If python2.3 or 2.4 get configured with --prefix, the
math libraries (and other binary libraries) are check
for in the wrong location. Specifically, the prefix
will be will be used twice, giving the wrong path for
the binary object.

How to reproduce:

Configure python with 

./configure --prefix=/foo ;or whatever,
make
make install

This will place libraries etc. correctly in
/foo/lib/python2.4.

Afterwards, setup pythonpath accordingly

export
PYTHONPATH="/foo/lib/python2.4:/foo/lib/python2.4/site-packages"

If you start then python, try

>> import math

The result will be that pyhon will not find the math
module.

Debugging with strace reveals that python checks for binary
libraries now in

/foo/lib/python2.4/lib/python2.4

instead of

/foo/lib/python2.4

Setting a softlink in the lib directory works around this
and brings python back to working.