Subject: symbolic subscript of literal list or matrix
From: Richard Fateman
Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2007 08:22:38 -0700
I think that returning a[k] is a bad idea unless you can somehow be assured that the "a" in a[k] has a scope that is the same at all times subsequent to its construction. And even then it would be impossible to explain to someone.
----- Original Message -----
From: Robert Dodier <robert.dodier at gmail.com>
Date: Monday, July 23, 2007 10:15 pm
Subject: Re: [Maxima] symbolic subscript of literal list or matrix
> On 7/21/07, Stavros Macrakis <macrakis at alum.mit.edu> wrote:
>
> > > At present Maxima complains if the subscript of a literal list
> or matrix
> > > is not an integer. E.g. a : [1, 2, 3]; a[k] => error.
> > >
> > > I would like to change it so that a subscript expression is
> returned.> > E.g. a : [1, 2, 3]; a[k] => a[k]
> >
> > Why not [1,2,3][k]? I assume we are talking about evaluation
> here, not just
> > simplification (in which case the value of a would be irrelevant).
>
> [1, 2, 3][k] is clumsy, that's all. I realize it is somewhat of a
> wart from a technical perspective, but I think the practical
> utility of a[k] outweighs that. Certainly a[k] is less ugly, and
> more useful, than printing an error message.
>
> FWIW
> Robert
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