Command Line (Maxima 5.43.0 Manual)

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## 4 Command Line

Next: Functions and Variables for Command Line, Previous: Command Line, Up: Command Line [Contents][Index]

### 4.1 Introduction to Command Line

Next: Functions and Variables for Display, Previous: Introduction to Command Line, Up: Command Line [Contents][Index]

### 4.2 Functions and Variables for Command Line

System variable: __

  `__` is the input expression currently being evaluated. That is, while an input expression expr is being evaluated, `__` is expr.

  `__` is assigned the input expression before the input is simplified or evaluated. However, the value of `__` is simplified (but not evaluated) when it is displayed.

  `__` is recognized by `batch` and `load`. In a file processed by `batch`, `__` has the same meaning as at the interactive prompt. In a file processed by `load`, `__` is bound to the input expression most recently entered at the interactive prompt or in a batch file; `__` is not bound to the input expressions in the file being processed. In particular, when `load (filename)` is called from the interactive prompt, `__` is bound to `load (filename)` while the file is being processed.

  See also `_` and `%`.

  Examples:

      (%i1) print ("I was called as", __);
      I was called as print(I was called as, __)
      (%o1)              print(I was called as, __)

      (%i2) foo (__);
      (%o2)                     foo(foo(__))

      (%i3) g (x) := (print ("Current input expression =", __), 0);
      (%o3) g(x) := (print("Current input expression =", __), 0)

      (%i4) [aa : 1, bb : 2, cc : 3];
      (%o4)                       [1, 2, 3]

      (%i5) (aa + bb + cc)/(dd + ee + g(x));
                                  cc + bb + aa
      Current input expression = --------------
                                 g(x) + ee + dd
                                      6
      (%o5)                        -------
                                   ee + dd

  Categories: Global variables

System variable: _

  `_` is the most recent input expression (e.g., `%i1`, `%i2`, `%i3`, …).

  `_` is assigned the input expression before the input is simplified or evaluated. However, the value of `_` is simplified (but not evaluated) when it is displayed.

  `_` is recognized by `batch` and `load`. In a file processed by `batch`, `_` has the same meaning as at the interactive prompt. In a file processed by `load`, `_` is bound to the input expression most recently evaluated at the interactive prompt or in a batch file; `_` is not bound to the input expressions in the file being processed.

  See also `__` and `%`.

  Examples:

      (%i1) 13 + 29;
      (%o1)                          42

      (%i2) :lisp $_
      ((MPLUS) 13 29)

      (%i2) _;
      (%o2)                          42

      (%i3) sin (%pi/2);
      (%o3)                           1

      (%i4) :lisp $_
      ((%SIN) ((MQUOTIENT) $%PI 2))

      (%i4) _;
      (%o4)                           1

      (%i5) a: 13$
      (%i6) b: 29$

      (%i7) a + b;
      (%o7)                          42

      (%i8) :lisp $_
      ((MPLUS) $A $B)

      (%i8) _;
      (%o8)                         b + a

      (%i9) a + b;
      (%o9)                          42

      (%i10) ev (_);
      (%o10)                         42

  Categories: Console interaction Global variables

System variable: %

  `%` is the output expression (e.g., `%o1`, `%o2`, `%o3`, …) most recently computed by Maxima, whether or not it was displayed.

  `%` is recognized by `batch` and `load`. In a file processed by `batch`, `%` has the same meaning as at the interactive prompt. In a file processed by `load`, `%` is bound to the output expression most recently computed at the interactive prompt or in a batch file; `%` is not bound to output expressions in the file being processed.

  See also `_`, `%%`, and `%th`.

  Categories: Console interaction Global variables

System variable: %%

  In compound statements, namely `block`, `lambda`, or `(s_1, ..., s_n)`, `%%` is the value of the previous statement.

  At the first statement in a compound statement, or outside of a compound statement, `%%` is undefined.

  `%%` is recognized by `batch` and `load`, and it has the same meaning as at the interactive prompt.

  See also `%`.

  Examples:

  The following two examples yield the same result.

      (%i1) block (integrate (x^5, x), ev (%%, x=2) - ev (%%, x=1));
                                     21
      (%o1)                          --
                                     2
      (%i2) block ([prev], prev: integrate (x^5, x),
                     ev (prev, x=2) - ev (prev, x=1));
                                     21
      (%o2)                          --
                                     2

  A compound statement may comprise other compound statements. Whether a statement be simple or compound, `%%` is the value of the previous statement.

      (%i3) block (block (a^n, %%*42), %%/6);
                                       n
      (%o3)                         7 a

  Within a compound statement, the value of `%%` may be inspected at a break prompt, which is opened by executing the `break` function. For example, entering `%%;` in the following example yields `42`.

      (%i4) block (a: 42, break ())$

      Entering a Maxima break point. Type 'exit;' to resume.
      _%%;
      42
      _

  Categories: Global variables

Function: %th (i)

  The value of the i’th previous output expression. That is, if the next expression to be computed is the n’th output, `%th (m)` is the (n - m)’th output.

