempts to find any zeros!

Mathcad often displays real numbers using expressions with the imaginary unit. Nonetheless those expressions are real numbers as you can confirm by using "float" or numeric evaluation:

Actually the first solution

is equivalent to

but I have no algebraic expression without using the imaginary unit at hand.

L

LucMeekes

23-Emerald IV

The saw is stuck at numerical precision when calculating numerical results, even from symbolic expressions. I get all real results, sometimes with an imaginary part that is below numerical precision. That is: where the real part is in the order of 1, the imaginary part is in the order of 10^-19 to 10^-21. You can/should discard such imaginary parts.

(Forum doesn't let me insert pictures, alas)

Success!
Luc

A

AlfredFlaßhaar

Author

15-Moonstone

Then MathCad isn't that precise with algebra (Galois, Rufini, ...)? In the complex plane, a number is to be regarded as real from arithmetic point of view if it is not only represented exactly on the x-axis, but is also contained in an x-strip of finite but small width along the x-axis. That takes some getting used to for me.

BTW:
I'm not familiar with the rules of the PTC forum, although I've been using MathCad since version 6 and haven't updated it since 14. Where can I find rules? Dumb question: what are "kudos"?

Greetings Alfred

L

LucMeekes

23-Emerald IV

There are no dumb questions.

From the Oxford dictionary:

kudos

/ˈkjuːdɒs/

praise and honour received for an achievement.

"she was looking for kudos rather than profit"

On this forum you can give Kudos to reactions that you like.

Also it is appreciated that you select an answer as being the solution to your question.

Success!
Luc

W

Werner_E

Answer

25-Diamond I

In the sheet you attached I can find no attempts to find any zeros!

Mathcad often displays real numbers using expressions with the imaginary unit. Nonetheless those expressions are real numbers as you can confirm by using "float" or numeric evaluation:

Actually the first solution

is equivalent to

but I have no algebraic expression without using the imaginary unit at hand.