Re: Getting TraditionalForm to put in a multiplication sign.
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg120784] Re: Getting TraditionalForm to put in a multiplication sign.
- From: Murray Eisenberg <murray at math.umass.edu>
- Date: Wed, 10 Aug 2011 06:45:29 -0400 (EDT)
- Delivered-to: l-mathgroup@mail-archive0.wolfram.com
Center dot is not at all uncommon in strictly mathematical context, and for any kind of multiplication-like operation. I've been doing math for far longer than 40 years, and I never encountered the * for multiplication of ordinary numbers before I first began programming with FORTRAN (my first computer language after assembly) in 1959. The * is, however, and long has been, used in mathematical discourse to denote an arbitrary operation in a group or monoid or whatever -- precisely because it's NOT the usual multiplication sign for numbers. On 8/9/11 7:18 AM, DrMajorBob wrote: > I've seen all three multiplication signs for at least 40 years (center dot > rarely). Maybe your traditions are simply older than mine. > > What's really NOT very useful, in my opinion, is no sign at all. > > Bobby > > On Mon, 08 Aug 2011 03:20:47 -0500, Murray Eisenberg > <murray at math.umass.edu> wrote: > >> But * is not the traditional multiplication sign! It's computer geekese >> for multiplication. >> >> The traditional (explicit) multiplication sign is either a center dot or >> else a small x-shaped cross. >> >> On 8/7/11 6:15 AM, Frank K wrote: >>> For purposes of exporting Mathematica expressions to other software, >>> it would be useful to have a multiplication sign (*) in >>> TraditionalForm instead of a space. For example, x * y * (w + z) >>> instead of x y (w + z). Anybody know how to do this? >>> >> > > -- 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