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Simplifying polynomial and rounding problems

  • To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
  • Subject: [mg82801] Simplifying polynomial and rounding problems
  • From: "Isaac Martinez G." <isaac.martinez at sbcglobal.net>
  • Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2007 06:14:15 -0500 (EST)

I am having problems with Mathematica precision/accuracy (or whatever you call it)
I have the following expression
A1=1.0000000000000002-0.6721560269293043s^2 - 0.32784397307069685s^4
Now when I factorize:
There are a couple of (-1+s)(1+s) factors or something very close to 1. Like 0.999999999999999997+s
I want to elliminate those factors but due to the fact that it is not really 1, but 0.999999999999999997 Mathematica does not always cancel those factors neither with A1/((-1.+s)(1.+s)) nor A1/((-1+s)(1+s)).
How can I avoid the problem of 1 versus 0.999999999999999997
I am doing directional coupler design and I do need to elliminate some factors from an ABCD matrix where 5 to 6 decimal places is just fine in the last step.
I have tried
Factor[]
Cancel[]
FactorList[]
but I always have this problem and it screws up my program.
Sorry, I am  new to Mathematica

I am new to Mathematica.....


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