Services & ResourcesWolfram ForumsMathGroup Archive

[Date Index] [Thread Index] [Author Index]

Using Coefficient on an equation

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg95433] Using Coefficient on an equation
• From: carlos at colorado.edu
• Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 05:33:11 -0500 (EST)

If f=a*x^2+b*x+c, Coefficient[f,x^2] obviously returns a.
But if f=a*x^2+b*x+c==0, it returns 0.

The problem arose using the Calculus`VariationalMethods` package.
It (unfortunately) returns the Euler-Lagrange equations as
such, so I have to remove the useless ==0 appendage for
Coefficient to work properly. Is there a simple direct way out?

• Follow-Ups:
  • Re: Using Coefficient on an equation
    • From: "Scot T. Martin" <smartin@deas.harvard.edu>
  • Re: Using Coefficient on an equation
    • From: DrMajorBob <btreat1@austin.rr.com>