Re: Re: RE: Re: Sometimes <space> means multiple
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg75426] Re: [mg75423] Re: [mg75364] RE: [mg75358] Re: Sometimes <space> means multiple
- From: Andrzej Kozlowski <akoz at mimuw.edu.pl>
- Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2007 03:38:13 -0400 (EDT)
- References: <200704270918.FAA23598@smc.vnet.net> <200704290714.DAA21234@smc.vnet.net>
I compltely agree. I also think that any comparisons between C++ and Mathematica in this respect are completely off the mark, unless of course sombody decides to develop an analogue of "TradtitionalForm" for C++. I would also like to point out the following obvious but not insignificant fact. Enter a b (or 2 3 if you prefer) and convert to InputForm. You will obtain an explicit asterisk in place of the space. Conversely, enter a*b and convert to TraditionalForm (or even StandardForm). You will get a space instead of the asterisk. This, in my opinion, is exactly how it should be. In fact, I am somewhat shocked that anyone would claim otherwise. Andrzej Kozlowski On 29 Apr 2007, at 16:14, Murray Eisenberg wrote: > Why "mistake"? Why not allow Mathematica to mimic as much of > traditional mathematical notation as possible without running into > genuine ambiguity? > > After all, it's really convenient to be able to use 2 Exp[x] and Cos[2 > t] -- and even 2Exp[x] and Cos[2t] -- without having to insert an > extra, > distracting multiplication symbol. Then the usage in 2 4, for > example, > just extends that. > > In my own work, I ordinarily include an explicit multiplication symbol > -- and I prefer the multiplication sign one gets from Esc * Esc > instead > of the FORTRANish * -- when the factors are numbers. There's > nothing to > prevent you from doing that if you don't like the implicit > multiplication indicated by a space. > > > Virgilio, Vincent - SSD wrote: >> Personally, I think it was a mistake to overload the meaning of >> "space" >> to multiply. I bet Wolfram Inc. would reverse that decision now, >> if it >> wasn't for backward compatibility. >> >> I like to compare Mathematica to C++. Somewhere in his writings, >> Bjarne >> Stroustrup mentions the same issue, and his decision not to overload >> whitespace. I think the question also arises on the Boost mailing >> lists >> now and then, mostly tongue-in-cheek. >> >> (Corrections welcome.) >> >> Vince Virgilio >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Bill Rowe [mailto:readnewsciv at sbcglobal.net] >> Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2007 3:35 AM >> To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net >> Subject: [mg75364] [mg75358] Re: Sometimes <space> means >> multiple , sometimes not >> >> On 4/25/07 at 5:27 AM, siewsk at bp.com wrote: >> >>> As a newbie, I was taught that <space> character in Mathematica >>> means >>> multiple. But sometimes it does not. >> >>> For example: >> >> <examples snipped> >> >> Mathematica allows spaces to be placed before or after any operation. >> Consequently, a space is only interpreted as a multiply when there >> is no >> other operator or other possible interpretation. >> >> So, -4 -2 is the same as -4 - 2 or -4-2 and gives -6 but >> -4 (-2) will yield 8 >> -- >> To reply via email subtract one hundred and four >> >> ***************************************************************** >> This e-mail and any files transmitted with it may be proprietary = >> >> and are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to = >> >> whom they are addressed. If you have received this e-mail in = >> >> error please notify the sender. Please note that any views or >> opinions presented in this e-mail are solely those of the author = >> >> and do not necessarily represent those of ITT Corporation. The = >> >> recipient should check this e-mail and any attachments for the = >> >> presence of viruses. ITT accepts no liability for any damage = >> >> caused by any virus transmitted by this e-mail. >> ******************************************************************* >> =0D >> > > -- > Murray Eisenberg murray at math.umass.edu > Mathematics & Statistics Dept. > Lederle Graduate Research Tower phone 413 549-1020 (H) > University of Massachusetts 413 545-2859 (W) > 710 North Pleasant Street fax 413 545-1801 > Amherst, MA 01003-9305 >
- References:
- RE: Re: Sometimes <space> means multiple , sometimes not
- From: "Virgilio, Vincent - SSD" <Vincent.Virgilio@itt.com>
- Re: RE: Re: Sometimes <space> means multiple
- From: Murray Eisenberg <murray@math.umass.edu>
- RE: Re: Sometimes <space> means multiple , sometimes not