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Suppose there are a number of assumptions attached to a certain symbol. How do we query Mathematica to see if a given assumption holds? To be more precise, how can we define a function elementQ such that

Block[{$Assumptions = Element[x, Reals]}, elementQ[x, Reals]]
(* True *)

Assuming[Element[x, Reals], elementQ[x, Reals]]
(* True *)

elementQ[x, Reals]
(* False *)

In some circumstances this is automatically given by Element itself: for example Element[Pi, Reals] correctly returns True. However, the same technique does not work when querying for user-defined assumptions on symbols:

Assuming[Element[z, Reals], Element[z, Reals]]
(* Element[z, Reals] *)

The matter is of course also complicated by the fact that there are several ways to set assumptions. Such functions should both check the content of $Assumptions and if there are assumptions set up by the use of some Assuming or similar function.

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1 Answer 1

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The function Refine does what you want

Assuming[x ∈ Reals, Refine[Element[x, Reals]]]
(* True *)

Assuming[x > 0, Refine[Element[x, Reals]]]
(* True *)
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  • $\begingroup$ well this is kind of embarrassing, I was sure I checked whether Refine did the job, and somehow convinced myself it didn't. Anyway, I guess we can say that the function elementQ[x_, dom_] := Refine[Element[x, dom]] === True is the solution. Or more generally, checkAssumption[assumption_] := Refine[assumption] === True. Thanks for the answer! $\endgroup$
    – glS
    Commented Sep 16, 2016 at 21:14

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