  `%th` is recognized by `batch` and `load`. In a file processed by `batch`, `%th` has the same meaning as at the interactive prompt. In a file processed by `load`, `%th` refers to output expressions most recently computed at the interactive prompt or in a batch file; `%th` does not refer to output expressions in the file being processed.

  See also `%` and `%%`.

  Example:

  `%th` is useful in `batch` files or for referring to a group of output expressions. This example sets `s` to the sum of the last five output expressions.

      (%i1) 1;2;3;4;5;
      (%o1)                           1
      (%o2)                           2
      (%o3)                           3
      (%o4)                           4
      (%o5)                           5
      (%i6) block (s: 0, for i:1 thru 5 do s: s + %th(i), s);
      (%o6)                          15

  Categories: Console interaction

Special symbol: ?

  As prefix to a function or variable name, `?` signifies that the name is a Lisp name, not a Maxima name. For example, `?round` signifies the Lisp function `ROUND`. See Lisp and Maxima for more on this point.

  The notation `? word` (a question mark followed a word, separated by whitespace) is equivalent to `describe("word")`. The question mark must occur at the beginning of an input line; otherwise it is not recognized as a request for documentation. See also `describe`.

  Categories: Help Console interaction

Special symbol: ??

  The notation `?? word` (`??` followed a word, separated by whitespace) is equivalent to `describe("word", inexact)`. The question mark must occur at the beginning of an input line; otherwise it is not recognized as a request for documentation. See also `describe`.

  Categories: Help Console interaction

Input terminator: $

  The dollar sign `$` terminates an input expression, and the most recent output `%` and an output label, e.g. `%o1`, are assigned the result, but the result is not displayed.

  See also `;`.

  Example:

      (%i1) 1 + 2 + 3 $

      (%i2) %;
      (%o2)                           6

      (%i3) %o1;
      (%o3)                           6

Input terminator: ;

  The semicolon `;` terminates an input expression, and the resulting output is displayed.

  See also `$`.

  Example:

      (%i1) 1 + 2 + 3;
      (%o1)                           6

Option variable: inchar

  Default value: `%i`

  `inchar` is the prefix of the labels of expressions entered by the user. Maxima automatically constructs a label for each input expression by concatenating `inchar` and `linenum`.

  `inchar` may be assigned any string or symbol, not necessarily a single character. Because Maxima internally takes into account only the first char of the prefix, the prefixes `inchar`, `outchar`, and `linechar` should have a different first char. Otherwise some commands like `kill(inlabels)` do not work as expected.

  See also `labels`.

  Example:

      (%i1) inchar: "input";
      (%o1)                         input

      (input2) expand((a+b)^3);
                           3        2      2      3
      (%o2)               b  + 3 a b  + 3 a  b + a

  Categories: Display flags and variables

System variable: infolists

  Default value: `[]`

  `infolists` is a list of the names of all of the information lists in Maxima. These are:

  `labels`

    All bound `%i`, `%o`, and `%t` labels.

  `values`

    All bound atoms which are user variables, not Maxima options or switches, created by `:` or `::` or functional binding.

  `functions`

    All user-defined functions, created by `:=` or `define`.

  `arrays`

    All arrays, `hashed arrays` and `memoizing functions`.

  `macros`

    All user-defined macro functions, created by `::=`.

  `myoptions`

    All options ever reset by the user (whether or not they are later reset to their default values).

  `rules`

    All user-defined pattern matching and simplification rules, created by `tellsimp`, `tellsimpafter`, `defmatch`, or `defrule`.

  `aliases`

    All atoms which have a user-defined alias, created by the `alias`, `ordergreat`, `orderless` functions or by declaring the atom as a `noun` with `declare`.

  `dependencies`

    All atoms which have functional dependencies, created by the `depends`, `dependencies`, or `gradef` functions.

  `gradefs`

    All functions which have user-defined derivatives, created by the `gradef` function.

  `props`

    All atoms which have any property other than those mentioned above, such as properties established by `atvalue` or `matchdeclare`, etc., as well as properties established in the `declare` function.

  `let_rule_packages`

    All user-defined `let` rule packages plus the special package `default_let_rule_package`. (`default_let_rule_package` is the name of the rule package used when one is not explicitly set by the user.)

  Categories: Declarations and inferences Global variables

Function: kill
`kill` (a_1, …, a_n)
`kill` (labels)
`kill` (inlabels, outlabels, linelabels)
`kill` (n)
`kill` ([m, n])
`kill` (values, functions, arrays, …)
`kill` (all)
`kill` (allbut (a_1, …, a_n))

  Removes all bindings (value, function, array, or rule) from the arguments a_1, …, a_n. An argument a_k may be a symbol or a single array element. When a_k is a single array element, `kill` unbinds that element without affecting any other elements of the array.

  Several special arguments are recognized. Different kinds of arguments may be combined, e.g., `kill (inlabels, functions, allbut (foo, bar))`.

  `kill (labels)` unbinds all input, output, and intermediate expression labels created so far. `kill (inlabels)` unbinds only input labels which begin with the current value of `inchar`. Likewise, `kill (outlabels)` unbinds only output labels which begin with the current value of `outchar`, and `kill (linelabels)` unbinds only intermediate expression labels which begin with the current value of `linechar`.

