#3326 Maxima unable to simplify sqrt(3-2*sqrt(2))

[cheesecracker]

sqrt(3-2*sqrt(2)) cannot be simplified as sqrt(2) - 1 in Maxima 5.40.0

Is there anything I miss or I can do? Or does it need to be hard-coded into Maxima?

Here are the steps of simplification: https://youtu.be/naGkELTaSuQ

FYI: WolframAlpha result

Thanks

build_info
version="5.40.0",timestamp="2017-06-01 18:54:32",host="x86_64-w64-mingw32",lisp_name="CLISP",lisp_version="2.49 (2010-07-07) (built on toshiba [192.168.43.206])"

[cheesecracker]

Broken link due to formatting.

The link to WolframAlpha should be
https://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=sqrt(3-2*sqrt(2))

[Kris Katterjohn]

Here's one way:

(%i1) load("sqdnst")$

(%i2) sqrtdenest(sqrt(3-2*sqrt(2)));
(%o2) sqrt(2)-1

So I'm closing this as wont-fix.

[cheesecracker]

I see. But load("sqdnst")$ looks like advanced feature for newbies of this software. But simplifying this expression should not be considered as advanced math. Anyway, WolframAlpha shows the answer without requiring users to switch to any advanced feature.

Could Maxima be configured to make this load(...) by default and use sqrtdenest(..) when we call "Simplify Expression"?

[Kris Katterjohn]

sqrtdenest just happened to be the first thing I tried, so there may be easier ways.

The reason I went ahead and closed this as wont-fix is because the title and description were specifically about Maxima being unable to "simplify" a particular expression, when it actually can.

Instead of going straight to opening up bug reports, you could post to the mailing list. While you're not guaranteed a response, the list is active and has some knowledgeable people who don't browse the bug reports. Some of them work with (nested) radicals much more often than I do. If you have questions, I'd suggest posting there.

http://maxima.sourceforge.net/maximalist.html

[James R. Van Zandt]

I would like to second the original bug report. I've recently been dealing
with a number of nested radicals, and was disappointed that Maxima couldn't
simplify them. I wrote an awkward workaround. I certainly didn't find that
loadable package. And I don't consider that a good solution anyway. Half
the reason for using Maxima is automatic simplification. I should not have
to rummage through the toolbox looking for something appropriate - or to
rely on the kindness of strangers to point the way.

I'll be happy to use sqrtdenest now that you have pointed it out. But why
can't Maxima recognize the class of expression handled by sqrtdenest, and
use it? Seems like a bug to me.

• Jim Van Zandt

On Aug 22, 2017 8:49 AM, "Kris Katterjohn via Maxima-bugs" maxima-bugs@lists.sourceforge.net wrote:

sqrtdenest just happened to be the first thing I tried, so there may be
easier ways.

The reason I went ahead and closed this as wont-fix is because the title
and description were specifically about Maxima being unable to "simplify" a
particular expression, when it actually can.

Instead of going straight to opening up bug reports, you could post to the
mailing list. While you're not guaranteed a response, the list is active
and has some knowledgeable people who don't browse the bug reports. Some of
them work with (nested) radicals much more often than I do. If you have
questions, I'd suggest posting there.

http://maxima.sourceforge.net/maximalist.html

• [bugs:#3326] https://sourceforge.net/p/maxima/bugs/3326/ Maxima unable
  to simplify sqrt(3-2sqrt(2))

Status: wont-fix
Group: None
Created: Tue Aug 22, 2017 07:46 AM UTC by cheesecracker
Last Updated: Tue Aug 22, 2017 09:50 AM UTC
Owner: nobody

sqrt(3-2sqrt(2)) cannot be simplified as sqrt(2) - 1* in Maxima 5.40.0

Is there anything I miss or I can do? Or does it need to be hard-coded
into Maxima?

Here are the steps of simplification: https://youtu.be/naGkELTaSuQ

FYI: WolframAlpha result
http://https://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=sqrt(3-2*sqrt(2))

Thanks

build_info
version="5.40.0",timestamp="2017-06-01 18:54:32",host="x86_64-w64-
mingw32",lisp_name="CLISP",lisp_version="2.49 (2010-07-07) (built on
toshiba [192.168.43.206])"

---

Sent from sourceforge.net because maxima-bugs@lists.sourceforge.net is
subscribed to https://sourceforge.net/p/maxima/bugs/

To unsubscribe from further messages, a project admin can change settings
at https://sourceforge.net/p/maxima/admin/bugs/options. Or, if this is a
mailing list, you can unsubscribe from the mailing list.

------------------------------------------------------------

Check out the vibrant tech community on one of the world's most
engaging tech sites, Slashdot.org! http://sdm.link/slashdot

---

Maxima-bugs mailing list
Maxima-bugs@lists.sourceforge.net
https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/maxima-bugs

[cheesecracker]

OK, thanks for the tips to mailing-list. I'll try that.