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I am new to mathematica and I hope this is a simple problem. I have two identical functions that only differ by the variable names:

PolarInverseFT[f_, p_, u_, r_, t_] := 
 Integrate[
  p f Exp[-I 2 π r p Cos[u - t]], {p , 0, ∞}, {u, 0, 2 π} ]

PolarInverseFT2[f_, r_, t_, p_, u_] := 
 Integrate[
  r f Exp[-I 2 π  p r Cos[t - u]], {r, 0, ∞}, {t, 0, 2 π} ]

I would expect them to behave identically. However,

PolarInverseFT[λ^2/(λ^2 + 4 π^2 p^2), p, u, r, t]

returns the error

-I Sin[2 p π r #1] is not a valid variable

But

PolarInverseFT2[λ^2/(λ^2 + 4 π^2 r^2), r, t, p, u]

gives the correct answer. For other f_ both can return an answer without failing, but the answers differ!

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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    – user9660
    Mar 6, 2015 at 11:20
  • $\begingroup$ You can format inline code and code blocks by selecting it and clicking the {} button above the edit window. The edit window help button ? is also useful for learning how to format your questions and answers. $\endgroup$
    – Michael E2
    Mar 6, 2015 at 11:34
  • $\begingroup$ In general, why including your integration variables in the arguments ? $\endgroup$
    – b.gates.you.know.what
    Mar 6, 2015 at 13:02
  • $\begingroup$ @b.gatessucks that was my first thought as well. The integration variables appear in the first argument, so this makes sense ( the second and third arguments in each case must be passed in as undefined symbols ). That said, I obtain different results for the two cases, starting with a clean kernel each time. (not the same error though, the first case returns an unevaluated integral w/v9) $\endgroup$
    – george2079
    Mar 6, 2015 at 15:05
  • $\begingroup$ @b.gatessucks True, but besides the point. I note that the integrals themselves (executed directly and not through the above definitions) exhibit the same strange behavior. $\endgroup$
    – Sjoerd C. de Vries
    Mar 6, 2015 at 15:22

1 Answer 1

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not an answer, just a simpler demonstration of the issue ( version 9.01 )

Integrate[r (1/(1 + 4 Pi^2 r^2)) Exp[-I 2 Pi  r Cos[t - u]],
       {r, 0, Infinity}, {t, 0, 2 Pi}]

enter image description here

In the second case I've just copied the expression and changed t to z .. puzzling. It seems in the first case u has been assumed real and the second not.

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  • 2
    $\begingroup$ In 10.0.0 both expressions return the (same) unevaluated integral. $\endgroup$
    – 2012rcampion
    Mar 6, 2015 at 15:33
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ This should probably just be a comment... $\endgroup$
    – rm -rf ♦
    Mar 6, 2015 at 16:12
  • $\begingroup$ 10.1 gives a different second answer to 9.0.1 $\endgroup$
    – dr.blochwave
    Apr 5, 2015 at 16:33

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