ISSAC 94 - Symbolic-Numeric Nonlinear Equation Solving Up
 Contents   News   View 

Conclusion Previous Next

The algorithm in this paper promises to return all solutions of an equation over an interval .  The generalization to two dimensions does the same in two dimensions and we are confident the same method can be generalized to dimensions. 

Computer algebra is moving out of the era where symbolic expressions like , , Maple's RootOf, and Mathematica's InverseFunction have had poor or no relation to actual numbers into an era where proper semantics establishing a mapping from symbolic expressions to complex numbers is fully appreciated and enforced.  Symbolic expressions are names for numbers.  In this paper, we introduce a new kind of name, the Nonlin() object.  Rather than a vague unknown solution of a nonlinear equation (cf. Mathematica's InverseFunction), a Nonlin() object represents a particular number which can be evaluated to as many decimal places as the user likes, just as it is possible to do with Pi or E.  The future promises to bring more such objects into the realm of computer algebra: implicit functions, implicit solutions of differential equations, etc., and such objects will always have a definite meaning over the field of complex numbers.  The mathematical impetus to study the algebra of such objects more carefully will likely emerge as these objects come on line, can be routinely calculated, and are equipped with sensible semantics.  Next



©2004-2024 Planet Quantum Kelly Roach