Bug#597531: maxima: fails to solve a simple 4th order equation

tags 597531 forwarded
thanks


Andres Cimmarusti <acimmarusti at gmail.com> writes:

> Package: maxima
> Version: 5.21.1-2
> Severity: wishlist
> Tags: upstream
>
> When I try using the command solve to solve for a certain variable in a 4th order equation, it can't do it. However If I give it some help and square both sides of the equation then it is able to do it. Here is the procedure:
>
> eq1 : w = w0 * sqrt( 1 + ( z / ( %pi * w0^2 / %lambda ) )^2 );
> solve( eq1 , w0 );
> ...This leads to a useless answer
>
> eq2 : eq1^2;
> solve( eq2 , w0 );
> ...Solves the equation just fine displaying its 4 roots.
>
> -- System Information:
> Debian Release: squeeze/sid
>   APT prefers testing
>   APT policy: (990, 'testing')
> Architecture: amd64 (x86_64)
>
> Kernel: Linux 2.6.32-5-amd64 (SMP w/2 CPU cores)
> Locale: LANG=en_US.utf8, LC_CTYPE=en_US.utf8 (charmap=UTF-8)
> Shell: /bin/sh linked to /bin/dash
>
> Versions of packages maxima depends on:
> ii  gnuplot-x11             4.4.0-1          A command-line driven interactive 
> ii  libc6                   2.11.2-5         Embedded GNU C Library: Shared lib
> ii  libgmp3c2               2:4.3.2+dfsg-1   Multiprecision arithmetic library
> ii  libreadline6            6.1-3            GNU readline and history libraries
> ii  libx11-6                2:1.3.3-3        X11 client-side library
> ii  zlib1g                  1:1.2.3.4.dfsg-3 compression library - runtime
>
> Versions of packages maxima recommends:
> ii  gv                            1:3.7.1-1  PostScript and PDF viewer for X
> pn  maxima-emacs                  <none>     (no description available)
> ii  maxima-share                  5.21.1-2   A computer algebra system -- extra
>
> Versions of packages maxima suggests:
> ii  maxima-doc                    5.21.1-2   A computer algebra system -- docum
> pn  texmacs                       <none>     (no description available)
> ii  tk8.4 [wish]                  8.4.19-4   Tk toolkit for Tcl and X11, v8.4 -
> ii  tk8.5 [wish]                  8.5.8-1    Tk toolkit for Tcl and X11, v8.5 -
>
> -- no debconf information
>
>
>
>
>
>

-- 
Camm Maguire			     		    camm at maguirefamily.org
==========================================================================
"The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens."  --  Baha'u'llah