Re: automatic coefficient / summand extraction
- To: mathgroup at yoda.physics.unc.edu
 - Subject: Re: automatic coefficient / summand extraction
 - From: Sergio.Rescia.Phone:516-282-4232.FAX:516-282-5773 at shark.inst.bnl.gov
 - Date: Thu, 21 Oct 93 15:00:37 EDT
 
Dear Axel,
Here is one way.
First look at the "internal" form of your expression:
In[35]:= expr=Expand[5 a +  3 b + (2 c + 5 a) / 7]
         40 a         2 c
Out[35]= ---- + 3 b + ---
          7            7
Note terms are in alphabetical order.
In[36]:= FullForm[expr]
Out[36]//FullForm= 
 
>   Plus[Times[Rational[40, 7], a], Times[3, b], Times[Rational[2, 7], c]]
In[37]:= Length[expr]
Out[37]= 3
It is now clear that one simple way to have your coefficient list is:
In[38]:= Table[expr[[i,1]],{i,1,Length[expr]}]
          40     2
Out[38]= {--, 3, -}
          7      7
or better:
In[39]:= Table[{expr[[i,2]],expr[[i,1]]},{i,1,Length[expr]}]
              40               2
Out[39]= {{a, --}, {b, 3}, {c, -}}
              7                7
Regards,
Sergio
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