Simplification

Abstract

In Chapter 7 we discussed manipulation of polynomials and rational functions. Manipulations such as normalization, collection, sorting, factorization, and expansion were discussed. Characteristic of these manipulations is that they are carried out on expressions as a whole. However, in computations that involve mathematical functions, you frequently want to apply simplification rules that are known for these mathematical functions. For example, in computations that involve trigonometric functions you often want to apply the equality sin² + cos² = 1. This chapter describes how simplifications of expressions containing mathematical functions can be performed, how valid the simplifications offered by Maple are, how simplification can be controlled, and how you can define your own simplification routines or overrule existing Maple routines.