factor is supposed to adjoin %i = sqrt(-1) to the field
over which things are factored.
You could factor via a^2-5, and then do
subst(sqrt(5),a,%);
Except for rather trivial cases, you are not
likely to find "small" names for algebraic roots.
Think about what you would want the program to
do if you adjoined a root of an irreducible degree 5
polynomial.
RJF
Poul Riis wrote:
>When I type
>factor(x^2-5, a^2-5);
>I just get
>(x - a) (x + a)
>
>What should I type to get the expected (x - sqrt(5))(x + sqrt(5))?
>
>What is the difference between factor and gfactor?
>
>Yours,
>Poul Riis
>Denmark
>
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