  `kill (n)`, where n is an integer, unbinds the n most recent input and output labels.

  `kill ([m, n])` unbinds input and output labels m through n.

  `kill (infolist)`, where infolist is any item in `infolists` (such as `values`, `functions`, or `arrays`) unbinds all items in infolist. See also `infolists`.

  `kill (all)` unbinds all items on all infolists. `kill (all)` does not reset global variables to their default values; see `reset` on this point.

  `kill (allbut (a_1, ..., a_n))` unbinds all items on all infolists except for a_1, …, a_n. `kill (allbut (infolist))` unbinds all items except for the ones on infolist, where infolist is `values`, `functions`, `arrays`, etc.

  The memory taken up by a bound property is not released until all symbols are unbound from it. In particular, to release the memory taken up by the value of a symbol, one unbinds the output label which shows the bound value, as well as unbinding the symbol itself.

  `kill` quotes its arguments. The quote-quote operator `''` defeats quotation.

  `kill (symbol)` unbinds all properties of symbol. In contrast, the functions `remvalue`, `remfunction`, `remarray`, and `remrule` unbind a specific property. Note that facts declared by `assume` don’t require a symbol they apply to, therefore aren’t stored as properties of symbols and therefore aren’t affected by `kill`.

  `kill` always returns `done`, even if an argument has no binding.

  Categories: Evaluation Console interaction Session management

Function: labels (symbol)

  Returns the list of input, output, or intermediate expression labels which begin with symbol. Typically symbol is the value of `inchar`, `outchar`, or `linechar`. If no labels begin with symbol, `labels` returns an empty list.

  By default, Maxima displays the result of each user input expression, giving the result an output label. The output display is suppressed by terminating the input with `$` (dollar sign) instead of `;` (semicolon). An output label is constructed and bound to the result, but not displayed, and the label may be referenced in the same way as displayed output labels. See also `%`, `%%`, and `%th`.

  Intermediate expression labels can be generated by some functions. The option variable `programmode` controls whether `solve` and some other functions generate intermediate expression labels instead of returning a list of expressions. Some other functions, such as `ldisplay`, always generate intermediate expression labels.

  See also `inchar`, `outchar`, `linechar`, and `infolists`.

  Categories: Display functions Console interaction

System variable: labels

  The variable `labels` is the list of input, output, and intermediate expression labels, including all previous labels if `inchar`, `outchar`, or `linechar` were redefined.

  Categories: Display flags and variables Console interaction

Option variable: linechar

  Default value: `%t`

  `linechar` is the prefix of the labels of intermediate expressions generated by Maxima. Maxima constructs a label for each intermediate expression (if displayed) by concatenating `linechar` and `linenum`.

  `linechar` may be assigned any string or symbol, not necessarily a single character. Because Maxima internally takes into account only the first char of the prefix, the prefixes `inchar`, `outchar`, and `linechar` should have a different first char. Otherwise some commands like `kill(inlabels)` do not work as expected.

  Intermediate expressions might or might not be displayed. See `programmode` and `labels`.

  Categories: Display flags and variables

System variable: linenum

  The line number of the current pair of input and output expressions.

  Categories: Display flags and variables Console interaction

System variable: myoptions

  Default value: `[]`

  `myoptions` is the list of all options ever reset by the user, whether or not they get reset to their default value.

  Categories: Global variables Session management Console interaction

Option variable: nolabels

  Default value: `false`

  When `nolabels` is `true`, input and output result labels (`%i` and `%o`, respectively) are displayed, but the labels are not bound to results, and the labels are not appended to the `labels` list. Since labels are not bound to results, garbage collection can recover the memory taken up by the results.

  Otherwise input and output result labels are bound to results, and the labels are appended to the `labels` list.

  Intermediate expression labels (`%t`) are not affected by `nolabels`; whether `nolabels` is `true` or `false`, intermediate expression labels are bound and appended to the `labels` list.

  See also `batch`, `load`, and `labels`.

  Categories: Global flags Session management

Option variable: optionset

  Default value: `false`

  When `optionset` is `true`, Maxima prints out a message whenever a Maxima option is reset. This is useful if the user is doubtful of the spelling of some option and wants to make sure that the variable he assigned a value to was truly an option variable.

  Example:

      (%i1) optionset:true;
      assignment: assigning to option optionset
      (%o1)                         true
      (%i2) gamma_expand:true;
      assignment: assigning to option gamma_expand
      (%o2)                         true

  Categories: Global flags Session management Console interaction

Option variable: outchar

  Default value: `%o`

  `outchar` is the prefix of the labels of expressions computed by Maxima. Maxima automatically constructs a label for each computed expression by concatenating `outchar` and `linenum`.

  `outchar` may be assigned any string or symbol, not necessarily a single character. Because Maxima internally takes into account only the first char of the prefix, the prefixes `inchar`, `outchar` and `linechar` should have a different first char. Otherwise some commands like `kill(inlabels)` do not work as expected.

  See also `labels`.

