Re: Symbolic computation issues
- From: hrubin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Herman Rubin)
- Date: 23 Feb 2008 17:08:33 -0500
In article <pan.2008.02.19.19.51.26@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
K. Jennings <kjennings@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Are all the fundamental issues having to do with symbolic
computation already solved? I am asking because all systems (commercial
ones in particular) seem to be for the most part doing GUI and eye candy
development.
There is too much of that. The commercial systems try too
hard to come up with fancy "improvements" for the user who
can do little symbolic computation, and often in such a
way that the one who understands what is going on finds
that they may make getting out the simple things harder.
Let the user tell the computer what is wanted. in such a
way that a calculus student who can follow orders and
not make mistakes can carry it out. Then add on to
such methods.
But as for handling the fundamental problems, they have
not all been handled. I believe that neither of the
two major ones, and I believe that Maple and Matheamtica
are those, will use integration by parts in the evaluation
of a definite integral in situations where a mathematician
can see it is the obvious thing to do. Maple has "student",
which at least allow one to make suggestions, or to some
extent break up the problem, but it is clumsy.
It seems that just about all computer packages have devices
to make things "easy", but which have the opposite effect
for someone who understands what is to be done and what
computers can do.
Also, it is surprising how many really stupid mistakes
are made by computer packages. Many of them have been
posted here.
So as to your question, the answer is NO!
--
This address is for information only. I do not claim that these views
are those of the Statistics Department or of Purdue University.
Herman Rubin, Department of Statistics, Purdue University
hrubin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Phone: (765)494-6054 FAX: (765)494-0558
.
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