[Date Index] [Thread Index] [Author Index]

How to NOT convert Sin[x]/Cos[x] to Tan[x] ?

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg44784] How to NOT convert Sin[x]/Cos[x] to Tan[x] ?
• From: AES/newspost <siegman at stanford.edu>
• Date: Thu, 27 Nov 2003 11:38:09 -0500 (EST)
• Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com

The Mathematica Book says "Mathematica automatically uses functions like 
Tan whenever it can" and shows as an example that Sin[x]^2/Cos[x] is 
converted to  Sin[x] Tan[x] .

Any simple way to stop this in displaying the output of a symbolic 
calculation?  

The obvious attempt of applying /.Tan[x]->Sin[x]/Cos[x] doesn't seem to 
do what's wanted.

[And out of curiousity, WHY does it do this?  That is, why is Tan 
apparently given a higher priority than Cos?]