  Example:

      (%i1) outchar: "output";
      (output1)                    output

      (%i2) expand((a+b)^3);
                           3        2      2      3
      (output2)           b  + 3 a b  + 3 a  b + a

  Categories: Display flags and variables

Function: playback
`playback` ()
`playback` (n)
`playback` ([m, n])
`playback` ([m])
`playback` (input)
`playback` (slow)
`playback` (time)
`playback` (grind)

  Displays input, output, and intermediate expressions, without recomputing them. `playback` only displays the expressions bound to labels; any other output (such as text printed by `print` or `describe`, or error messages) is not displayed. See also `labels`.

  `playback` quotes its arguments. The quote-quote operator `''` defeats quotation. `playback` always returns `done`.

  `playback ()` (with no arguments) displays all input, output, and intermediate expressions generated so far. An output expression is displayed even if it was suppressed by the `$` terminator when it was originally computed.

  `playback (n)` displays the most recent n expressions. Each input, output, and intermediate expression counts as one.

  `playback ([m, n])` displays input, output, and intermediate expressions with numbers from m through n, inclusive.

  `playback ([m])` is equivalent to `playback ([m, m])`; this usually prints one pair of input and output expressions.

  `playback (input)` displays all input expressions generated so far.

  `playback (slow)` pauses between expressions and waits for the user to press `enter`. This behavior is similar to `demo`. `playback (slow)` is useful in conjunction with `save` or `stringout` when creating a secondary-storage file in order to pick out useful expressions.

  `playback (time)` displays the computation time for each expression.

  `playback (grind)` displays input expressions in the same format as the `grind` function. Output expressions are not affected by the `grind` option. See `grind`.

  Arguments may be combined, e.g., `playback ([5, 10], grind, time, slow)`.

  Categories: Display functions Console interaction

Option variable: prompt

  Default value: `_`

  `prompt` is the prompt symbol of the `demo` function, `playback (slow)` mode, and the Maxima break loop (as invoked by `break`).

  Categories: Global variables Console interaction

Function: quit ()

  Terminates the Maxima session. Note that the function must be invoked as `quit();` or `quit()$`, not `quit` by itself.

  To stop a lengthy computation, type `control-C`. The default action is to return to the Maxima prompt. If `*debugger-hook*` is `nil`, `control-C` opens the Lisp debugger. See also Debugging.

  Categories: Console interaction

Function: read (expr_1, …, expr_n)

  Prints expr_1, …, expr_n, then reads one expression from the console and returns the evaluated expression. The expression is terminated with a semicolon `;` or dollar sign `$`.

  See also `readonly`

  Example:

      (%i1) foo: 42$
      (%i2) foo: read ("foo is", foo, " -- enter new value.")$
      foo is 42  -- enter new value.
      (a+b)^3;
      (%i3) foo;
                                           3
      (%o3)                         (b + a)

  Categories: Console interaction

Function: readonly (expr_1, …, expr_n)

  Prints expr_1, …, expr_n, then reads one expression from the console and returns the expression (without evaluation). The expression is terminated with a `;` (semicolon) or `$` (dollar sign).

  See also `read`.

  Examples:

      (%i1) aa: 7$
      (%i2) foo: readonly ("Enter an expression:");
      Enter an expression:
      2^aa;
                                        aa
      (%o2)                            2
      (%i3) foo: read ("Enter an expression:");
      Enter an expression:
      2^aa;
      (%o3)                            128

  Categories: Console interaction

Function: reset ()

  Resets many global variables and options, and some other variables, to their default values.

  `reset` processes the variables on the Lisp list `*variable-initial-values*`. The Lisp macro `defmvar` puts variables on this list (among other actions). Many, but not all, global variables and options are defined by `defmvar`, and some variables defined by `defmvar` are not global variables or options.

  Categories: Session management

Option variable: showtime

  Default value: `false`

  When `showtime` is `true`, the computation time and elapsed time is printed with each output expression.

  The computation time is always recorded, so `time` and `playback` can display the computation time even when `showtime` is `false`.

  See also `timer`.

  Categories: Display flags and variables Debugging

Function: to_lisp ()

  Enters the Lisp system under Maxima. `(to-maxima)` returns to Maxima.

  Example:

  Define a function and enter the Lisp system under Maxima. The definition is inspected on the property list, then the function definition is extracted, factored and stored in the variable `$result`. The variable can be used in Maxima after returning to Maxima.

      (%i1) f(x):=x^2+x;
                                        2
      (%o1)                    f(x) := x  + x
      (%i2) to_lisp();
      Type (to-maxima) to restart, ($quit) to quit Maxima.
      MAXIMA> (symbol-plist '$f)
      (MPROPS (NIL MEXPR ((LAMBDA) ((MLIST) $X)
                                   ((MPLUS) ((MEXPT) $X 2) $X))))
      MAXIMA> (setq $result ($factor (caddr (mget '$f 'mexpr))))
      ((MTIMES SIMP FACTORED) $X ((MPLUS SIMP IRREDUCIBLE) 1 $X))
      MAXIMA> (to-maxima)
      Returning to Maxima
      (%o2)                         true
      (%i3) result;
      (%o3)                       x (x + 1)

  Categories: Console interaction

System variable: values

  Initial value: `[]`

  `values` is a list of all bound user variables (not Maxima options or switches). The list comprises symbols bound by `:`, or `::`.

