mmamathes
(Bill Blair)
January 28, 2026, 2:27pm
1
eqn = -4 a^2 b^2 (-b^2 + (b^4 x0^2)/(
a^2 y0^2) - (-((b^2 x0^2)/(a^2 y0)) + y0)^2)
How to perform an identical transformation on the above expression into a factored form containing the specified part? The specific target form of the transformation is shown in the figure below:
The specified contained part is:
(x0^2/a^2 - y0^2/b^2)
I have conducted the following independent attempts yet been unable to resolve this issue.
pol = -4 a^2 b^2 (-b^2 + (b^4 x0^2)/(
a^2 y0^2) - (-((b^2 x0^2)/(a^2 y0)) + y0)^2)
pol/(x0^2/a^2 - y0^2/b^2) // Cancel // Factor
Here is a way that uses FactorList:
eqn = -4 a^2 b^2 (-b^2 +
(b^4 x0^2)/(a^2 y0^2) -
(-((b^2 x0^2)/(a^2 y0)) +
y0)^2);
expr = (x0^2/a^2 - y0^2/b^2);
FactorList[eqn/expr]
% /. {c_Plus, 1} :>
Splice@{{a^2 b^2, 1},
{Expand[c/(a^2 b^2)], 1}}
MapApply[Power, %]
expr*Times @@ %
brunot
(Bruno Tenorio)
January 28, 2026, 10:28pm
3
Solve based approach
eqn = -4 a^2 b^2 (-b^2 + (b^4 x0^2)/(a^2 y0^2) - \
(-((b^2 x0^2)/(a^2 y0)) + y0)^2)
expr = (x0^2/a^2 - y0^2/b^2)
Factor[(eqn /. Solve[k == expr, x0][[1]])] /. k -> expr
mroge02
(Michael Rogers)
January 29, 2026, 1:37am
4
Factor[
eqn /. {x0 -> Sqrt[u] a, y0 -> Sqrt[w] b}
] /. ({u -> x0^2/a^2, w -> y0^2/b^2})
(* (4 a^2 b^6 (-1 + x0^2/a^2 - y0^2/b^2) (x0^2/a^2 - y0^2/b^2))/y0^2 *)
Also:
sub = {x0 == a Sqrt[u], y0 == b Sqrt[w]};
Factor[
eqn /. First@Solve[sub, {x0, y0}]
] /. First@Normal@Quiet@Solve[sub, {u, w}]