Edwin Woollett wrote:
> Is there a way to make the conversions:
>
> a^2/4 => (a/2)^2
>
> or a^3/27 => (a/3)^3
>
> where a is a polynomial?
>
> ted
> win xp , v 5.14
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>
try ratsubst( b,a/3,a^3/27).
Maxima will try pretty hard to simplify 3^3 to 27, which it considers
simpler.
You can try factor( 27); but that 3^3 will not stay around for long
unless you rename it as, say, b^3.
Basically, you are fighting against the system's notion of what it is
supposed to do.
RJF