  If the value of a variable is removed with the commands `kill`, `remove`, or `remvalue` the variable is deleted from `values`.

  See `functions` for a list of user defined functions.

  Examples:

  First, `values` shows the symbols `a`, `b`, and `c`, but not `d`, it is not bound to a value, and not the user function `f`. The values are removed from the variables. `values` is the empty list.

      (%i1) [a:99, b:: a-90, c:a-b, d, f(x):=x^2];
                                                 2
      (%o1)              [99, 9, 90, d, f(x) := x ]

      (%i2) values;
      (%o2)                       [a, b, c]

      (%i3) [kill(a), remove(b,value), remvalue(c)];
      (%o3)                   [done, done, [c]]

      (%i4) values;
      (%o4)                          []

  Categories: Evaluation Global variables

Previous: Functions and Variables for Command Line, Up: Command Line [Contents][Index]

### 4.3 Functions and Variables for Display

Option variable: %edispflag

  Default value: `false`

  When `%edispflag` is `true`, Maxima displays `%e` to a negative exponent as a quotient. For example, `%e^-x` is displayed as `1/%e^x`. See also `exptdispflag`.

  Example:

      (%i1) %e^-10;
                                     - 10
      (%o1)                        %e

      (%i2) %edispflag:true$

      (%i3) %e^-10;
                                     1
      (%o3)                         ----
                                      10
                                    %e

  Categories: Exponential and logarithm functions Display flags and variables

Option variable: absboxchar

  Default value: `!`

  `absboxchar` is the character used to draw absolute value signs around expressions which are more than one line tall.

  Example:

      (%i1) abs((x^3+1));
                                  ! 3    !
      (%o1)                       !x  + 1!

  Categories: Display flags and variables

Function: disp (expr_1, expr_2, …)

  is like `display` but only the value of the arguments are displayed rather than equations. This is useful for complicated arguments which don’t have names or where only the value of the argument is of interest and not the name.

  See also `ldisp` and `print`.

  Example:

      (%i1) b[1,2]:x-x^2$
      (%i2) x:123$

      (%i3) disp(x, b[1,2], sin(1.0));
                                     123

                                        2
                                   x - x

                             0.8414709848078965

      (%o3)                         done

  Categories: Display functions

Function: display (expr_1, expr_2, …)

  Displays equations whose left side is expr_i unevaluated, and whose right side is the value of the expression centered on the line. This function is useful in blocks and `for` statements in order to have intermediate results displayed. The arguments to `display` are usually atoms, subscripted variables, or function calls.

  See also `ldisplay`, `disp`, and `ldisp`.

  Example:

      (%i1) b[1,2]:x-x^2$
      (%i2) x:123$
      (%i3) display(x, b[1,2], sin(1.0));
                                   x = 123

                                            2
                               b     = x - x
                                1, 2

                        sin(1.0) = 0.8414709848078965

      (%o3)                         done

  Categories: Display functions

Option variable: display2d

  Default value: `true`

  When `display2d` is `true`, the console display is an attempt to present mathematical expressions as they might appear in books and articles, using only letters, numbers, and some punctuation characters. This display is sometimes called the "pretty printer" display.

  When `display2d` is `false`, the console display is a 1-dimensional or linear form which is the same as the output produced by `grind`.

  When `display2d` is `false`, the value of `stringdisp` is ignored, and strings are always displayed with quote marks.

  See also `leftjust` to switch between a left justified and a centered display of equations.

  Example:

      (%i1) x/(x^2+1);
                                     x
      (%o1)                        ------
                                    2
                                   x  + 1

      (%i2) display2d:false$

      (%i3) x/(x^2+1);
      (%o3) x/(x^2+1)

  Categories: Display flags and variables

Option variable: display_format_internal

  Default value: `false`

  When `display_format_internal` is `true`, expressions are displayed without being transformed in ways that hide the internal mathematical representation. The display then corresponds to what `inpart` returns rather than `part`.

  Examples:

      User     part       inpart
      a-b;      a - b     a + (- 1) b

                 a            - 1
      a/b;       -         a b
                 b
                             1/2
      sqrt(x);   sqrt(x)    x

                4 X        4
      X*4/3;    ---        - X
                 3         3

  Categories: Display flags and variables

Function: dispterms (expr)

  Displays expr in parts one below the other. That is, first the operator of expr is displayed, then each term in a sum, or factor in a product, or part of a more general expression is displayed separately. This is useful if expr is too large to be otherwise displayed. For example if `P1`, `P2`, … are very large expressions then the display program may run out of storage space in trying to display `P1 + P2 + ...` all at once. However, `dispterms (P1 + P2 + ...)` displays `P1`, then below it `P2`, etc. When not using `dispterms`, if an exponential expression is too wide to be displayed as `A^B` it appears as `expt (A, B)` (or as `ncexpt (A, B)` in the case of `A^^B`).

