[mg89210] Re: [mg89186] simplify polynomial

[Andrzej Kozlowski <akoz at mimuw.edu.pl>]

On 28 May 2008, at 17:47, vmarian wrote:

> I want to simplify a polynomial by factorizing the most of the  
> terms as possible(that means a product of terms plus a small other
> number of terms). I didn't find how to do such incomplete 
> factorization. Is there a command to do it. Factor works only for 
> complete factorizations.
>
> \!\(Simplify[2 - =CE=BB - =CE=BB\^2 - 3\ hmb\ \((\(-2\) + =CE=BB +
>      =CE=BB\^2)\) + hmb\^3\ \((5 - 12\ =CE=BB + 4\ =CE=BB\^2)\) + hmb\^2\ \((6 - 
> 3\ =CE=BB -
>      8\ =CE=BB\^2 + 2\ =CE=BB\^3)\)]\)
>
> Thank you.
>

You have to define uniquely the "factorization" that want. There is 
nothing in what you write that suggests any kind of unique definition. 
And if you can't define it in a unique way, you should at least give 
some criterion which determines what makes a good "factorization" and 
what does not. For example:
(x - 1)*(x - 2) - 1  is always equal to (x - 4)* (x + 1) + 5. So which 
of these is a better "incomplete factorization" and why? Unless you 
can provide such information your question does not make sense.

Andrzej Kozlowski