--- Stavros Macrakis wrote:
> Adding derivatives is very easy, using gradef (or the internal
> version). Special values are only a little more difficult -- just a
> simp function instead of (NOT in addition to!) the numerical
> evaluation function. There is no simple way to add integrals and
> limits, however. Of course, it is doable, but requires actually
> modifying the existing integration and limit code; there is no clean,
> modular, interface.
We should think seriously about what steps we can take toward
a clean, modular interface. Dumping in G&R or A&S is a little
too much to hope for, at the moment, but being able to add a few
properties from a given problem domain would go a long way
towards making Maxima a more useful working environment.
tellsimpafter can do some of the property-building --
stuff like tellsimpafter ('integrate (foo(x), x), bar(x)) --
but having played with that a little bit, it seems hard to
convince Maxima to exploit its new-found knowledge. Doubtless
there are interactions here between simplification, integrate,
and my own limited comprehension.
In any event, I'm inclined to push for building up the
appropriate property or rule handling, as opposed to bolting
additional special cases onto integrate. Well, in effect I'm
saying let's bolt on the special cases through rules or properties.
For what it's worth,
Robert Dodier
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