  Example:

      (%i1) dispterms(2*a*sin(x)+%e^x);

      +

      2 a sin(x)

        x
      %e

      (%o1)                         done

  Categories: Display functions

Special symbol: expt (a, b)
Special symbol: ncexpt (a, b)

  If an exponential expression is too wide to be displayed as `a^b` it appears as `expt (a, b)` (or as `ncexpt (a, b)` in the case of `a^^b`).

  `expt` and `ncexpt` are not recognized in input.

Option variable: exptdispflag

  Default value: `true`

  When `exptdispflag` is `true`, Maxima displays expressions with negative exponents using quotients. See also `%edispflag`.

  Example:

      (%i1) exptdispflag:true;
      (%o1)                         true
      (%i2) 10^-x;
                                      1
      (%o2)                          ---
                                       x
                                     10
      (%i3) exptdispflag:false;
      (%o3)                         false
      (%i4) 10^-x;
                                      - x
      (%o4)                         10

  Categories: Expressions Display flags and variables

Function: grind (expr)

  The function `grind` prints expr to the console in a form suitable for input to Maxima. `grind` always returns `done`.

  When expr is the name of a function or macro, `grind` prints the function or macro definition instead of just the name.

  See also `string`, which returns a string instead of printing its output. `grind` attempts to print the expression in a manner which makes it slightly easier to read than the output of `string`.

  `grind` evaluates its argument.

  Examples:

      (%i1) aa + 1729;
      (%o1)                       aa + 1729

      (%i2) grind (%);
      aa+1729$
      (%o2)                         done

      (%i3) [aa, 1729, aa + 1729];
      (%o3)                 [aa, 1729, aa + 1729]

      (%i4) grind (%);
      [aa,1729,aa+1729]$
      (%o4)                         done

      (%i5) matrix ([aa, 17], [29, bb]);
                                 [ aa  17 ]
      (%o5)                      [        ]
                                 [ 29  bb ]

      (%i6) grind (%);
      matrix([aa,17],[29,bb])$
      (%o6)                         done

      (%i7) set (aa, 17, 29, bb);
      (%o7)                   {17, 29, aa, bb}

      (%i8) grind (%);
      {17,29,aa,bb}$
      (%o8)                         done

      (%i9) exp (aa / (bb + 17)^29);
                                      aa
                                  -----------
                                           29
                                  (bb + 17)
      (%o9)                     %e

      (%i10) grind (%);
      %e^(aa/(bb+17)^29)$
      (%o10)                        done

      (%i11) expr: expand ((aa + bb)^10);
               10           9        2   8         3   7         4   6
      (%o11) bb   + 10 aa bb  + 45 aa  bb  + 120 aa  bb  + 210 aa  bb
               5   5         6   4         7   3        8   2
       + 252 aa  bb  + 210 aa  bb  + 120 aa  bb  + 45 aa  bb
              9        10
       + 10 aa  bb + aa

      (%i12) grind (expr);
      bb^10+10*aa*bb^9+45*aa^2*bb^8+120*aa^3*bb^7+210*aa^4*bb^6
           +252*aa^5*bb^5+210*aa^6*bb^4+120*aa^7*bb^3+45*aa^8*bb^2
           +10*aa^9*bb+aa^10$
      (%o12)                        done

      (%i13) string (expr);
      (%o13) bb^10+10*aa*bb^9+45*aa^2*bb^8+120*aa^3*bb^7+210*aa^4*bb^6\
      +252*aa^5*bb^5+210*aa^6*bb^4+120*aa^7*bb^3+45*aa^8*bb^2+10*aa^9*\
      bb+aa^10

      (%i14) cholesky (A):= block ([n : length (A), L : copymatrix (A),
        p : makelist (0, i, 1, length (A))],
        for i thru n do for j : i thru n do
        (x : L[i, j], x : x - sum (L[j, k] * L[i, k], k, 1, i - 1),
        if i = j then p[i] : 1 / sqrt(x) else L[j, i] : x * p[i]),
        for i thru n do L[i, i] : 1 / p[i],
        for i thru n do for j : i + 1 thru n do L[i, j] : 0, L)$
      define: warning: redefining the built-in function cholesky

      (%i15) grind (cholesky);
      cholesky(A):=block(
               [n:length(A),L:copymatrix(A),
                p:makelist(0,i,1,length(A))],
               for i thru n do
                   (for j from i thru n do
                        (x:L[i,j],x:x-sum(L[j,k]*L[i,k],k,1,i-1),
                         if i = j then p[i]:1/sqrt(x)
                             else L[j,i]:x*p[i])),
               for i thru n do L[i,i]:1/p[i],
               for i thru n do (for j from i+1 thru n do L[i,j]:0),L)$
      (%o15)                        done

      (%i16) string (fundef (cholesky));
      (%o16) cholesky(A):=block([n:length(A),L:copymatrix(A),p:makelis\
      t(0,i,1,length(A))],for i thru n do (for j from i thru n do (x:L\
      [i,j],x:x-sum(L[j,k]*L[i,k],k,1,i-1),if i = j then p[i]:1/sqrt(x\
      ) else L[j,i]:x*p[i])),for i thru n do L[i,i]:1/p[i],for i thru \
      n do (for j from i+1 thru n do L[i,j]:0),L)

  Categories: Display functions

Option variable: grind

  When the variable `grind` is `true`, the output of `string` and `stringout` has the same format as that of `grind`; otherwise no attempt is made to specially format the output of those functions. The default value of the variable `grind` is `false`.

