High School Einstein summation notation, ambiguity?

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The discussion centers on the ambiguity in Einstein summation notation regarding the expression of summation. It highlights the difference between interpreting ##f(x_ie_i)## as ##f(\Sigma x_ie_i)##, which sums within the domain of f, versus ##\Sigma f(x_ie_i)##, which sums in the range. Participants suggest that to clarify the latter case, one must explicitly write it out, as the conventional notation primarily addresses the first case. The distinction is further illustrated with examples, emphasizing the need for explicit notation to avoid confusion. Overall, clarity in notation is crucial for accurate interpretation in mathematical expressions.
Hiero
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If I see ##f(x_ie_i)## I assume it means ##f(\Sigma x_ie_i)## (summing in the domain of f) but what if I instead wanted to write ##\Sigma f(x_ie_i)## (summing in the range)?

Is there a way to distinguish between these in Einstein’s summation notation?
 
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This is an odd case, but I think if you want the latter, in a context where Einstein summation is implied, you have to write it explicitly, overriding the convention. Only first case is handled by the summation convention.
 
Hiero said:
Is there a way to distinguish between these in Einstein’s summation notation?
So ##f(\Sigma x^{\mu}e_{\mu})## is ##f(x^{\mu}e_{\mu})## and ##\Sigma f(x^{\mu}e_{\mu})## is ##f(x^{\mu}e_{\nu})\delta^{\nu}_{\mu}##
 
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Dale said:
So ##f(\Sigma x^{\mu}e_{\mu})## is ##f(x^{\mu}e_{\mu})## and ##\Sigma f(x^{\mu}e_{\mu})## is ##f(x^{\mu}e_{\nu})\delta^{\nu}_{\mu}##
Oh wow, that’s clever! Thanks for the insight.
 
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I do not have a good working knowledge of physics yet. I tried to piece this together but after researching this, I couldn’t figure out the correct laws of physics to combine to develop a formula to answer this question. Ex. 1 - A moving object impacts a static object at a constant velocity. Ex. 2 - A moving object impacts a static object at the same velocity but is accelerating at the moment of impact. Assuming the mass of the objects is the same and the velocity at the moment of impact...

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