Integration of elementary functions (Q2639105)

Let \(k\) be a differential field (of characteristic 0, with derivation \(f \mapsto f'\) and containing an element \(x\) such that \(x'=1\)), and let \(K\) be a differential field extension of \(k\). An element \(\theta\in K\) is called an elementary monomial over \(k\), if \(\theta\) is transcendental over \(k\), if \(k\) and \(k(\theta)\) have the same field of constants and if there exists an \(\eta\in k\) such that either \(\theta '=\eta '/\eta\) or \(\theta '=\eta '\theta\). \(K\) is called an elementary extension of \(k\), if there exist \(\theta_ 1,\dots,\theta_ m\in K\) such that \(K=k(\theta_ 1,\dots,\theta_ m)\) and such that for \(i=1,\dots,m\) either \(\theta_ i\) is algebraic over \(k(\theta_ 1,\dots,\theta_{i-1})\) or an elementary monomial over \(k(\theta_ 1,\dots,\theta_{i-1}).\) This paper deals with the problem of integration in finite terms and with the Risch equation problem. The problem of integration in finite terms on \(k\) is, given \(f\in k\), to determine in a finite number of steps whether there is an elementary extension \(K\) of \(k\) containing an element \(g\) such that \(g'=f\) and to find \(K\) and \(g\), if they exist. The Risch equation problem on \(k\) is, given \(f,g_ 1,\dots,g_ m\in k\), to find in a finite number of steps \(h_ 1,\dots,h_ r\in k\) and a set \(\Delta\) of linear equations in \(m+r\) unknowns over the constant field \(k_ 0\) of \(k\) such that \(z'+fz=\sum^{m}_{i=1}c_ ig_ i\) holds for \(z\in k\) and \(c_ 1,\dots,c_ m\in k_ 0\) if and only if \(z=\sum^{r}_{j=1}d_ jh_ j\) where \(d_ 1,\dots,d_ r\in k_ 0\) and \(c_ 1,\dots,c_ m\), \(d_ 1,\dots,d_ r\) satisfy \(\Delta\). \textit{R. H. Risch} proved that both problems are solvable on extensions of \(k_ 0(x)\) by repeated adjunction of elementary monomials [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 139, 167--189 (1969; Zbl 0184.06702)], and more recent algorithms were published by \textit{M. Rothstein} [Ph. D. Thesis, Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, 1976] and \textit{J. H. Davenport} [SIAM J. Comput. 15, 903--918 (1986; Zbl 0632.65091)]. In the algebraic case \(k=k_ 0(x,y)\) where \(y\) is algebraic over \(k_ 0(x)\), \textit{B. Trager} [Ph. D. Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1984] solved the problem of integration in finite terms on \(k\), and \textit{J. H. Davenport} [Ann. Inst. Fourier 34, No. 2, 271--276 (1984; Zbl 0506.34002)] solved the Risch equation problem on \(k\). In this paper these results are extended to arbitrary elementary extensions. The following results are proved: If both the problem of integration in finite terms and the Risch equation problem are solved on any finite algebraic extension of \(k\), then both problems are solvable on any finite algebraic extension of \(k(\theta)\) where \(\theta\) is an elementary monomial over \(k\). The proofs are given in detail; they generalize Trager's algorithms for the algebraic case in various points. The author describes his algorithms completely and discusses problems arising with their implementation. [For an exposition of the various algorithms mentioned above see also the author's article ``Symbolic integration: towards practical algorithms'' in [Computer Algebra and Differential Equations, Colloq., Comput. Math. Appl., 59--85 (1988; Zbl 0724.12006)].