help on using maxima to solve systems of equations



Tom Torfs wrote:
> 
> How can I get Maxima to recognize that sin(phi)^2+cos(phi)^2 = 1 ? Without this type of simplification, the solutions of my system will get huge and ugly. 

trigsimp(sin(x)^2+cos(x)^2) -> 1

You may want to try "?? trig" to find out about some other trig 
simplifications routines.

Ray