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Re: Simplify

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg32015] Re: Simplify
• From: Erk Jensen <Erk.Jensen at cern.ch>
• Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2001 04:28:47 -0500 (EST)
• References: <9vmrje$hh7$1@smc.vnet.net>
• Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com

Matthias.Bode at oppenheim.de wrote:
> 
> Dear Colleagues,
> 
> why should I not expect MATHEMATICA to (Full)Simplify
> 
> (a^b)^(1/b) or a^b^(1/b) to a?
> 
> Best regards,
> 
> Matthias Bode
> Sal. Oppenheim jr. & Cie. KGaA
> Koenigsberger Strasse 29
> D-60487 Frankfurt am Main
> GERMANY
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> E-mail: matthias.bode at oppenheim.de
> Internet: http://www.oppenheim.de

Because it is not generally true. 

E.g. if b=3, (a^3)^(1/3) has three correct answers, namely 
{a, a Exp[I (2 \[Pi])/3], a Exp[I (4 \[Pi])/3]}

Your second notation is probably not what you wanted, since I would read that
a^(b^(1/b)) ...

Ciao
   -erk-