[Maxima] hipow gives unexpected answer

[Richard Fateman]

Richard Fateman wrote:
> hipow( x^m*(x^2+a^2)^k,x)
>
> gives max(2,m),  which probably is wrong,  I think max(2*k+m,  m) might 
> be right, assuming
>  k could be either positive or negative.
>
> or maybe a punt to a noun form?
>
> RJF
>
>
>   
Actually, reading the documentation for hipow suggests that the behavior 
is documented, (but perhaps
unfortunate in its specification...)
RJF