Re: Annoying Maximize behaviour
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg64056] Re: Annoying Maximize behaviour
- From: albert <awnl at arcor.de>
- Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2006 23:10:11 -0500 (EST)
- References: <drf6fs$egp$1@smc.vnet.net>
- Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com
Hi,
> In[1]:=
> {$Version, $ReleaseNumber}
>
>
> Out[1]=
> {5.1 for Mac OS X (October 25, 2004),0}
>
> In[2]:=
> Maximize[Exp[-x^2]Sin[x],x]
>
>
> Out[2]=
> Maximize[Exp[-x^2]Sin[x],x]
>
> wouldn't the following output be friendlier?
>
> Maximize::choke: No analytic solution found, resorting to numerical
> methods. Out[2]=
> {0.396653, {x -> 0.653271}}
>
I think Andrzej gave you a good reason why the current behaviour is
favourable in most circumstances. Here is anotherone: see how easy it is to
define a function which behaves as you suggested and try to write one which
behaves like Maximize when all you have is a black box that behaves as you
suggested...
maximize::num =
"no symbolic solution found, trying numerics";
maximize[args___] := Maximize[args] /.
Maxmize :> (Message[maximize::num]; NMaximize)
hth
albert