Noob question: unexpected result for abs() of a complex value
Subject: Noob question: unexpected result for abs() of a complex value
From: Dan Stahlke
Date: Tue, 09 Dec 2008 21:36:39 -0900
The following script is giving a result that I don't expect:
declare(z,complex);
abs(z*z);
z : %i;
abs(z*z);
The first absolute value returns z^2 and the second returns 1. I don't
understand how abs(z^2) could be equal to z^2 if z is complex. Is
Maxima assuming that z is real even though it is declared complex? And
if so, shouldn't "conjugate(z) * z" simplify to "z^2" also?
- Dan