In general such an integral needs to be transformed into a piecewise
integral without the abs().
However, the geometrical problem is not necessarily easy. In any case,
Maxima doesn't try to solve it,
at least with the current program. A general solution (or workaround!) would
be welcome.
RJF
> -----Original Message-----
> From: maxima-bounces at math.utexas.edu
> [mailto:maxima-bounces at math.utexas.edu] On Behalf Of P.U.Kruppa
> Sent: Friday, August 31, 2007 12:05 AM
> To: Maxima at math.utexas.edu
> Subject: integration of abs(...)
>
> Hello,
>
> I would like to compute something like
>
> (%i66) integrate(abs(x^2-4),x,-3,3);
>
> but all I get is
>
> 3
> /
> [ ! 2 !
> (%o66) I !x - 4! dx
> ]
> /
> - 3
>
> Is there any known workaround?
>
>
>
> Thanks and regards,
>
> Peter Ulrich Kruppa
> Wuppertal
> Germany
> _______________________________________________
> Maxima mailing list
> Maxima at math.utexas.edu
> http://www.math.utexas.edu/mailman/listinfo/maxima
>