Unexpected behavior of Simplify
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg63229] Unexpected behavior of Simplify
- From: gleam at flashmail.com
- Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2005 04:19:26 -0500 (EST)
- Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com
Hello MathGroup.
What is the explanation for this behavior?
In[1]:=
\!\(ClearAll[a, b, c]\[IndentingNewLine]
\(expr = c\^4\ b\^2 + a\^4\ b\^2 + c\^2\ a\^2\ \((1 - 2\ b\^2)\);\)\
\[IndentingNewLine]
Simplify[expr]\[IndentingNewLine]
Simplify[expr /. {a -> b, b -> a}] /. {a -> b, b -> a}\)
Out[3]=
\!\(a\^4\ b\^2 + a\^2\ \((1 - 2\ b\^2)\)\ c\^2 + b\^2\ c\^4\)
Out[4]=
\!\(a\^2\ c\^2 + b\^2\ \((a\^2 - c\^2)\)\^2\)
The second application of the replacement is merely for clarity; the
unexpected behavior is present without it.
Paul