  `grind` can also be specified as an argument of `playback`. When `grind` is present, `playback` prints input expressions in the same format as the `grind` function. Otherwise, no attempt is made to specially format input expressions.

  Categories: Display flags and variables

Option variable: ibase

  Default value: `10`

  `ibase` is the base for integers read by Maxima.

  `ibase` may be assigned any integer between 2 and 36 (decimal), inclusive. When `ibase` is greater than 10, the numerals comprise the decimal numerals 0 through 9 plus letters of the alphabet `A`, `B`, `C`, …, as needed to make `ibase` digits in all. Letters are interpreted as digits only if the first digit is 0 through 9.

  Uppercase and lowercase letters are not distinguished. The numerals for base 36, the largest acceptable base, comprise 0 through 9 and `A` through `Z`.

  Whatever the value of `ibase`, when an integer is terminated by a decimal point, it is interpreted in base 10.

  See also `obase`.

  Examples:

  `ibase` less than 10 (for example binary numbers).

      (%i1) ibase : 2 $

      (%i2) obase;
      (%o2)                          10

      (%i3) 1111111111111111;
      (%o3)                         65535

  `ibase` greater than 10. Letters are interpreted as digits only if the first digit is 0 through 9 which means that hexadecimal numbers might need to be prepended by a 0.

      (%i1) ibase : 16 $

      (%i2) obase;
      (%o2)                          10

      (%i3) 1000;
      (%o3)                         4096

      (%i4) abcd;
      (%o4)                         abcd

      (%i5) symbolp (abcd);
      (%o5)                         true

      (%i6) 0abcd;
      (%o6)                         43981

      (%i7) symbolp (0abcd);
      (%o7)                         false

  When an integer is terminated by a decimal point, it is interpreted in base 10.

      (%i1) ibase : 36 $

      (%i2) obase;
      (%o2)                          10

      (%i3) 1234;
      (%o3)                         49360

      (%i4) 1234.;
      (%o4)                         1234

  Categories: Console interaction

Function: ldisp (expr_1, …, expr_n)

  Displays expressions expr_1, …, expr_n to the console as printed output. `ldisp` assigns an intermediate expression label to each argument and returns the list of labels.

  See also `disp`, `display`, and `ldisplay`.

  Examples:

      (%i1) e: (a+b)^3;
                                         3
      (%o1)                       (b + a)
      (%i2) f: expand (e);
                           3        2      2      3
      (%o2)               b  + 3 a b  + 3 a  b + a
      (%i3) ldisp (e, f);
                                         3
      (%t3)                       (b + a)

                           3        2      2      3
      (%t4)               b  + 3 a b  + 3 a  b + a

      (%o4)                      [%t3, %t4]
      (%i4) %t3;
                                         3
      (%o4)                       (b + a)
      (%i5) %t4;
                           3        2      2      3
      (%o5)               b  + 3 a b  + 3 a  b + a

  Categories: Display functions

Function: ldisplay (expr_1, …, expr_n)

  Displays expressions expr_1, …, expr_n to the console as printed output. Each expression is printed as an equation of the form `lhs = rhs` in which `lhs` is one of the arguments of `ldisplay` and `rhs` is its value. Typically each argument is a variable. `ldisp` assigns an intermediate expression label to each equation and returns the list of labels.

  See also `display`, `disp`, and `ldisp`.

  Examples:

      (%i1) e: (a+b)^3;
                                         3
      (%o1)                       (b + a)
      (%i2) f: expand (e);
                           3        2      2      3
      (%o2)               b  + 3 a b  + 3 a  b + a
      (%i3) ldisplay (e, f);
                                           3
      (%t3)                     e = (b + a)

                             3        2      2      3
      (%t4)             f = b  + 3 a b  + 3 a  b + a

      (%o4)                      [%t3, %t4]
      (%i4) %t3;
                                           3
      (%o4)                     e = (b + a)
      (%i5) %t4;
                             3        2      2      3
      (%o5)             f = b  + 3 a b  + 3 a  b + a

  Categories: Display functions

Option variable: leftjust

  Default value: `false`

  When `leftjust` is `true`, equations in 2D-display are drawn left justified rather than centered.

  See also `display2d` to switch between 1D- and 2D-display.

  Example:

      (%i1) expand((x+1)^3);
                              3      2
      (%o1)                  x  + 3 x  + 3 x + 1
      (%i2) leftjust:true$
      (%i3) expand((x+1)^3);
             3      2
      (%o3) x  + 3 x  + 3 x + 1

  Categories: Display flags and variables

Option variable: linel

  Default value: `79`

  `linel` is the assumed width (in characters) of the console display for the purpose of displaying expressions. `linel` may be assigned any value by the user, although very small or very large values may be impractical. Text printed by built-in Maxima functions, such as error messages and the output of `describe`, is not affected by `linel`.

