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Re: Radicals simplify

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg106399] Re: Radicals simplify
• From: "francix" <fracix at hotmail.com>
• Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2010 18:52:01 -0500 (EST)
• References: <hic37h$5ef$1@smc.vnet.net> <hieujs$mtu$1@smc.vnet.net>

"dh" <dh at metrohm.com> ha scritto nel messaggio 
news:hieujs$mtu$1 at smc.vnet.net...
>
>
> Hi,
>
> why do you think x(x^2 y^3)^(1/4) is simpler than (x^6 y^3)^(1/4)?
>
> Mathematica needs some criterion for this decision. The default criterion is the
>
> "LeafCount[..]". If that does not suit you, you must define another
>
> criterion.
>
> Daniel

Thank you all for your answer.

I understand your explanations, but I have the impression
that in this case Mathematica uses numbers in a different
way from letters.

If I do
Simplify[2 Sqrt[2] + 4 Sqrt[2]]  I get

6 Sqrt[2]

or

Simplify[5 Sqrt[50] + 6 Sqrt[18]]  I get

43 Sqrt[2]

Instead if I do

Simplify[5 x Sqrt[x] + 6 x Sqrt[x], x >= 0] or

Simplify[5 Sqrt[x^3] + 6 x Sqrt[x], x >= 0] I get

11 x^(3/2)  instead of  11xSqrt[x]

As you know the last one is the result

normally found in Algebra books.

So, there is no solution?

• Follow-Ups:
  • Re: Re: Radicals simplify
    • From: Andrzej Kozlowski <akoz@mimuw.edu.pl>