3.3 Types of indeterminates

An algebraic object is recognized as an indeterminate when it can be a (so-called) variable in polynomials. An ordinary indeterminate is usually denoted by a string that start with a small alphabetical letter followed by an arbitrary number of alphabetical letters, digits or ‘_’. In addition to such ordinary indeterminates, there are other kinds of indeterminates in a wider sense in Asir. Such indeterminates in the wider sense have type polynomial, and further are classified into sub-types of the type indeterminate.

0

ordinary indeterminate
An object of this sub-type is denoted by a string that start with a small alphabetical letter followed by an arbitrary number of alphabetical letters, digits or ‘_’. This kind of indeterminates are most commonly used for variables of polynomials.

[0] [vtype(a),vtype(aA_12)];
[0,0]

1

undetermined coefficient
The function uc() creates an indeterminate which is denoted by a string that begins with ‘_’. Such an indeterminate cannot be directly input by its name. Other properties are the same as those of ordinary indeterminate. Therefore, it has a property that it cannot cause collision with the name of ordinary indeterminates input by the user. And this property is conveniently used to create undetermined coefficients dynamically by programs.

[1] U=uc();                 
_0
[2] vtype(U);
1

2

function form
A function call to a built-in function or to an user defined function is usually evaluated by Asir and retained in a proper internal form. Some expressions, however, will remain in the same form after evaluation. For example, sin(x) and cos(x+1) will remain as if they were not evaluated. These (unevaluated) forms are called ‘function forms’ and are treated as if they are indeterminates in a wider sense. Also, special forms such as @pi the ratio of circumference and diameter, and @e Napier’s number, will be treated as ‘function forms.’

[3] V=sin(x);         
sin(x)
[4] vtype(V);
2
[5] vars(V^2+V+1);
[sin(x)]

3

functor
A function call (or a function form) has a form fname(args). Here, fname alone is called a functor. There are several kinds of functors: built-in functor, user defined functor and functor for the elementary functions. A functor alone is treated as an indeterminate in a wider sense.

[6] vtype(sin);
3

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