-----maxima-bounces at math.utexas.edu wrote: -----
>The?test?is(equal(a,b))?uses?the?implemented?$sign?function?and?checks?if
>the difference?a-b?is?zero.?There?are?no?special?simplifications?for
>expressions
implemented.?One?point?is?that?the?$sign?function?does?a?numerically
>evaluation of?the?expression.
Right--also the option variable signbfloat controls this:
(%i17) is(equal(%e^(log(2)/2)-1 , (sqrt(2)-1))), signbfloat : true;
(%o17) false
(%i18) is(equal(%e^(log(2)/2)-1 , (sqrt(2)-1))), signbfloat : false;
(%o18) unknown
In (%o17) Maxima returns false for a spurious reason. Some time ago
I think I tried building Maxima with signbfloat : false as the default.
It didn't break all that many tests; should we consider signbfloat : false?
Barton