log10.mac



In log10.mac there is the
statement:
   * log10 (x) => log (x) / log (10) (if you ask for it explicitly)

How do you "ask for it explicitly"?
My attempts are %i7,8, and 9:

(%i1) load(log10);
(%o1) C:/PROGRA~1/MAXIMA~1.1/share/maxima/5.16.1/share/contrib/log10.mac
(%i2) log10(1);
(%o2)                                  0
(%i3) log10(10);
(%o3)                                  1
(%i4) log10(12/13);
(%o4)                        log10(12) - log10(13)
(%i5) %,numer;
(%o5)                        log10(12) - log10(13)
(%i6) log10(12/13),numer;
(%o6)                         - 0.034762106259212
(%i7) log10(x);
(%o7)                              log10(x)
(%i8) log10(12);
(%o8)                              log10(12)
(%i9) log10(12),numer;
(%o9)                              log10(12)

also, why does %i6 work but %i5 doesn't?
and  why does %i6 work but %i9 doesn't?

Ted Woollett