Subject: Re: set.lisp redefines POWERSET / {} for sets
From: Richard Fateman
Date: Wed, 05 Mar 2003 10:06:41 -0800
Using {} for sets would mean that no one could
use it for anything else. This leads to difficulties.
You may think it is standard to do {a,b,c} but
what about
{x in Z | prime(x) and x< 100}
which also standardly uses {} but also |.
{} () [] are also used in various combinatorial
notations.
"standard" math notation must be evaluated
very carefully. It tends to be ambiguous
without context.
RJF
Andreas J. Guelzow wrote:
> On Wed, 2003-03-05 at 08:59, Martin RUBEY wrote:
>
>
>>BTW, I would encourage you to allow
>>
>>{a,b,c}
>>
>>as input for sets.
>
>
> It would also increase interest in maxima for those who use symbolic
> algebra in education. Any notation that parallels the standard
> mathematical notation is helpful in this respect.
>
> Andreas