Re: [Maxima-discuss] Stop simplifying a subexpression

[Barton W. <wi...@un...>]

Setting the option variable 'simp' to false disables simplification; for example,

(%i101) simp : false$

(%i102) xxx : x+x;
(%o102)                                        x + x

(%i103) xxx - 2*x;
(%o103)                                    (x + x) - 2 x

(%i104) simp : true$

(%i105) xxx - 2*x;
(%o105)                                          0

But when simp is false, few things are guaranteed to work.  One of the few (only?) uses of setting simp to false is to define a simplification rule, such as 0^0 = 1. Maybe another legitimate use is an educational or math tutorial use.

Users often want to set simp to false, but I think it rarely turns out well, and it usually invokes the question: Why do you need to set simp to false? Can you explain what you are trying to do? There might be a better option than turning off simplification.

________________________________
From: Michael Gough <inn...@gm...>
Sent: Thursday, August 7, 2025 3:05 PM
To: <max...@li...> <max...@li...>
Subject: [Maxima-discuss] Stop simplifying a subexpression

Caution: Non-NU Email

I need to prevent maxima from maxima from simplifying a subexpression. Let’s say I have x+x.

Try as I might, I can not keep it from becoming 2x.

Pkease note that x+x is just an example of a subexpression.

Thanks in advance!
Mike