On 1/25/11 11:17 AM, kcrisman wrote:
If f is a function explicitly of one variable (e.g., f(x)=x^3+1), then
it makes sense to use this variable as a default for differentiation or
integration. However, if we are dealing with just a symbolic expression
(e.g., f=x^3+1), then a default makes less sense to me.
Correct, that was the rationale. I disagree, if there is only one
variable in the expression.
(to recap discussion from before for those that weren't on the list at
that time...)
I agree with Robert on this one. If you have symbolic expressions:
var('x,y')
a=x+y
b=-y
then it seems you would have integrate(a+b) behave differently than
integrate(a). That's why it makes less sense to me; to avoid confusion,
the user should specify intent somewhere. In the f(x)=a+b case, the
user is specifying that a+b is only a function of x, so the integral can
use a default variable without confusion.
IIRC, previous conversations about this centered on the symbolic
expression case, not the explicit one-variable function case. I might
be remembering incorrectly, though.
No, I think you're right, but the current behavior is the same in both
cases. Also, note that the deprecation on integrals ignores this
distinction - again, wrongly, in my view.
If the deprecation on integrals ignores the distinction, then maybe a
ticket could be filed which deprecates part of the deprecation :).
Jason
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