Re: Simplifying an expression for computational, not aesthetic
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg98443] Re: Simplifying an expression for computational, not aesthetic
- From: "Nasser Abbasi" <nma at 12000.org>
- Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2009 04:51:02 -0400 (EDT)
- References: <grkgst$76u$1@smc.vnet.net>
- Reply-to: "Nasser Abbasi" <nma at 12000.org>
"negatron" <lokieffect at gmail.com> wrote in message news:grkgst$76u$1 at smc.vnet.net... > My small grudge is that Simplify[x^2/y^2] does not result in (x/y)^2 > even though Mathematica is evidently aware the two are equivalent -- > An input of (x/y)^2 results in an output of x^2/y^2. This seems to be > because of the brackets, which mathematica prefers to avoid. > > My question is, is there a way to specify that Simplify produces the > SIMPLEST expression it has found, not just the simplest which can most > conveniently be expressed. There's nothing in the documentation as far > as I can tell. > > Thanks. > The problem is what is the definition of SIMPLEST? If you are interested in simplification based on "length" of expression, may be you can use ComplexityFunction -> LeafCount Simplify[theExpression, ComplexityFunction -> LeafCount] But for the example at hand, using r=HoldForm[(x/y)^2] Can keep it in the form you want. But then to use "r" later on, one must use ReleaseHold. --Nasser