integrate(1/x, x): why ln(x) and not ln(abs(x))?



There is an option variable that alters this:

  (%i2) integrate(1/x,x), logabs : false;
  (%o2) log(x)

  (%i3) integrate(1/x,x), logabs : true;
  (%o3) log(abs(x))

On the real line, maybe you would like logabs to be true; off the real 
line, 
chances are you'll need logabs to be false.


--Barton

maxima-bounces at math.utexas.edu wrote on 08/22/2011 04:34:05 PM:

> From: Humberto Bortolossi <humberto.bortolossi at gmail.com>
> To: maxima at math.utexas.edu
> Date: 08/22/2011 04:33 PM
> Subject: integrate(1/x, x): why ln(x) and not ln(abs(x))?
> Sent by: maxima-bounces at math.utexas.edu
> 
> Hi!
> 
> Why Maxima developers decided to evaluate
> 
> integrate(1/x, x)
> 
> as
> 
> ln(x)
> 
> and not
> 
> ln(abs(x))?
> 
> Thanks, Humberto.
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