Re: Can someone explain this?
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg19157] Re: Can someone explain this?
- From: Jens-Peer Kuska <kuska at informatik.uni-leipzig.de>
- Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1999 23:58:59 -0400
- Organization: Universitaet Leipzig
- References: <7obcl4$3te@smc.vnet.net>
- Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com
Benjamin Lotto wrote:
>
> Using Mathematica 3.0.1.1x on a PowerMac 9600/233 under system 8.5.1, I get the
> following. No matter what variation I try, I can't get Mathematica to replace
> Tan[x] with Sin[x]/Cos[x]. (Ultimately I'd like to do this with more
> complicated expressions.)
Hi Benjamin,
look at the trace of the last replacement
{{HoldForm[Tan[z_] :> Sin[z]/Cos[z]], HoldForm[Tan[z_] :>
Sin[z]/Cos[z]]},
HoldForm[Tan[x] /. Tan[z_] :> Sin[z]/Cos[z]], HoldForm[Sin[x]/Cos[x]],
{HoldForm[Cos[x]^(-1)], HoldForm[Sec[x]]},HoldForm[Sin[x]*Sec[x]],
HoldForm[Sec[x]*Sin[x]],
HoldForm[Tan[x]]}
You see whats going on ?
The replacement is done (as expected) but the future evaluation gives
Tan[x] again because Mathematica don't like Sin[x]/Cos[x] for Tan[]
at all.
Th only way to prevent the evaluation here is to wrap a Hold[] around
your expression
Hold[Tan[x]]/.Tan[z_]:>Sin[z]/Cos[z]
the next ReleaseHold[] will cause the simplification to Tan[] again.
Hope that helps
Jens