On 2/4/07, Stavros Macrakis <macrakis at alum.mit.edu> wrote:
> For math functions, a verb converts its argument to floating-point if
> possible and calculates a floating-point result (possibly complex),
> As far as I can tell, this was a bad design decision made
> 35+ years ago which was never fully thought through, and never taken
> advantage of in any meaningful way. I believe this could be stripped
> out of Maxima with no ill effects.
Agreed. I remember being confused by the verb => numerical policy.
Well, it still confusing but now I've become accustomed to it.
> On the other hand, the noun/verb system for functions from expressions
> to expressions has some utility.
Agreed. I want to keep 'integrate, 'diff, 'sum, etc. I think that's useful.
best
Robert