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If I try to define boxes for Power[x,-1] like this,

MakeBoxes[Power[x, -1], TraditionalForm] := "matched";

it works as long as the coefficient is 1:

1/x // TraditionalForm

$\text{matched}$

But, for other coefficients it doesn't work, for example:

2/x // TraditionalForm

$\frac{2}{x}$

But why? After all, FullForm[2/x] returns Times[2,Power[x,-1]], which does contain Power[x,-1] for which the MakeBoxes definition was given. But why doesn't it work?

What is the proper way to define boxes for such expressions?

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  • $\begingroup$ For TraditionalForm[2/x], I expected "$2\,\text{matched}$" as the output. $\endgroup$ – QuantumDot Sep 3 '16 at 1:37
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I believe the existing rules for Times take precedence. (i.e. act first.)

Perhaps a derivative of this can work for you:

MakeBoxes[x_ /; ! FreeQ[Unevaluated@x, Power], TraditionalForm] := 
  ToBoxes[Unevaluated[x] /. _Power -> "matched"];

Responding to your entirely valid performance concern please test these for comparison:

MakeBoxes[x_Times /; ! FreeQ[Unevaluated@x, Power], TraditionalForm] := 
  ToBoxes[Unevaluated[x] /. _Power -> "matched"];

Or:

MakeBoxes[a___ * x_Power * b___, TraditionalForm] := MakeBoxes[a * "matched" * b]
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  • $\begingroup$ Thanks. But your suggestion looks grotesquely inefficient. Would you know how to get it to work without using a Conditional on a "blanket" pattern? $\endgroup$ – QuantumDot Sep 3 '16 at 11:21
  • $\begingroup$ @QuantumDot please see the update. $\endgroup$ – Mr.Wizard Sep 3 '16 at 11:54
  • $\begingroup$ Thanks. Since Attributes[Times] = {Orderless, (*...*)}, you could simplify the lhs of your last example to MakeBoxes[a___ * x_Power, TraditionalForm] := (*...*), no? $\endgroup$ – QuantumDot Sep 4 '16 at 23:05
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Inspired by Mr. Wizard's answers, here is another possibility:

MakeBoxes[c_. x_Power, TraditionalForm] := MakeBoxes[c "matched"]
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  • $\begingroup$ Very nice addition. :-) $\endgroup$ – Mr.Wizard Sep 5 '16 at 1:29

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