RFC: extracting coefficients of a multivariate polynomial



2008/4/24 S. Newhouse <sen1 at math.msu.edu>:
> Because my mail program does not easily format the exponents in maxima
> screen output, I am sending an example of the manual use of 'coeff' as an
> attachment.

Sheldon,

The best way to prepare Maxima sessions for email is to use
display2d:false, e.g.

(%i1) (x^2-1)^3/(x^2-y^2);
<<<<<<<<<<<< this will come out garbled on most email displays >>>>>>>>>>>>>
                                           2     3
                                         (x  - 1)
(%o1)                                    ---------
                                           2    2
                                          x  - y
(%i2) display2d:false;
(%o2) false
(%i3) (x^2-1)^3/(x^2-y^2);
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< works in any email program >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
(%o3) (x^2-1)^3/(x^2-y^2)

Best,

          -s