Naming Conventions

Mathematical functions in the Wolfram Language are given names according to definite rules. As with most Wolfram Language functions, the names are usually complete English words, fully spelled out. For a few very common functions, the Wolfram Language uses the traditional abbreviations. Thus the modulo function, for example, is (RefLink[Mod, paclet:ref/Mod]), not Modulo.

Mathematical functions that are usually referred to by a person's name have names in the Wolfram Language of the form PersonSymbol. Thus, for example, the Legendre polynomials (Subscript[P, n])(x) are denoted (RefLink[LegendreP, paclet:ref/LegendreP])[n,x]. Although this convention does lead to longer function names, it avoids any ambiguity or confusion.

When the standard notation for a mathematical function involves both subscripts and superscripts, the subscripts are given before the superscripts in the Wolfram Language form. Thus, for example, the associated Legendre polynomials (Subscript[P, n]^m)(x) are denoted (RefLink[LegendreP, paclet:ref/LegendreP])[n,m,x].