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Re: factoring

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg115101] Re: factoring
• From: George Woodrow III <georgevw3 at mac.com>
• Date: Thu, 30 Dec 2010 19:06:23 -0500 (EST)

In[1]:= Factor[x y - x z + y^2 - y z]

Out[1]= (x + y) (y - z)


You need to put a space between x and y (or a times sign). xy is the variable with the name 'xy', and not x * y.

george


On Dec 30, 2010, at 4:09 AM, r_poetic wrote:

> Hello,
> an easy question:
> 
> why does Factor[xy-xz+y^2-yz] fail to return (x+y)(y-z), and what
> command would do that?
> 
> Thanks!
> 
>