  Categories: Display flags and variables

Option variable: lispdisp

  Default value: `false`

  When `lispdisp` is `true`, Lisp symbols are displayed with a leading question mark `?`. Otherwise, Lisp symbols are displayed with no leading mark. This has the same effect for 1-d and 2-d display.

  Examples:

      (%i1) lispdisp: false$

      (%i2) ?foo + ?bar;
      (%o2)                       foo + bar

      (%i3) lispdisp: true$

      (%i4) ?foo + ?bar;
      (%o4)                      ?foo + ?bar

  Categories: Display flags and variables

Option variable: negsumdispflag

  Default value: `true`

  When `negsumdispflag` is `true`, `x - y` displays as `x - y` instead of as `- y + x`. Setting it to `false` causes the special check in display for the difference of two expressions to not be done. One application is that thus `a + %i*b` and `a - %i*b` may both be displayed the same way.

  Categories: Display flags and variables

Option variable: obase

  Default value: `10`

  `obase` is the base for integers displayed by Maxima.

  `obase` may be assigned any integer between 2 and 36 (decimal), inclusive. When `obase` is greater than 10, the numerals comprise the decimal numerals 0 through 9 plus capital letters of the alphabet A, B, C, …, as needed. A leading 0 digit is displayed if the leading digit is otherwise a letter. The numerals for base 36, the largest acceptable base, comprise 0 through 9, and A through Z.

  See also `ibase`.

  Examples:

      (%i1) obase : 2;
      (%o1)                          10

      (%i10) 2^8 - 1;
      (%o10)                      11111111

      (%i11) obase : 8;
      (%o3)                          10

      (%i4) 8^8 - 1;
      (%o4)                       77777777

      (%i5) obase : 16;
      (%o5)                          10

      (%i6) 16^8 - 1;
      (%o6)                       0FFFFFFFF

      (%i7) obase : 36;
      (%o7)                          10

      (%i8) 36^8 - 1;
      (%o8)                       0ZZZZZZZZ

  Categories: Display flags and variables Console interaction

Option variable: pfeformat

  Default value: `false`

  When `pfeformat` is `true`, a ratio of integers is displayed with the solidus (forward slash) character, and an integer denominator `n` is displayed as a leading multiplicative term `1/n`.

  Examples:

      (%i1) pfeformat: false$
      (%i2) 2^16/7^3;
                                    65536
      (%o2)                         -----
                                     343
      (%i3) (a+b)/8;
                                    b + a
      (%o3)                         -----
                                      8
      (%i4) pfeformat: true$
      (%i5) 2^16/7^3;
      (%o5)                       65536/343
      (%i6) (a+b)/8;
      (%o6)                      1/8 (b + a)

  Categories: Display flags and variables

Option variable: powerdisp

  Default value: `false`

  When `powerdisp` is `true`, a sum is displayed with its terms in order of increasing power. Thus a polynomial is displayed as a truncated power series, with the constant term first and the highest power last.

  By default, terms of a sum are displayed in order of decreasing power.

  Example:

      (%i1) powerdisp:true;
      (%o1)                         true
      (%i2) x^2+x^3+x^4;
                                 2    3    4
      (%o2)                     x  + x  + x
      (%i3) powerdisp:false;
      (%o3)                         false
      (%i4) x^2+x^3+x^4;
                                 4    3    2
      (%o4)                     x  + x  + x

  Categories: Display flags and variables

Function: print (expr_1, …, expr_n)

  Evaluates and displays expr_1, …, expr_n one after another, from left to right, starting at the left edge of the console display.

  The value returned by `print` is the value of its last argument. `print` does not generate intermediate expression labels.

  See also `display`, `disp`, `ldisplay`, and `ldisp`. Those functions display one expression per line, while `print` attempts to display two or more expressions per line.

  To display the contents of a file, see `printfile`.

  Examples:

      (%i1) r: print ("(a+b)^3 is", expand ((a+b)^3), "log (a^10/b) is",
            radcan (log (a^10/b)))$
                  3        2      2      3
      (a+b)^3 is b  + 3 a b  + 3 a  b + a  log (a^10/b) is

                                                    10 log(a) - log(b)
      (%i2) r;
      (%o2)                  10 log(a) - log(b)
      (%i3) disp ("(a+b)^3 is", expand ((a+b)^3), "log (a^10/b) is",
            radcan (log (a^10/b)))$
                                 (a+b)^3 is

                           3        2      2      3
                          b  + 3 a b  + 3 a  b + a

                               log (a^10/b) is

                             10 log(a) - log(b)

  Categories: Display functions

Option variable: sqrtdispflag

  Default value: `true`

  When `sqrtdispflag` is `false`, causes `sqrt` to display with exponent 1/2.

  Categories: Mathematical functions Display flags and variables

Option variable: stardisp

  Default value: `false`

  When `stardisp` is `true`, multiplication is displayed with an asterisk `*` between operands.

  Categories: Display flags and variables

Option variable: ttyoff

  Default value: `false`

  When `ttyoff` is `true`, output expressions are not displayed. Output expressions are still computed and assigned labels. See `labels`.

  Text printed by built-in Maxima functions, such as error messages and the output of `describe`, is not affected by `ttyoff`.

  Categories: Display flags and variables

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