MathGroup Archive 1999

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REDUCE vs. a symoblic function

  • To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
  • Subject: [mg18242] REDUCE vs. a symoblic function
  • From: Blimbaum Jerry DLPC <BlimbaumJE at ncsc.navy.mil>
  • Date: Thu, 24 Jun 1999 14:24:22 -0400
  • Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com

	When I type in:

	Reduce[a*q - a ==0,a}

	OR

	Reduce[a*q - a ==0,q]

	I get the result:    a == 0   OR q == 1

	However, if I type in:

	Reduce[ F[a*q] - F[a] == 0,a]    I just get back 	Reduce[
F[a*q] - F[a] == 0,a]

	and if I type in:

	Reduce[ F[a*q] - F[a] == 0,q]   I get back

	a NOT == 0 && q == 1

	Why the difference in these outcomes?        These questions were,
in part, motivated by the statement "As well as treating variables like x
symbolically, you can also treat functions , like f[x], in Mathematica
symbolically.....without specifying any explicit form for the function
f[x]."  Secondly, assuming that Mathematica doesnt get the result rather
then I didnt use the correct commands to get them, and even if you can
explain why it didnt, should it have gotten the same result in all 4 cases?


	Thanks.   Jerry Blimbaum   NSWC   Panama City, Fl


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