simplifying expressions
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg20172] simplifying expressions
- From: "Richard I. Pelletier" <bitbucket at home.com>
- Date: Sun, 3 Oct 1999 21:07:39 -0400
- Organization: @Home Network
- Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com
I'm sure this is an elementary question, and I apologize for that. I'm trying to learn Mathematica (3.0) by working my way thru a differential geometry text which uses it. I have worked out the curvature in two ways, for the curve (t^2,t^3,0). The answer is 6t^2 / speed^3, where speed = (4t^2 + 9t^4)^.5 . Unfortunately, one of the Mathematica answers has real numbers and the other has integers, and Mathematica doesn't get zero when I subtract one from the other. To be more specific, the two numerators are 6. t^2. and 6 t^2, and the denominators are 1.5 and 3/2 How do I find out what's going on? Vale, Rip -- Multiplication is not commutative before breakfast. Richard I. Pelletier NB eddress: r i p 1 [at] h o m e [dot] c o m