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Typesetting bug

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg96405] Typesetting bug
• From: replicatorzed at gmail.com
• Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 03:40:38 -0500 (EST)

Dear Group,

I don't know whether this "feature" is widely known or not, but it
surely gave me an hour of scratching my head, buried deep inside a
calculation:

In[7]:= n = .5;
x = 1;

ax = 1;
{(ax^n), x^n, ax^n - x^n}

Out[10]= {1, 1, 0}

In[11]:= max = 1;
{(max^n), x^n, max^n-x^n}

Out[12]= {1, 1, -1}


This inconsistency happens only if exponents are typed in as real
superscripts with Ctrl+^. A FullForm reveals an underlying Times in
the last case, which ultimately is responsible for the wrong answer.
Furthermore, max^n does not work as intended if typed and evaluated in
one call, as follows:
max <Ctrl+^> n <enter> x <Shift+Enter>
because it is interpreted as a product of max^n and x.

Istvan Zachar

• Follow-Ups:
  • Re: Typesetting bug
    • From: Curtis Osterhoudt <cfo@lanl.gov>