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Showing steps in simplification?

Posted 10 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
POSTED BY: Sean Clarke
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