Re: Are two expressions equal?
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg5095] Re: [mg5058] Are two expressions equal?
- From: Allan Hayes <hay at haystack.demon.co.uk>
- Date: Wed, 30 Oct 1996 22:03:43 -0500
- Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com
jeremy_gorman at smtp.svl.trw.com (Jeremy Gorman) >Subject: [mg5058] Are two expressions equal? writes >How can I check to see if these expressions are equal? Jeremy, Instead of looking at q1 == q2 you might try to try and reduce q1 - q2 say by Simplify[q1-q2] or Expand[q1-q2, Trig -> True] (*Trig->True for Trig functions*) Together[q1-q2, Trig -> True] and combinations of these. If you get 0 you have proved equality. If you can find numerical values for the variables and constants that definitely give a non-zero value then you will have proved inequality. And if a range of random assignments of numerical values all give 0 for q1-q2 it is probable that q1=q2. Allan Hayes hay at haystack.demon.co.uk http://www.haystack.demon.co.uk/