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Section 7.3 Factoring Expressions
Maple can also factor expressions with the
factor() command. It will factor polynomials (including those with multiple variables) and will even factor more complicated expressions (like those involving trig functions as seen below).
\begin{equation*}
\displaystyle \left( x-1 \right) \left( x+1 \right)
\end{equation*}
Aside In some cases, Maple may factor the expression and perform some additional basic simplification.
> factor((x^2 + 2*x - 15)/(x^2 + 7*x + 10));
\begin{equation*}
\displaystyle \frac{x-3}{x+2}
\end{equation*}
> factor(sin(x)^2 - 3*sin(x) + 2);
\begin{equation*}
\displaystyle \left( \sin \left( x \right) -1 \right) \left( \sin \left( x \right) -2 \right)
\end{equation*}
Aside If Maple cannot factor the expression given, it will output the original expression.
\begin{equation*}
\displaystyle {x}^{2}+1
\end{equation*}
Maple will factor expressions with multiple variables as well. Be sure to include multiplication (*) between variables.
> factor(a^3 + 3*a^2*b + 3*a*b^2 + b^3);
\begin{equation*}
\displaystyle (a+b)^3
\end{equation*}
