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Question: why does combine(sin(x)^2) expands the expression?

Question:why does combine(sin(x)^2) expands the expression?

nm 11198
combine
November 14 2013
0

This is just a question on terminology. The name "combine" implies pulling terms together. Yet, when applied to something like sin(x)^2 it has the effect of expanding it:

r:=sin(x)^2;
combine(r);

 

Which seems counter-intutive to me. I tried first expand(r) but that did not expand it.

Fyi, in Mathematica the function to do the above is called

Sin[x]^2;
TrigReduce[%]

    1/2 (1 - Cos[2 x])

As Mathematica does not have a Combine[] function.

So, I am just wondering about the naming, that is all. I would never have thought first that a command called combine() will expand sin(x)^2.

 

 
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