[Maxima] integrate(sin(x)*cos(x),x)

[Richard Fateman]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: maxima-bounces at math.utexas.edu 
> [mailto:maxima-bounces at math.utexas.edu] On Behalf Of Doug Stewart

> It would be nice if this one would return sin^2(x)/2 instead 
> of -cos^(x)/2.

There are many "answers in the back of the book"  that are fairly
sophisticated in terms of simplification. It is what I think of as
"typesetter simplifications" in which the author, or an author of a previous
text, figured out how to save a few characters.

Would you prefer integrate(sin(x)*cos(x),x)   to get a different answer from
integrate(cos(x)*sin(x),x)?

Some things are not worth doing. Your suggestion about what is "nice" is, in
my estimation, way down on the list of things to improve.

RJF