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#1 Math Question
Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2005 11:38 pm
by Surlethe
The feared topic arrives!
I was messing around on mathematica, and apparently
Int[x, Int[x, Int[x, Int[x, ..., 1], 1], 1], 1] = sqrt2 - 1.
Is there a way to prove this?
#2 Re: Math Question
Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2005 11:04 pm
by Kuroneko
Surlethe wrote:I was messing around on mathematica, and apparently Int[x, Int[x, Int[x, Int[x, ..., 1], 1], 1], 1] = sqrt2 - 1. Is there a way to prove this?
I assume that the notation Int[f,a,b] means integral of f from a to b. Let Ω = Int[x, Int[x, Int[x, Int[x, ..., 1], 1], 1], 1]; then Ω = Int[x,Ω,1] = 1/2 - Ω²/2. The negative fixed point is unstable, while the positive is stable. QED.
#3 Re: Math Question
Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2005 2:28 am
by The Cleric
Kuroneko wrote:Surlethe wrote:I was messing around on mathematica, and apparently Int[x, Int[x, Int[x, Int[x, ..., 1], 1], 1], 1] = sqrt2 - 1. Is there a way to prove this?
I assume that the notation Int[f,a,b] means integral of f from a to b. Let Ω = Int[x, Int[x, Int[x, Int[x, ..., 1], 1], 1], 1]; then Ω = Int[x,Ω,1] = 1/2 - Ω²/2. The negative fixed point is unstable, while the positive is stable. QED.
:king:
#4
Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2005 12:57 pm
by Ace Pace
I second Cleric. Kuroneko, are you like a math PHD? *awe*
I'm gonna try and wrap my head around Surlys math.
#5 Re: Math Question
Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2005 2:28 pm
by Surlethe
Kuroneko wrote:Surlethe wrote:I was messing around on mathematica, and apparently Int[x, Int[x, Int[x, Int[x, ..., 1], 1], 1], 1] = sqrt2 - 1. Is there a way to prove this?
I assume that the notation Int[f,a,b] means integral of f from a to b.
Yes. That was my intent.
Let Ω = Int[x, Int[x, Int[x, Int[x, ..., 1], 1], 1], 1]; then Ω = Int[x,Ω,1] = 1/2 - Ω²/2. The negative fixed point is unstable, while the positive is stable. QED.
OK. Is it possible to solve for a general continuous, differentiable function f(x) in the integrand? This morning, a friend and I figured out the solution you just gave; and then we were wondering about the general case of Ω = Int[f(x),Ω,n]. We got it to Ω' = f(n) - f(Ω). Is there a way to find an explicit formula for Ω?