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Re: can't MATHEMATICA simplify simple expressions?

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg51516] Re: [mg51505] can't MATHEMATICA simplify simple expressions?
• From: DrBob <drbob at bigfoot.com>
• Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 22:20:20 -0400 (EDT)
• References: <200410200521.BAA08484@smc.vnet.net>
• Reply-to: drbob at bigfoot.com
• Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com

a^3 ISN'T the correct result.

one = (a^2)^(3/2);
two = FullSimplify[one];
three = a^3;
compare = {one, two, three}
compare /. a -> -I
compare /. a -> -1

{(a^2)^(3/2), (a^2)^(3/2), a^3}
{-I, -I, I}
{1, 1, -1}

See the difference?

Bobby

On Wed, 20 Oct 2004 01:21:32 -0400 (EDT), Cole Turner <REMOVEcole.tuner at liwest.at> wrote:

> if I enter:
>
> FullSimplify [ (a^2)^(3/2) ]
>
> (in correct MATHEMATICA syntax, the program does not yield the correct
> result, a^3 ...
>
> why is that?
>
> thanks!



-- 
DrBob at bigfoot.com
www.eclecticdreams.net

• References:
  • can't MATHEMATICA simplify simple expressions?
    • From: Cole Turner <REMOVEcole.tuner@liwest.at>