Rewriting an equation to include a condition

Question

I have a simple equation: a = b(c/d)

but it has a condition: if b > 1, then b = 1

How do I write this condition into the equation?

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Aug 28 '13 at 19:14

1

$$a=\min(b,1)\cdot(c/d){}{}{}$$

answered Aug 28 '13 at 19:14

Did

score -1 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 28 '13 at 18:48

-1

Your question is really not a physics question, but a mathematical one. However, the way to add in the condition is the following:

$$ a = \begin{cases}\left(\frac{c}{d}\right) & {\rm if}\,b>1 \\ b\left(\frac{c}{d}\right) & {\rm otherwise}\end{cases} $$

The long brace is the cases environment in latex: $\begin{cases} ...stuff...\end{cases}$

answered Aug 28 '13 at 18:48

Kyle Kanos

Thank you for answer, however I was hoping for an equation that includes a portion which subtracts (or divides) back out the amount that b is greater than 1. I know I have seen this technique used in other equations, but I can't remember how it is done. – Aug 28 '13 at 18:56
So you're looking for something involving the Heaviside step function?? – Kyle Kanos Aug 28 '13 at 18:58

2 Answers2