You might try declaring j to be an alias for %i. The command alias(j,%i) does this. You'll
discover that j will print as %i:
(%i3) exp(j * x);
(%o3) %e^(%i*x)
Maybe there is a workaround that prevents j from displaying as %i. Also, the alias command
doesn't change the properties of %i--it is still the imaginary unit. Finally, there might
be some limitations to alias that I don't know about.
You can put the alias command into the Maxima initialization file "maxima-init.mac". To learn how to do this,
see http://maxima.sourceforge.net/ui-tips.html.
Working with any CAS involves some compromise with preferred notion, I think. Some users aren't thrilled
that Maxima displays a+b+c as c+b+a.
--Barton
-----maxima-bounces at math.utexas.edu wrote: -----
>To: Inl?gg Maximalista <maxima at math.utexas.edu>
>From: Per Liss
>Sent by: maxima-bounces at math.utexas.edu
>Date: 02/18/2012 03:00AM
>Subject: The letter j as imaginary unit
>
>Hello, I'm am completely new to Maxima and computer algebra systems and
>am trying to learn how to make best use of it. After reading and
>introductory textbook, I have been now spent some time finding information
>on the Internet on how to make Maxima using the letter "j" as the
>imaginary unit in order not to make confusion with the symbol "i" for
>current. I would like Maxima not only to understand input using "%j" which
>I believe could be done by defining a constant, but also produce outputs
>using "j" instead of "i". My final goal is to find a way to permanently
>configure my installation to use the letter j. I would appreciate any
>tips where to find such info. I have searched the archive for this list
>and done a general Google search but didn't find any info. My
>installation is: Ubuntu Linux on an IBM T42p laptop running wxMaxima 0.8.4
>(don't know hot to extract the Maxima core version) Best Regards, Per
>Liss _______________________________________________ Maxima mailing list
>Maxima at math.utexas.edu http://www.math.utexas.edu/mailman/listinfo/maxima