Question: Inert Numeric Components in expressions and Repeating Decimal Expansion Representation?

Hi,

I have been looking at some new models of Casio Scientific Calculators and came across with "Fx-115es Plus" Model which seem to have a some sort of simple CAS(Computer Algebra System) built into it.

Two new features which i really liked were

(i) Ability to make any part of the expression inert and simplying the rest.

(ii) Fully Integrated Repeated decimal display for fractions.

I want to ask if there is any builtin commands that can achieve these two effects in maple.

I will give some example for each of these

(i) simplifying say 2^3*2^4 in maple gives 32.

but forexample if i want to make 2 in the bases inert then simplifying the result should give 2^7

if i make 3 inert then the result is 16*2^3

if i make 4 inert then the result is 8*2^4

another example say (2^3)^4 in maple gives 4096

but if i make 2 inert then the result should be 2^12

if i make 3 inert then the result is 16^3

if i make 4 inert then the result is 8^4

In this way it is possible to keep any interesting part of large complex expression unevaluated and simplifying the rest across it to maintain focus on the interesting part.

I know i can try to achieve this effect by using unevaluation quotes but they get messy and harder to track in large nested forms.

Another approach might be to replace the inert parts by explicit undeclared symbols with required assumptions and simplifying, but this is not it.

I know in Maple 18 they have introduced some package called InertForm or something, can it achieve this effect and also mark inert parts of the expression as grey like it is possible for some operators.

(ii) the example for the second is quite obvious, say given the fraction 237/14, evalf of this gives 16.92857143 but a result like 16.9Overscript[285714, _] is more closer to differentiation it from a irrational expansion. Sorry i donot know how to pretty print this here.

Another advantage is when i want to give some large repeating decimal expansion and have maple convert it to fractional form. Currently i have no idea how many times to repeat the decimals explicitly to make maple understand that it is a repeating decimal expansion.