> From: Fibonacci Prower
> Sent: Monday, 22 May 2006 13:21
> To: maxima at math.utexas.edu
> Subject: sin(72 degrees) not evaluated
>
>
> Hello all,
>
> I have very recently installed Maxima, and am learning to use it. I
> have just discovered that cos(%pi/5) is not evaluated to its algebraic
> value, which would be (sqrt(5)+1)/4; instead, it generates an output
> identical to the input. On the other hand, cos(%pi/4) is evaluated to
> its well-known value of sqrt(2)/2.
>
> What am I doing wrong?
You need the ntrig share package. It is mentioned in the manual.
(%i1) cos(%pi/5);
%pi
(%o1) cos(---)
5
(%i2) load('ntrig)$
(%i3) cos(%pi/5);
sqrt(5) + 1
(%o3) -----------
4
(%i4)
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