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There is no complete implementation of the Risch algorithm. None of the implementations fully implement the algebraic case. Besides, the Risch algorithm doesn't
by fdej 11y ago
There is no complete implementation of the Risch algorithm. None of the implementations fully implement the algebraic case. Besides, the Risch algorithm doesn't solve all symbolic integration problems in practice:
* Even when it succeeds, it doesn't necessarily give you the simplest possible form of the solution.
* It is concerned with elementary functions, but real-world problem often involve non-elementary functions (like Bessel and hypergeometric functions). You can extend the Risch algorithm to work with such functions, but this is complicated.
* It doesn't allow computing parametric answers for common parametric families of integrals (this needs to be done using heuristics and lookup tables).
* It doesn't give you an algorithm for definite integration, except in simple cases. Even with proper definite integrals, you need to be extremely careful with branch cuts when applying the fundamental theorem of calculus. For improper definite integrals, systems like Mathematica generally try to go via convolutions of Meijer G-functions, using huge lookup tables and simplification heuristics.
* Even more fundamentally, the Risch algorithm (and symbolic integration more generally) puts heavy demands on the underlying symbolic computation engine. In particular, it depends on the ability to decide whether an expression is equivalent to zero, which in fact is an undecidable problem, and this strictly speaking makes the Risch "algorithm" a non-algorithm (though it is a proper algorithm when restricted to a ground field where zero testing is effective, such as Q).
- S4M 11y agoI can only say that I am very impressed by the knowledge you are displaying about the Risch algorithm and symbolic integration. If I may ask, what is your background and how did you learn about them so deeply?
- fdej 11y agoPhD in symbolic computation (RISC). Symbolic integration is not my field of research, though, and I don't really know anything beyond the basics (covered in courses on computer algebra). Passively attended plenty of seminars and conference talks on symbolic integration, though, and for a couple of years, I did share office with Clemens Raab who is one of the experts on the Risch algorithm.
- S4M 11y agoI am working on a project that requires symbolic computation, which I am learning a bit by myself. For now I can manage, but could I get in touch with you in case I would need some advice about that? My email is in my profile (thanks!).