pointed bracket or singular function

[Han]

(11-25-2014 07:09 AM)resolved Wrote:  in creating a function for that deflection of a beam requires, I am told, the use of pointed brackets or a singular function. If the term within the brackets < > evaluates less than zero, the term becomes zero, something like this

y = -5*x^3 + 180*<x-1>^2 - 10/12 * <x-2>^4 + 10/12*<x-4>^4 - 10*<x-5>^3 - 535*x

is there anyway to input this formula into the HP Prime where the terms in < > will drop out if they evaluation less than zero????

Would a piecewise function fit your needs?
\[ f(x) = -5x^3 - 535x +
\begin{cases}
180(x-1)^2, & x \ge 1\\
0, & x<1
\end{cases}
+ \begin{cases}
-\frac{10}{12}(x-2)^4, & x \ge 2\\
0, & x < 2
\end{cases}
+ \begin{cases}
+\frac{10}{12}(x-4)^4, & x \ge 4\\
0, & x < 4
\end{cases}
+ \begin{cases}
-10(x-5)^3, & x\ge 5\\
0, & x<5
\end{cases}
\]
The piecewise functions can be created via the template key