Symbolic Manipulation 233
How Long Is the Simplification Process?
Depending on the complexity of an entry, result, or intermediate expression, it can take a
long time to expand an expression and cancel common divisors as necessary for
simplification.
To interrupt a simplification process that is taking too long, press ´. You can then try
simplifying only a portion of the expression. (Auto-paste the entire expression on the
entry line, and then delete the unwanted parts.)
Delayed Simplification for Certain Built-In Functions
Usually, variables are automatically simplified to their lowest possible level before they
are passed to a function. For certain functions, however, complete simplification is
delayed until after the function is performed.
• Common denominators are formed
unless no key cancellation can occur.
• Functional identities are exploited. For
example:
ln(2x) = ln(2) + ln(x)
and
sin(x)
2
+ cos(x)
2
= 1
No key cancellation