Maxima Manual - Example Page 15 - different result for ''sin(1);

Robert Dodier wrote:
> On Thu, Dec 18, 2008 at 11:24 AM, Richard Fateman
> <fateman at cs.berkeley.edu> wrote:
>
>   
>> The example of ''sin(1) is wrong, and I am surprised that it was ever right.
>>     
>
> I don't know (and I don't care) why you say it's "wrong".
>   

Well, the commercial Macsyma  returns, for ''sin(1),   sin(1).  I assume 
that DOE Macsyma and Schelter's version did the same.

 Namely, converting %sin to $sin does not change sin(1) to its numerical 
value.

If   ''foo   changes the meaning if foo is one of the trig functions  or 
foo is declared to be a noun, then it should be explained to do what it 
does in the documentation, especially since fails to change so many 
other things.
 
If this is a feature that you personally installed, I guess we are 
entitled to disagree as to whether it was a good idea.

But more generally  I think that we should have some clearer notion of 
checking something out -- something beyond an announcement "does anyone 
object?".. perhaps more like "I need someone to positively check this 
out  to make sure at least 2 people think this is OK."  Furthermore, if 
something cannot be explained and shown to have some use, maybe it 
shouldn't be part of the system :)


> It was an accurate description of the code at the time I wrote it,
> and it described a feature that existing long before I came on the scene.
>
>   
>> How would you feel about an automobile manual that described the side view
>> mirrors, and then by example showed that if you pointed them downward you
>> can see how close to the curb you have parked?
>> Then left it to the driver to figure out that it was not a good idea to
>> leave the mirrors in this position.
>>     
>
> Analogies are almost always a distraction. I stay away from them.
>
> Robert Dodier
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