hi joel
my answer is that cd ..../share/algebra/solver,then start maxima.
(%i1) EquationP(e):=if part(e,0)= "=" then true else false$
(%i2) load("misc.mac")$
(%i3) load("solver.mac")$
(%i4) display2d:false$
(%i5) batch("/home/furuya/expansion.mac");
(B........
(%i14) SOLVER([EXPANSION],[M2])
(%o14) [[[1.552405053761575E-12*(644161778253*ATAN((M2^2-1)^0.5)
-1577867665066
*ATAN(0.40824829046386*(M2^2-1)^0.5)
+559436248710)]]]
last line in your expansion.mac
shoud be converted to solver([expansion],[m2]).
To run Solver package we need %i1,%i2,%i3 .
good luck!
gosei furuya
> I've attached a small batch file containing an equation I need to solve
> (for school, but computers recommended, help OK, etc.).
>
> It seems that solve() should be able to handle it, but apparently this
> isn't the case. If I set numer: false, I get a long answer, but I can't
> seem to get one in numeric form.
>
> I'm new to Maxima, but would like to use it instead of the normal
> Windows programs (Mathcad) for my assignments.
>
> Any suggestions?
>
>
> --
> Joel Konkle-Parker
>