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Showing steps in simplification?

Posted 8 years ago

Hello. I'm trying to get Mathematica to show me the steps in the Simplify function. I have the following expression:

Simplify[(1/
     2 (3 l*(3 l/2*Sqrt[3])))/((3 (1/2 (l*(l/2*Sqrt[3])))) + (1/
       2 (3 l*(3 l/2*Sqrt[3]))))]

And this works, it shows me 3/4ths like it should. But I want to know how it got there. I have tried using this code:

ShowSteps[exp_] := 
 WolframAlpha[
  ToString@HoldForm@InputForm@exp, {{"Input", 2}, "Content"}, 
  PodStates -> {"Input__Step-by-step solution"}]

SetAttributes[ShowSteps, HoldAll]
    ShowSteps["Simplify
    (1/2(3l*(3l/2*Sqrt[3])))/((3(1/2(l*(l/2*Sqrt[3]))))+(1/2(3l*(3l/2*\
    Sqrt[3]))))"]

But this just gives the message 'Missing["NotAvailable"]'. I have also tried:

FullSimplify[(1/
      2 (3 l*(3 l/2*Sqrt[3])))/((3 (1/2 (l*(l/2*Sqrt[3])))) + (1/
        2 (3 l*(3 l/2*Sqrt[3])))), 
  TransformationFunctions -> {Sow, Automatic}] // Reap

Which just gives the answer of 3/4ths and a blank list. Is there any way to track the steps Mathematica is taking in the simplify function?

POSTED BY: Nico Adamo

The function you are looking for is called Trace. Run Trace around your input.

Wolfram|Alpha occasionally has "Shows Steps" as a teaching tool. "Show Steps" doesn't actually ever show how the integral was actually calculated. That would be impossible for nearly anyone to understand. It instead devises a series of steps that a human might take in solving the problem.

Simplify and FullSimplify were built to be efficient tools. They weren't designed as educational tools that would describe their output in regular algebraic steps. But fortunately, most stuff Simplify does is readable and understandable by most people who know algebra.

POSTED BY: Sean Clarke
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