[Maxima] Bug 607079

[Raymond Toy (RT/EUS)]

Rupert Swarbrick wrote:
> I don't understand the idiom such as at the top of solve where the prog
> defines local variables $keepfloat and $ratfac. These variables aren't
> used again in this function. Does this stop changes in a called function
> propagating globally or something?

prog binds those variables to nil by default.  And since $keepfloat and 
$ratfac are special variables, they're bound to nil for all the 
functions called by solve.

Ray