Why doesn't Maple simplify a fraction like
-sqrt(5)*(5+sqrt(5))/120
to (-1-sqrt(5))/24 ?
Are there any commands to do this?
A suitable command for this is radnormal.
ee:=-sqrt(5)*(5+sqrt(5))/120;
1 (1/2) / (1/2)\
ee := - --- 5 \5 + 5 /
120
radnormal( ee );
1 1 (1/2)
- -- - -- 5
24 24
There are a few others which can get the form (at least for this particular example).
expand( ee );
1 1 (1/2)
- -- - -- 5
24 24
evala(Normal( ee ));
1 1 (1/2)
- -- - -- 5
24 24
Note that the distribution of the factor 1/24 is done here by Maple as an automatic simplification (and which is usually difficult to disable or awkward to avoid). Notice how delayed evaluation won't prevent it.
'(-1-sqrt(5))/24';
1 1
- -- - -- sqrt(5)
24 24