Correcting priority issues in mactex.lisp


On Mon, 25 May 2009, Yasuaki Honda wrote:

< Dear all,
< 
< I want to fix issues in mactex.lisp regarding how to put parenthes
< when tex() function is used to generate latex commands. These
< issues also occur in imaxima since it solely depends on tex()
< function.
< 
< I would like to hear any opinions from you for this before commit.
 
< 2) sum(a[n]+b[n],n,1,k) is displayed like
< 
<                                 k
<                                ====
<                                \
< (%o6)                            >    b  + a
<                                /       n    n
<                                ====
<                                n = 1
< 
< in latex. I think b[n]+a[n] should be parenthed in sum. 

Is there a compelling reason why you think this?

Standard mathematical notation is to leave parentheses off %o6. 
I don't believe that readability is improved by placing parentheses
around the summand. If this is an issue with imaxima, then I would think
it is better to write the code so that the user can choose to include
parentheses, but the default setting is to leave it as is. That way
imaxima can set its preferred default in its init file.

That's my 2p.
Leo

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