possible bug in bigfloat::expt



The bigfloat expt function errors on (0.75b0 + 1.5b0*%i)^(%i/4):

  $ ./maxima-local
  Maxima 5.30post http://maxima.sourceforge.net using Lisp Clozure Common Lisp Version 1.9-r15764     (WindowsX8632)

 (%i1) x : 0.75b0 + %i * 1.5b0$
 (%i2) a : %i/4$
 (%i3) to_lisp();

 MAXIMA> (bigfloat::expt (bigfloat::to (meval '$x)) (bigfloat::to (meval '$a)))

 Maxima encountered a Lisp error:  DIVISION-BY-ZERO detected performing LOG on (0.0)

Changing a to  bfloat(%i/4) eliminates the problem:

  MAXIMA> (bigfloat::expt (bigfloat::to (meval '$x)) (bigfloat::to (meval '$a)))

     +7.518905433525544b-1+9.773370293667246b-2*%i


--Barton