That's what I obtain:
factor(1111111111111111111111111111111111);
(%o2) 11 103 4013 2071723 5363222357 21993833369
It works perfectly.
Please upgrade maxima and retest.
Please post what build_info() says. Sometimes particular versions of lisp used
in compilation give problems.
Stefano
>
> I know that Maxima can factor BIG numbers . I thought I made it clear
> that on my desk top with the same software that it factors OK. So I don't
> think there is a problem with factor. I think it is more a problem with
> recursion or stack size.
>
> Here is the error message
>
> (%i4) factor(111111111111111111111111111111);
> (%o4) 3 7 11 13 31 37 41 211 241 271 2161 9091 2906161
> (%i5) factor(1111111111111111111111111111111111);
> Universal error handler called recursively (:ERROR NIL
>
> CONDITIONS::CLCS-UNIVERSAL-ERROR-HANDLER ""
> "Couldn't protect")
> Universal error handler called recursively (:ERROR NIL
>
> CONDITIONS::CLCS-UNIVERSAL-ERROR-HANDLER "" "Couldn't protect") Maxima
> encountered a Lisp error:
>
> Error in CONDITIONS::CLCS-UNIVERSAL-ERROR-HANDLER [or a callee]: Caught
> fatal error [memory may be damaged]
>
> Automatically continuing.
> To reenable the Lisp debugger set *debugger-hook* to nil.
> (%i6)
>
>
> Doug Stewart