Simplification

 

• most operations in computer algebra are some form of simplification

• here is a question on what representation to use for algebraic expressions: which form is simpler?

  
  
  

• is a canonical simplification operator if and only if

  
  
  
  
  

• the canonical simplification operator gives us an unique form for equivalent formulas: it defines a unique representative for each class of equivalent algebraic expressions

• most often non-canonical simplification for general algebraic expressions is used in computer algebra programs--typically, a combination of canonical simplification and pattern matching

 
• Canonical simplification on algebraic domains
• Complexity of expressions