signum() evaluation is too slow



Factor.

If the exponent of the highest power term is odd this could be very annoying.

(%i1) signum(x^11019309887+1);
Universal error handler called recursively (:ERROR T
                                                  CONDITIONS::CLCS-UNIVERSAL-ERROR-HANDLER
                                                  "Continues execution."
                                                  "The storage for CONS is exhausted.~%Currently, ~D pages are 
allocated.~%Use ALLOCATE to expand the space.")
Universal error handler called recursively (:ERROR T
                                            CONDITIONS::CLCS-UNIVERSAL-ERROR-HANDLER
                                            "Continues execution."
                                            "The storage for CONS is exhausted.~%Currently, ~D pages are allocated.~%Use 
ALLOCATE to expand the space.")
Universal error handler called recursively (:ERROR T
                                            CONDITIONS::CLCS-UNIVERSAL-ERROR-HANDLER
                                            "Continues execution."
                                            "The storage for CONS is exhausted.~%Currently, ~D pages are allocated.~%Use 
ALLOCATE to expand the space.")
Universal error handler called recursively (:ERROR T
                                            CONDITIONS::CLCS-UNIVERSAL-ERROR-HANDLER
                                            "Continues execution."
                                            "The storage for CONS is exhausted.~%Currently, ~D pages are allocated.~%Use 
ALLOCATE to expand the space.")
Universal error handler called recursively (:ERROR T

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Richard Hennessy" <rich.hennessy at verizon.net>
Sent: Friday, January 29, 2010 1:00 AM
To: "Richard Fateman" <fateman at cs.berkeley.edu>
Subject: Re: [Maxima] signum() evaluation is too slow

> Okay, I guess that could be slow, it seems unnecessary.
>
> Rich
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "Richard Fateman" <fateman at cs.berkeley.edu>
> Sent: Friday, January 29, 2010 12:42 AM
> To: "Richard Hennessy" <rich.hennessy at verizon.net>
> Cc: "Maxima List" <maxima at math.utexas.edu>
> Subject: Re: [Maxima] signum() evaluation is too slow
>
>>
>>>
>>> What is maxima doing here that takes so long?
>> It is calling factor.
>>
>> do  :lisp (trace factor)
>>
>>
>> Why? probably looking to take out a sign from one of the factors?
>>
>> RJF
>>
>>