solving eq.
- To: mathgroup at yoda.physics.unc.edu (mathgroup notes)
- Subject: solving eq.
- From: Zdravko Balorda <zdravc at robo.fer.yu>
- Date: Fri, 17 Jan 92 8:48:10 MET
Hi! Lately, I have been working with solving systems of transcendental equations and I found it quite difficult as perhaps one would expect it to be. I wonder how can i help Mathematica in solving such problems. I found it very difficult even to simply rearrange an equation, like to collect together Sqrt[...] terms, Sin[x...] terms etc. Let me give an example: a*Sin[x] + b*Cos[x] == c This equation has a simple solution if one transformes it into quadratic algebraic form substituting sines and cosines with S, Sqrt[1-S^2], respectively. On the other hand things like Collect[] works on polynomials only. And what about moving things from one side of an equation to another side. The following works just fine: In[1]:= f[x]*a + f[x]*x==g[x] Out[1]= a f[x] + x f[x] == g[x] In[2]:= Solve[%,f[x]] g[x] Out[2]= {{f[x] -> -----}} a + x In[3]:= while adding 10 to both sides and then solving it produces: In[3]:= f[x]*a + f[x]*x==g[x] Out[3]= a f[x] + x f[x] == g[x] In[4]:= % + 10 Out[4]= 10 + (a f[x] + x f[x] == g[x]) In[5]:= Solve[%,f[x]] Solve::eq: 10 + (a f[x] + x f[x] == g[x]) is not an equation or system of equations. Out[5]= Solve[10 + (a f[x] + x f[x] == g[x]), f[x]] Are there any tricks known to more experienced Mathematica users, or perhaps this is not really a problem at all? Regards, Zdravko Balorda, zdravc at robo.fer.yu