constants of integration (was Re: sqrt(x)*sqrt(x))

I don't think this is a good way to do it.  If I need the c, I add it to the 
answer with %+c.   If there is more than one integration I would make up a 
new name for each constant.  I don't know how hard it would be to fix, but 
it is a Maxima quirk that fell between the cracks somehow.   I don't know 
the history, was there ever a conscious decision to drop the + C? I don't 
know.

Rich


-----Original Message----- 
From: Barton Willis
Sent: Friday, February 11, 2011 5:47 PM
To: Rich Hennessy
Cc: Maxima List
Subject: constants of integration (was Re: [Maxima] sqrt(x)*sqrt(x))

-----maxima-bounces at math.utexas.edu wrote: -----

> Maxima does not know that integrate(x,x) = x^2/2+C.

There is an obscure way to get a constant of integration, but it's not
all that useful or robust, I think:

(%i1) integrate(x = 1,x);
(%o1) x^2/2=x+%c1

Bugs:

(%i2) integrate(%c2 = 1,%c2);
(%o2) %c2^2/2=2*%c2

(%i3) integrate(x = 0,x);
(%o3) x^2/2=%c3+integrate(0,x)

(%i4) expand(%,0,0);
(%o4) x^2/2=%c3

--Barton