Preprint Article Version 2 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

A Closed-Form Expression for the Unit Step Function

Version 1 : Received: 25 June 2022 / Approved: 27 June 2022 / Online: 27 June 2022 (09:34:58 CEST)
Version 2 : Received: 24 February 2023 / Approved: 1 March 2023 / Online: 1 March 2023 (04:20:33 CET)

How to cite: Venetis, J. A Closed-Form Expression for the Unit Step Function. Preprints 2022, 2022060357. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202206.0357.v2 Venetis, J. A Closed-Form Expression for the Unit Step Function. Preprints 2022, 2022060357. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202206.0357.v2

Abstract

In this paper, an analytical form of the Unit Step Function (or Heaviside Step function) is presented. This important function constitutes a fundamental concept of Operational Calculus and is also involved in many other fields of applied and engineering mathematics. In particular, Heaviside Step Function is performed in a very simple manner by the use of a finite number of standard operations, as the summation of six inverse tangent functions. The novelty of this work when compared with other analytical expressions, is that the proposed exact formula contains two arbitrary single - valued continuous functions which satisfy only one restriction. In addition, the proposed representation is not exhibited in terms of miscellaneous special functions, e.g. Bessel functions, Beta function, Logistic function. Besides, it is neither the limit of a function, nor the limit of a sequence of functions with point – wise or uniform convergence. Hence, this formula may be much more practical, flexible and useful in the computational procedures which are inserted into Operational Calculus techniques and other engineering practices.

Keywords

Unit Step Function; closed - form expression; inverse tangent function

Subject

Computer Science and Mathematics, Applied Mathematics

Comments (1)

Comment 1
Received: 1 March 2023
Commenter: John Venetis
Commenter's Conflict of Interests: Author
Comment: The Abstact has beem improved. Also, some modifications take place in Introduction and Conclusions. All changes, are marked with red colour.
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