RE: Getting rid of annoying zeroes in algebraic expressions
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg15237] RE: [mg15228] Getting rid of annoying zeroes in algebraic expressions
- From: "Ersek, Ted R" <ErsekTR at navair.navy.mil>
- Date: Sun, 27 Dec 1998 03:58:30 -0500
- Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com
Sean Ross wrote, _________________ > >Let xx be the result of some algebraic manipulations >which, for some reason, mathematica thinks the real >zeroes ought to be kept and I think >they ought to be dropped. > >xx=0. + (a*f)/(0. + f) + (b*f)/(0. + f) + (c*f)/(0. + f) > >xx/.Plus[0.,q_]->q > >returns > >0. + (a*f)/(0. + f) + (b*f)/(0. + f) + (c*f)/(0. + f) > ..... I don't understand your question, and I don't know if I could answer it if I did understand it, but consider the following. In[1]:= xx=0. + (a*f)/(0. + f) + (b*f)/(0. + f) + (c*f)/(0. + f) Out[1]= 0. + (a*f)/(0. + f) + (b*f)/(0. + f) + (c*f)/(0. + f) In[2]:= q=5; In[3]:= xx/.Plus[0.,q_]->q Out[3]= 5 You don't get what you wanted for Out[3]. You do get what you want if you use (->) instead of (:>) as below. In[4]:= xx/.Plus[0.,q_]:>q Out[4]= (a*f)/(0. + f) + (b*f)/(0. + f) + (c*f)/(0. + f) I always say never use (lhs->rhs) when (lhs) has a named pattern that is needed for (rhs). Instead use (lhs:>rhs). Examples: This first example is OK because (x) isn't used on the right side of (->). (x_?Positive) -> 0 _____________ These can give you trouble: (a_Rational) -> Floor[a] foo[args__] -> Max[args] (x_?Positive) -> Round[x] Instead use: (a_Rational) :> Floor[a] foo[args__] :> Max[args] (x?Positive) :> Round[x] _____________ In a similar manner when (lhs) has a named pattern use (lhs:=rhs) instead of (lhs=rhs) use (lhs:^=rhs) instead of (lhs^=rhs) use (f/:lhs:=rhs) instead of (f/:lrs=rhs) _____________ Cheers, Ted Ersek