simplification of (4-4*x^2)*sqrt(1-x^2)



Barton Willis wrote:

> My understanding of Maple is poor, but I tried a few experiments with
> Maple 10. OK:
> 
>   simplify((a*x^2-a) * sqrt(1-x^2)) --> -a * (1-x^2)^(3/2),
> 
> OK, but...
> 
>   simplify(42 + (a*x^2-a) * sqrt(1-x^2)) --> 42+(1-x^2)^
>   (1/2)*a*x^2-(1-x^2)^(1/2)*a
> 
> For a naive Maple user (me), 42 + (a*x^2-a) * sqrt(1-x^2)) doesn't
> automatically simplify to 42 - a * (1-x^2)^(3/2).
> 
> Barton

The command 
simplify(expr, radical, symbolic)
does fancy things in maple with radicals. 


-- 
Michel Talon