FACTOR _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ switch
When the factor switch is on, input expressions and results are automatically factored.
on factor;
aa := 3*x**3*a + 6*x**2*y*a + 3*x**3*b + 6*x**2*y*b
+ x*y*a + 2*y**2*a + x*y*b + 2*y**2*b;
2
AA := (A + B)*(3*X + Y)*(X + 2*Y)
off factor;
aa;
3 2 2 3 2
3*A*X + 6*A*X *Y + A*X*Y + 2*A*Y + 3*B*X + 6*B*X *Y
+ B*X*Y + 2*B*Y^{2}
on factor;
ab := x**2 - 2;
2
AB := X - 2
REDUCE factors univariate and multivariate polynomials with integer coefficients, finding any factors that also have integer coefficients. The factoring is done by reducing multivariate problems to univariate ones with symbolic coefficients, and then solving the univariate ones modulo small primes. The results of these calculations are merged to determine the factors of the original polynomial. The factorizer normally selects evaluation points and primes using a random number generator. Thus, the detailed factoring behavior may be different each time any particular problem is tackled.
When the factor switch is turned on, the exp switch is turned off, and when the factor switch is turned off, the exp switch is turned on, whether it was on previously or not.
When the switch trfac is on, informative messages are generated at each call to the factorizer. The trallfac switch causes the production of a more verbose trace message. It takes precedence over trfac if they are both on.
To factor a polynomial explicitly and store the results, use the operator factorize.