Re: [Maxima-discuss] elementary solve() problem

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

Try setting the option variable solveradcan to true before solving:

(%i1) solveradcan : true$

(%i2) solve(n*10^(n-1)=2*n*5^(n-1),n);
(%o2) [n=0,n=2]

Alternatively, apply radcan before solving:

(%i1) radcan(n*10^(n-1)=2*n*5^(n-1));
(%o1) 2^(n-1)*5^(n-1)*n=2*5^(n-1)*n

(%i2) solve(%,n);
(%o2) [n=0,n=2]

For a list of additional option variables (and a bunch of other stuff) that affect how solve works, try

(%i3) apropos (solve);
(%o3) [desolve,funcsolve,globalsolve,linsolve,linsolve_by_lu,linsolve_params,linsolvewarn,solve,solve_congruences,solvedecomposes,solveexplicit,solvefactors,
Solvenullwarn,solveradcan,solvetrigwarn,tmlinsolve,to_poly_solve]

Thanks for your interest in Maxima! If you have more questions, feel free to ask.

--Barton
________________________________
From: richard christian <rp...@cl...>
Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2025 3:57 AM
To: max...@li... <max...@li...>
Subject: [Maxima-discuss] elementary solve() problem

Caution: Non-NU Email


Apologies for this very novice question, but what am I doing wrong here?
Why isn't Maxima giving n=2?

(%i18)  s: t**n;
(s)     t^n
(%i19)  diff(s,t);
(%o19)  n*t^(n-1)
(%i20)  s: t**n;
(s)     t^n
(%i21)  diff(s,t);
(%o21)  n*t^(n-1)
(%i23)  ev(%,t=10) = 2*ev(%,t=5);
(%o23)  n*10^(n-1)=2*n*5^(n-1)
(%i24)  solve(%,n);
(%o24)  [n=0,10^(n-1)=2*5^(n-1)]


Many thanks, Richard


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