Rational simplification bug ("Quotient by a polynomial of higher degree" error message)



Try setting the choice of GCD in Maxima to another algorithm.  For 
example, gcd:subres;

Why this bug occurs is unclear.  It seems that it happens when 
simplifying expressions
that are not rational but have sqrt  in them.  The meaning of the error 
message is that G=
GCD of N/D= numerator/ denominator has been computed, but that G has 
higher degree
than the (subsequently simplified?) N or D.

Difficulty identifying the fix for this bug, or why changing the GCD 
algorithm matters, makes
it more plausible that the above diagnosis is wrong..

Anyway, change that flag.  How to do it from Sage, I don't know.

RJF