Hello (about factoring into explicit algebraic numbers)
Subject: Hello (about factoring into explicit algebraic numbers)
From: Robert Dodier
Date: Fri, 4 Nov 2005 11:08:41 -0700
On 11/4/05, Stavros Macrakis wrote:
> I think the helpful and educational answer to queries like this is a simple
> little Maxima function that uses Solve to find roots and constructs the
> polynomial. The user should quickly realize that the results are usually
> uninteresting. Another useful variant would factorize into *real* factors
> (as requested by a previous user). Then there's the floating case, where
> realroots/allroots are the right way to proceed (though of course the
> numerical result may be numerically unstable).
This is a great idea -- my $0.02 is that it should be implemented as an
extension of the existing factor function, e.g. something like
factor (expr, 'complex) => allow complex factors
factor (expr, 'real) => allow real factors
factor (expr, 'float) => numerical factors
I believe it will make Maxima more comprehensible to combine these
operations with the related operations already carried out by factor.
For what it's worth,
Robert Dodier