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Reaching $RecursionLimit while solving a simple equation

Christoph W

Posted 4 years ago

Hey guys, i am completely new to Mathematica. When i try to solve an equation with the command Solve[], i face the following "error": $RecursionLimit::reclim2: Recursion depth of 1024 exceeded during evaluation of 8/a. In[4]:= Solve[a = a/2 + 8/a + 3, a] During evaluation of In[4]:= $RecursionLimit::reclim2: Recursion depth of 1024 exceeded during evaluation of 8/a. Out[4]= Hold[Solve[a = a/2 + 8/a + 3, a]] But the equation should definitely have a solution, i tried it with Maple (hope i am allowed to say that here lol) Can you guys help me out with this problem? Greetings

POSTED BY: Christoph W

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Christoph W

Posted 4 years ago

Hey, thank you for answering. I also tried it with == instead of =, but the result is the same: In[22]:= Solve[a == a/2 + 8/a + 3, a] During evaluation of In[22]:= $RecursionLimit::reclim2: Recursion depth of 1024 exceeded during evaluation of 8/a. Out[22]= Hold[Solve[a == a/2 + 8/a + 3, a]] Edit: Nevermind, after restarting the program, it worked: In[1]:= Solve[a == a/2 + 8/a + 3, a] Out[1]= {{a -> -2}, {a -> 8}} Does anybody of you know why just changing the = sign to == didn't work? Greetings

Hey, thank you for answering. I also tried it with == instead of =, but the result is the same:

In[22]:= Solve[a == a/2 + 8/a + 3, a]

During evaluation of In[22]:= $RecursionLimit::reclim2: Recursion depth of 1024 exceeded during evaluation of 8/a.

Out[22]= Hold[Solve[a == a/2 + 8/a + 3, a]]

Edit: Nevermind, after restarting the program, it worked:

In[1]:= Solve[a == a/2 + 8/a + 3, a]

Out[1]= {{a -> -2}, {a -> 8}}

Does anybody of you know why just changing the = sign to == didn't work?

Greetings

POSTED BY: Christoph W

Ahmed Elbanna

Ahmed Elbanna, Wolfram Research

Posted 4 years ago

Hi Peter In Wolfram Language the sign = is making an assignment, means that it puts something (such as number, list, image,...) inside a variable on the left hand side. However, the sign == is equality, means that it equals the LHS to the RHS which is the normal definition of equality in math.

POSTED BY: Ahmed Elbanna

Mike Besso

Posted 4 years ago

Peter: I have run into that interesting "editing" quirk that does not recognize changing = to == before. I think that is happening is that Mathematica is doing some typesetting as you type. So, typing == in a single go gets replaced with a typeset double equals. But, adding an = later doesn't trigger the typesetting. But, I am guessing. Have. a great weekend.