Beta function



On 3/7/09, Dieter Kaiser <drdieterkaiser at web.de> wrote:

> 1. Expand beta(a+n,b) and beta(a-n,b) for n an integer
>    The expansion depends on the flag $beta_expand. The expressions
> beta(a,b+n)
>    and beta(a,b-n) are simplified accordingly.

OK. The invention of yet another global flag is a little
disconcerting, but there is ample precedent for it ....
Also I wonder if such a thing (whether a flag or a function)
should be named expand_beta instead of beta_expand.
It appears that foo_expand is more common in Maxima
than expand_foo, so, again, I guess beta_expand is more
harmonious with existing stuff.

> 2. Set the operator property symmetric: beta(a,b) = beta(b,a)

Agreed.

Thanks a lot for working on this!

Robert Dodier