How does one tell if something is a function?

Barton Willis wrote:

> -----maxima-admin@math.utexas.edu wrote: -----
> 
> 
>>Nevermind, found mfboundp.
> 
> 
> There's a problem using mfboundp.
> 
> (%i1) f(x) := x$
> (%i2) to_lisp()$
> Type (to-maxima) to restart
> MAXIMA>(mfboundp '$f)
> NIL
> MAXIMA>(mfboundp '|$f|)
> (MEXPR ((LAMBDA) ((MLIST) |$x|) |$x|))
> 
> How does one convert $f to |$f|?

Using ANSI Common Lisp default settings,
'$f   is  the symbol $F
The symbol with a 2-character name including
a lower case f  in it has to be written |$f|.

This really bad convention was adopted by MIT
and Stanford participants on the Common Lisp committee,
and was (unsuccessfully) opposed by the Berkeley
contingent, who recommended both cases be available.
(Franz Inc's "modern" common lisp uses both cases and
more.)

But in your example, who typed in $f?  If it goes
through the same reading process as on line %i1, then it
should be the same symbol, no?

RJF

> 
>  mcgdog
> 
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