This help page contains complete information about the simplify command. For basic information on the simplify command, see the simplify help page.

The simplify command is used to apply simplification rules to an expression.

The simplify/expr calling sequence searches the expression, expr, for function calls, square roots, radicals, and powers. It then invokes the appropriate simplification procedures.

n1, n2, ...

Invokes only the simplification procedures specified by the additional names.

Further information on the simplification procedures supported is available in the help pages simplify/name where name is one of:

You can extend the simplify function by defining a Maple procedure. If the procedure `simplify/f` is defined, then the function call simplify(a,f) invokes `simplify/f`(a).

side1, side2,...

Performs simplification with respect to the side relations. For details, see simplify/siderels.

assume=prop

When the last argument is assume=prop, all the indeterminates in expr are assumed to have the property prop when computing the simplified expression. This option is not necessary to simplify integrands and summands in definite integrals and sums taking into account the integration/summation range. For details, see the following Examples section.

symbolic

Specifies that formal symbolic manipulation of expressions is allowed without regard to the analytical issue of branches for multi-valued functions. For example, the expression sqrt(x^2) simplifies to x under the symbolic option. Without this option, the simplified result must take into account the different possible values of the (complex) sign of x.

Note: When the symbolic option is specified, any branch of a multi-valued function can be chosen during the simplification process. The result of such an operation is in general not valid over the whole complex plane and can lead to incorrect results if you assume the expressions represent analytical functions.