Hi - You can do this easily by putting statements such as
logexpand:super;
into a text file (e.g., blah.mc) and then typing (when you first start
Maxima):
batch("blah.mc")$
I'm sure that there are other (better) ways of doing this too. You could
invoke this at any time during a session.
I'm not saying that these problems are "beyond" computer algebra in any
way! All I am saying is that is that you may not necessarily be able to
solve some equation with just one command; the idea is to manipulate it into
a more suitable form (e.g., using expand or factor) and to then apply solve.
You have to think in a slightly different way when approaching a problem
with computer algebra.
Incidentally, I have used Maple for a number of years and there are many
situations in which I find it frustrating to use.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Daniel Lemire [SMTP:lemire at ondelette]
> Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2001 2:46 PM
> To: David Holmgren; maxima@www.ma.utexas.edu
> Subject: Re: [Maxima] Newbie: problem solving basic equations
>
>
> One question remain: can I write some configuration file such that these
> will be turned on by default whenever I use Maxima!!! I understand that
> computationally expensive options might be turned off by default. Then I
> want the opposite. I want that the next time I'll enter Maxima, all the
> "good" options be turned on so I can enjoy the full power of Maxima (as
> I see it). Is there a way to setup a configuration file? Or else, what
> is the least inconvenient way to go about it?
>
> I've used Mathematica and Maple for years and years now. I know how they
> work. I know what to expect in terms of limitations. The problems I gave
> were solved by Maple and Mathematica. Don't tell me it is beyond
> computer algebra. That's just not true. If it were, people wouldn't use
> compute algebra!
>
> This being said, I'm starting to see that we can reduce the limitations
> that Maxima seem to have by turning on many switches. I only need now to
> switch these one automatically (or at least a good bunch of them).
>
>
> > Hi - I intended to write logexpand:super , which does solve the problem.
> > Generally speaking, with most computer algebra systems you have to give
> the
> > program some assistance at some stage in the calculation. I think that
> this
> > is the point that Dr. Fateman was trying to get across; you have to be
> > willing to use things like expand and factor.
>
>
>
> --
> Daniel Lemire, Ph.D.
>
> http://www.ondelette.com/
>