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# 13. Constants

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## 13.1 Functions and Variables for Constants

Constant: %e

  `%e` represents the base of the natural logarithm, also known as Euler's number. The numeric value of `%e` is the double-precision floating-point value 2.718281828459045d0.

  Categories: Constants

Constant: %i

  `%i` represents the imaginary unit, sqrt(- 1).

  Categories: Constants

Constant: false

  `false` represents the Boolean constant of the same name. Maxima implements `false` by the value `NIL` in Lisp.

  Categories: Constants

Constant: ind

  `ind` represents a bounded, indefinite result.

  See also `limit`.

  Example:

      (%i1) limit (sin(1/x), x, 0);
      (%o1)                          ind

  Categories: Constants

Constant: inf

  `inf` represents real positive infinity.

  Categories: Constants

Constant: infinity

  `infinity` represents complex infinity.

  Categories: Constants

Constant: minf

  `minf` represents real minus (i.e., negative) infinity.

  Categories: Constants

Constant: %phi

  `%phi` represents the so-called golden mean, (1 + sqrt(5))/2. The numeric value of `%phi` is the double-precision floating-point value 1.618033988749895d0.

  `fibtophi` expresses Fibonacci numbers `fib(n)` in terms of `%phi`.

  By default, Maxima does not know the algebraic properties of `%phi`. After evaluating `tellrat(%phi^2 - %phi - 1)` and `algebraic: true`, `ratsimp` can simplify some expressions containing `%phi`.

  Examples:

  `fibtophi` expresses Fibonacci numbers `fib(n)` in terms of `%phi`.

      (%i1) fibtophi (fib (n));
                                 n             n
                             %phi  - (1 - %phi)
      (%o1)                  -------------------
                                 2 %phi - 1
      (%i2) fib (n-1) + fib (n) - fib (n+1);
      (%o2)          - fib(n + 1) + fib(n) + fib(n - 1)
      (%i3) fibtophi (%);
                  n + 1             n + 1       n             n
              %phi      - (1 - %phi)        %phi  - (1 - %phi)
      (%o3) - --------------------------- + -------------------
                      2 %phi - 1                2 %phi - 1
                                                n - 1             n - 1
                                            %phi      - (1 - %phi)
                                          + ---------------------------
                                                    2 %phi - 1
      (%i4) ratsimp (%);
      (%o4)                           0

  By default, Maxima does not know the algebraic properties of `%phi`. After evaluating `tellrat (%phi^2 - %phi - 1)` and `algebraic: true`, `ratsimp` can simplify some expressions containing `%phi`.

      (%i1) e : expand ((%phi^2 - %phi - 1) * (A + 1));
                       2                      2
      (%o1)        %phi  A - %phi A - A + %phi  - %phi - 1
      (%i2) ratsimp (e);
                        2                     2
      (%o2)        (%phi  - %phi - 1) A + %phi  - %phi - 1
      (%i3) tellrat (%phi^2 - %phi - 1);
                                  2
      (%o3)                  [%phi  - %phi - 1]
      (%i4) algebraic : true;
      (%o4)                         true
      (%i5) ratsimp (e);
      (%o5)                           0

  Categories: Constants

Constant: %pi

  `%pi` represents the ratio of the perimeter of a circle to its diameter. The numeric value of `%pi` is the double-precision floating-point value 3.141592653589793d0.

  Categories: Constants

Constant: true

  `true` represents the Boolean constant of the same name. Maxima implements `true` by the value `T` in Lisp.

  Categories: Constants

Constant: und

  `und` represents an undefined result.

  See also `limit`.

  Example:

      (%i1) limit (1/x, x, 0);
      (%o1)                          und

  Categories: Constants

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This document was generated by Robert Dodier on August, 24 2008 using texi2html 1.76.