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Re: symbolic evaluation

  • To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
  • Subject: [mg86982] Re: symbolic evaluation
  • From: Jean-Marc Gulliet <jeanmarc.gulliet at gmail.com>
  • Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 03:14:37 -0500 (EST)
  • Organization: The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
  • References: <fsg6n1$j55$1@smc.vnet.net>

news.east.cox.net wrote:

> I'm using Mathematica 5.1 I want to evaluate a simple equation 
> symbolically, such as 7x = 14. of course the answer should be x = 14/7. 
> I can't find a clear example on how to do this with a simple equation. 

I am not sure whether the issue is about keeping the rational number 
14/7 in its unsimplified form (Mathematica will simplify it 
automatically to two). If this is the case, you could use HoldForm (at 
least for simple expression). For instance,

In[1]:= Reduce[7 x == HoldForm@14]

Out[1]=
      14
x == --
      7

Otherwise, you can just use Reduce, Solve, or even Simplify as in the 
following examples.


In[2]:= Reduce[7 x == 14]

Out[2]= x == 2

In[3]:= Solve[7 x == 14]

Out[3]= {{x -> 2}}

In[4]:= Simplify[7 x == 14]

Out[4]= x == 2


Regards,
-- 
Jean-Marc


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