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Re: Simplifying algebraic expressions

  • To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
  • Subject: [mg66898] Re: [mg66839] Simplifying algebraic expressions
  • From: "Carl K. Woll" <carlw at wolfram.com>
  • Date: Sat, 3 Jun 2006 03:25:20 -0400 (EDT)
  • References: <200606011054.GAA20566@smc.vnet.net>
  • Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com

Amitabha Roy wrote:
> Hello:
> 
> I would like Mathematica to be able to take an expression, say,
> 
> (-1)^{2 x  + 3 y} and be able to simplify to (-1)^y.
> 
> Is there a way one can do this ?
> 
> Thanks

I presume you want this simplification to occur assuming x and y are 
integers, as the simplification is not valid when either x or y are not 
integers. For example, with x==0 and y==.1, we have (-1)^(3*.1) != 
(-1)^.1. Try:

Simplify[ (-1)^(2 x  + 3 y), Element[{x,y},Integers] ]

     y
(-1)

(you could also use Refine with the same syntax instead of Simplify)

Carl Woll
Wolfram Research


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