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Re: Re: Limit glitch

  • To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
  • Subject: [mg14356] Re: [mg14330] Re: Limit glitch
  • From: David Withoff <withoff>
  • Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1998 00:28:58 -0400
  • Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com

> Then, to be consistent with 99.999%  of the calculus texts written in
> the 20th century, Wolfram might want to rename Limit.

I think you are overstating things a bit.

Compatibility with calculus texts is not intrinsically a Good Thing.
Calculus texts and other elementary mathematics books for pedantic
reasons often include various otherwise awkward things that do not
belong in Mathematica.

Also, most calculus texts mention one-sided limits fairly prominently,
often using the same notation or function name that is used for
non-directional limits, so there is precedent even in calculus texts
for assuming that the user will know through context what is intended.

I'm not sure if renaming the Limit function was a serious suggestion,
but my guess is that with a bit of thought it is probably possible to
come up with a better way to address this concern.

Dave


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