The solve command doesn't handle cases like this, but %solve does:
load(to_poly_solve)$
eq: sqrt(3-sqrt(x-1))-sqrt(x-sqrt(2))$
sols: %solve(eq,x);
sol: part(sols,1,1,2) <<< extract the one solution from the Union
expression
sol =>
-(sqrt(2^(5/2)+9)-2^(3/2)-7)/2
Messy, eh? float(sol) seems to be equal to 3. None of Maxima's standard
simplifiers (ratsimp, radcan) can reduce this to 3, but Maxima does have a
special simplifier for square root denesting:
load(sqdnst)$
sqrtdenest(sol) => 3
This doesn't give you a 'step-by-step' solution, though.
I wonder, too, if sqrtdenest shouldn't be either part of the general
simplifier or of radcan....
-s
On Sun, Aug 19, 2012 at 4:37 PM, Igor <igor at iuav.it> wrote:
> Dear,
> Who can help me?
> I need a step by step solution of the following equation:
> sqrt(3-sqrt(x-1))-sqrt(x-sqrt(**2)).
>
> The only result I get is the following: sqrt(x-sqrt(2))=sqrt(3-sqrt(x-**
> 1)).
>
> Now, how can i get a right result for x by a step by step solution?
> Many many thanks.
> Igor
>
>
>
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