RECLAIM _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ operator

REDUCE's memory is in a storage structure called a heap. As REDUCE statements execute, chunks of memory are used up. When these chunks are no longer needed, they remain idle. When the memory is almost full, the system executes a garbage collection, reclaiming space that is no longer needed, and putting all the free space at one end. Depending on the size of the image REDUCE is using, garbage collection needs to be done more or less often. A larger image means fewer but longer garbage collections. Regardless of memory size, if you ask REDUCE to do something ridiculous, like factorial(2000), it may garbage collect many times.