very odd failure of Solve
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg131645] very odd failure of Solve
- From: Alan <alan.isaac at gmail.com>
- Date: Sun, 15 Sep 2013 07:08:07 -0400 (EDT)
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Setting an irrelevant parameter to 0 baffles Solve. Why? Thanks, Alan Isaac $Assumptions =. ClearAll[f1] f1[x_] := s*x^\[Alpha] - (a + b + c)*x Solve[f1[x] == 0, x] (* Solve works *) Solve[(f1[x] /. {b -> 0}) == 0, x] (* Solve fails *) (* adding these assumptions does not change things *) f1assume = (1 > s > 0 && k >= 0 && 1 > \[Alpha] > 0 && a >= 0 && b >= 0 && 1 > c > 0); Assuming[f1assume, Solve[f1[x] == 0, x]] (* Solve works *) Assuming[f1assume, Solve[(f1[x] /. {b -> 0}) == 0, x]] (* Solve fails *)