seeking help with solving implicit equation



Maxima always prefers to find exact symbolic solutions.  This is a
transcendental equation and has no exact symbolic solutions, so Maxima gives
up (in what sense does it "make Maxima swear at you"?)

So you should take a look at the documentation for numerical solutions,
assuming that when you say "define" e, Re, D, you mean assigning them a
specific numerical value. Try

? find_root

for more information.

         -s


On Jan 25, 2008 12:12 PM, Len de Vlaming <ldevlaming at geomatrix.com> wrote:

>  1/sqrt(f) = -2log(e/3.7D + 2.51 / (Re*sqrt(f))In other words, the
> equation is implicit in the friction factor f.
>
How do I properly define the equation and solve for f once I have defined e,
> D, Re?  I thought it was as simple as
>