-For functions that have a branch cut in the complex plane GiNaC follows
-the conventions for C++ as defined in the ANSI standard as far as
-possible. In particular: the natural logarithm (@code{log}) and the
-square root (@code{sqrt}) both have their branch cuts running along the
-negative real axis where the points on the axis itself belong to the
-upper part (i.e. continuous with quadrant II). The inverse
-trigonometric and hyperbolic functions are not defined for complex
-arguments by the C++ standard, however. In GiNaC we follow the
-conventions used by CLN, which in turn follow the carefully designed
-definitions in the Common Lisp standard. It should be noted that this
-convention is identical to the one used by the C99 standard and by most
-serious CAS. It is to be expected that future revisions of the C++
-standard incorporate these functions in the complex domain in a manner
-compatible with C99.
+For functions that have a branch cut in the complex plane, GiNaC
+follows the conventions of C/C++ for systems that do not support a
+signed zero. In particular: the natural logarithm (@code{log}) and
+the square root (@code{sqrt}) both have their branch cuts running
+along the negative real axis. The @code{asin}, @code{acos}, and
+@code{atanh} functions all have two branch cuts starting at +/-1 and
+running away towards infinity along the real axis. The @code{atan} and
+@code{asinh} functions have two branch cuts starting at +/-i and
+running away towards infinity along the imaginary axis. The
+@code{acosh} function has one branch cut starting at +1 and running
+towards -infinity. These functions are continuous as the branch cut
+is approached coming around the finite endpoint of the cut in a
+counter clockwise direction.
+
+@c
+@subsection Expanding functions
+@cindex expand trancedent functions
+@cindex @code{expand_options::expand_transcendental}
+@cindex @code{expand_options::expand_function_args}
+GiNaC knows several expansion laws for trancedent functions, e.g.
+@tex
+$e^{a+b}=e^a e^b$,
+$|zw|=|z|\cdot |w|$
+@end tex
+@ifnottex
+@command{exp(a+b)=exp(a) exp(b), |zw|=|z| |w|}
+@end ifnottex
+or
+@tex
+$\log(c*d)=\log(c)+\log(d)$,
+@end tex
+@ifnottex
+@command{log(cd)=log(c)+log(d)}
+@end ifnottex
+(for positive
+@tex
+$c,\ d$
+@end tex
+@ifnottex
+@command{c, d}
+@end ifnottex
+). In order to use these rules you need to call @code{expand()} method
+with the option @code{expand_options::expand_transcendental}. Another
+relevant option is @code{expand_options::expand_function_args}. Their
+usage and interaction can be seen from the following example:
+@example
+@{
+ symbol x("x"), y("y");
+ ex e=exp(pow(x+y,2));
+ cout << e.expand() << endl;
+ // -> exp((x+y)^2)
+ cout << e.expand(expand_options::expand_transcendental) << endl;
+ // -> exp((x+y)^2)
+ cout << e.expand(expand_options::expand_function_args) << endl;
+ // -> exp(2*x*y+x^2+y^2)
+ cout << e.expand(expand_options::expand_function_args
+ | expand_options::expand_transcendental) << endl;
+ // -> exp(y^2)*exp(2*x*y)*exp(x^2)
+@}
+@end example
+If both flags are set (as in the last call), then GiNaC tries to get
+the maximal expansion. For example, for the exponent GiNaC firstly expands
+the argument and then the function. For the logarithm and absolute value,
+GiNaC uses the opposite order: firstly expands the function and then its
+argument. Of course, a user can fine-tune this behaviour by sequential
+calls of several @code{expand()} methods with desired flags.