TeX or not TeX



Richard Fateman ?????:
> Here is a tex- based solution. Set up a big set of
> macro definitions in the TeX language that actually
> understand something about math (precedence, etc.)
> 
> Then send to TeX something that is the moral equivalent
> of the internal form of mathematics in Maxima.
> 
> (or the MathML form...)
> 
> Then let the TeX macros, which would know the line length,
> font size, and the situation (in-line or display), figure
> out whether to do
> (a+b+c)/(d+e+f)  or
> 
>   a+b+c
>   ------
>   d+e+f
> 
> The problem here is that writing TeX macros is rather
> uncomfortable for most people.
> Another is the size of the macros, which would have to
> somehow be input to the TeX processing of expressions.
> 
> This approach was actually used by Dan Zwillinger to
> simultaneously typeset formulas for Gradshteyn & Rhyzik
> and make it possible to input the forms to computer
> algebra programs.
> 
> RJF
> 
> PS, I agree there are more important issues, but
> this one is so tempting to discuss..
> 

Well, sound as a good approach but I expect yet
another trouble.  It is memory memagement in TeX.
It is pretty static - no allocation of extra RAM
at run time, no GC etc.  Is it possible to
feed in TeX any sufficiently _complex_ a nd _large_
Lisp or MathML expression?

-- 
      Vadim V. Zhytnikov

       <vvzhy@mail.ru>
      <vvzhy@netorn.ru>