Consider this Maxima input:
f(x):=(7-500*x)/(25 * x);
plot2d(f(x), [x, .008, .012], [y, 2, 16]);
The plot takes upwards of 20 minutes to appear on a reasonably fast
system. Something pathological seems to be going on with certain
domains for the plot of many simple functions. Also, when the plot
finally does appear, the y axis doesn't seem to be present (even when
the plot is moved around the window) and the x axis doesn't have
reasonable tick marks.
Just changing the max of the domain from .012 to .2 causes the plot to
appear a hundred times faster, and also the tick marks on the axes are
more reasonable. As the right domain for x is changed from .2 down to
.012 the plot takes longer and longer to appear and the axes scales less
and less useful.
Anyone know why?
Rich
PS: Tip for Mandrake Linux users: Some others have reported that
clicking on the graph buttons or the buttons in xmaxima doesn't
work--the menu just vanishes with no action taken. I can confirm that
this behavior occurs on my Mandrake 8.2 system but does not happen on my
Redhat 7.3 system. Someone suggested it was a TCL/Tk issue with
Mandrake. To work around this on Mandrake, if you position your mouse
over the button and then click and hold the right mouse button, click
and hold with the left mouse button, release the right mouse button,
then release the left mouse button, the plot or xmaxima menu button
press will register. Odd.