Subject: Difference between area under curve and integrate
From: Richard Hennessy
Date: Sun, 08 Jan 2012 21:35:11 -0500
Hi list,
Is there a way to force Maxima to try to find a real solution to an integration problem so that it represents the area under the curve in cases where you get a complex number?
Consider,
kill(all)$
load(abs_integrate)$
rectform(float(rectform(integrate(exp(-signum(x-1)*x^3),x,-1,2))));
0.22200130530517 - 1.162123315419017 %i
If you plot the integrand it is just a real valued function with a well defined area under it but in this case it gives a complex number for an answer.
Rich