Hi there,
after following a dozen of wrong tracks (which required, among other things, producing particular versions of GMP, CLN and GiNaC and a patched version of valgrind to make sure we were not bitten by a memory access bug) I believe I have found the cause of the long standing bug we have in the system.
The problem is in GiNaC's numer_denom and a workaround is constituted by the improvement to
void Expr::numerator_denominator(Expr& x, Expr& y) const
I suggested last Friday. It turns out that the problem in GiNaC's numer_denom can be reproduced easily with ginsh. Here is a sample session where numer_denom is computed several times with the same expression (using the up-arrow history recall mechanism):
$ ./ginsh ginsh - GiNaC Interactive Shell (GiNaC V1.1.1) __, _______ Copyright (C) 1999-2003 Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, (__) * | Germany. This is free software with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY. ._) i N a C | You are welcome to redistribute it under certain conditions. <-------------' For details type `warranty;'.
Type ?? for a list of help topics.
numer_denom((-(4/79*I)*(-1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79))*d-(3/79*I)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79)+(3/79*I)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(-3/32-(3/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(3/32-(3/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)+(-(4/79*I)*(-1/32-(1/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(1/32-(1/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)+(4/79*I)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79))*c-3/4*(-(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^3+3/4*(-(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))-3/4*((1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(-1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))+3/4*((1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(-1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^3); {-1264*d,-1264}
numer_denom((-(4/79*I)*(-1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79))*d-(3/79*I)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79)+(3/79*I)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(-3/32-(3/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(3/32-(3/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)+(-(4/79*I)*(-1/32-(1/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(1/32-(1/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)+(4/79*I)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79))*c-3/4*(-(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^3+3/4*(-(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))-3/4*((1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(-1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))+3/4*((1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(-1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^3); {-1264*d,-1264}
numer_denom((-(4/79*I)*(-1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79))*d-(3/79*I)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79)+(3/79*I)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(-3/32-(3/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(3/32-(3/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)+(-(4/79*I)*(-1/32-(1/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(1/32-(1/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)+(4/79*I)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79))*c-3/4*(-(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^3+3/4*(-(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))-3/4*((1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(-1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))+3/4*((1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(-1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^3); {1264*d,1264}
numer_denom((-(4/79*I)*(-1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79))*d-(3/79*I)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79)+(3/79*I)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(-3/32-(3/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(3/32-(3/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)+(-(4/79*I)*(-1/32-(1/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(1/32-(1/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)+(4/79*I)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79))*c-3/4*(-(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^3+3/4*(-(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))-3/4*((1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(-1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))+3/4*((1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(-1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^3); {-1264*d,-1264}
numer_denom((-(4/79*I)*(-1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79))*d-(3/79*I)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79)+(3/79*I)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(-3/32-(3/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(3/32-(3/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)+(-(4/79*I)*(-1/32-(1/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(1/32-(1/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)+(4/79*I)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79))*c-3/4*(-(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^3+3/4*(-(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))-3/4*((1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(-1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))+3/4*((1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(-1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^3); {-1264*d,-1264}
numer_denom((-(4/79*I)*(-1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79))*d-(3/79*I)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79)+(3/79*I)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(-3/32-(3/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(3/32-(3/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)+(-(4/79*I)*(-1/32-(1/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(1/32-(1/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)+(4/79*I)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79))*c-3/4*(-(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^3+3/4*(-(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))-3/4*((1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(-1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))+3/4*((1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(-1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^3); {1264*d,1264}
numer_denom((-(4/79*I)*(-1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79))*d-(3/79*I)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79)+(3/79*I)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(-3/32-(3/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(3/32-(3/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)+(-(4/79*I)*(-1/32-(1/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(1/32-(1/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)+(4/79*I)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79))*c-3/4*(-(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^3+3/4*(-(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))-3/4*((1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(-1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))+3/4*((1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(-1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^3); {-1264*d,-1264}
numer_denom((-(4/79*I)*(-1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79))*d-(3/79*I)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79)+(3/79*I)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(-3/32-(3/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(3/32-(3/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)+(-(4/79*I)*(-1/32-(1/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(1/32-(1/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)+(4/79*I)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79))*c-3/4*(-(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^3+3/4*(-(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))-3/4*((1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(-1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))+3/4*((1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(-1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^3); {1264*d,1264}
numer_denom((-(4/79*I)*(-1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79))*d-(3/79*I)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79)+(3/79*I)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(-3/32-(3/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(3/32-(3/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)+(-(4/79*I)*(-1/32-(1/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(1/32-(1/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)+(4/79*I)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79))*c-3/4*(-(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^3+3/4*(-(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))-3/4*((1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(-1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))+3/4*((1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(-1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^3); {1264*d,1264}
numer_denom((-(4/79*I)*(-1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79))*d-(3/79*I)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79)+(3/79*I)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(-3/32-(3/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(3/32-(3/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)+(-(4/79*I)*(-1/32-(1/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(1/32-(1/32*I)*sqrt(79))*sqrt(79)+(4/79*I)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79)-(4/79*I)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2*sqrt(79))*c-3/4*(-(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^3+3/4*(-(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8-(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))-3/4*((1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(-1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))+3/4*((1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^2-(1/4*I)*sqrt(79)+(-1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79)))^(-1)*(1/8+(1/8*I)*sqrt(79))^3); {-1264*d,-1264}
Even disregarding the fact that the numerator and denominator returned are trivially not coprime, numer_denom does not behave like a mathematical function. With the same input, it produces the sequence of answers
{-1264*d,-1264} {-1264*d,-1264} {1264*d,1264} {-1264*d,-1264} {-1264*d,-1264} {1264*d,1264} {-1264*d,-1264} {1264*d,1264} {1264*d,1264} {-1264*d,-1264}
So, in the old implementation of Expr::numerator_denominator() (which was silly performance-wise, but perfectly legal nonetheless), in
x = Base::numer_denom().op(0); y = Base::numer_denom().op(1);
we could end up with a pair (x, y) not corresponding to the original expression. I guess this may well be considered a bug in GiNaC (even though, given our previous experiences, I wouldn't bet upon it). Ciao
Roberto