Looks harmless. The "do the math" is tricky. Which routine? Which
data structure for computation and answer? A sensible explanation of
ratmx, newdet.. would be nice.
RJF
----- Original Message -----
From: Barton Willis
Date: Monday, November 14, 2005 2:44 am
Subject: deteminant(non-matrix)
>
>
> I propose making the following changes to determinant:
>
> if constantp(p), then determinant(p) --> p,
> if not(matrixp(p)), then determinant(p) --> determinant(p)
> else determinant(p) --> it's a matrix, do the math.
>
> This change would allow me to make linalg more block matrix
> friendly (I think). Currently, determinant does this:
>
> (%i1) determinant(a);
> (%o1) determinant(a) <--- noun form; OK
>
> (%i2) determinant(a+b); <--- error; why not a noun form?
> Not matrix:
> b+a
> -- an error. Quitting. To debug this try DEBUGMODE(TRUE);
>
> (%i3) determinant(5);
> (%o3) determinant(5) <--- noun form; why not 5?
>
> (%i4) determinant(a[1]); <--- error; why not a noun form?
> Not matrix:
> a[1]
> -- an error. Quitting. To debug this try DEBUGMODE(TRUE);
> (%i5)
>
> Barton
>
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