simplifying an algebraic expression in two variables

hello

I know that

sqrt ((x-1)^2 + (y-2)^2) + sqrt ((x+1)^2 + (y+2)^2) = 6

and

8*(x^2) - 4*x*y + 5*(y^2) = 36

are equivalent, but is there a way of having matlab deduce the second statement from the first?

regards, Danny.

Answer 1

[Tanmay Das]

The following code may solve your problem:

clc; 
clear ; 
close all; 
syms x y;

eqn = sqrt ((x-1)^2 + (y-2)^2) + sqrt ((x+1)^2 + (y+2)^2) == 6; 
eqn1 = simplify(eqn^2);
eqn2 = expand(eqn1);
eqn3 = simplify(eqn2);
  
%As of now, MATLAB is not able to simplify expressions inside squre root by
%itself, so one needs to isolate it and then square both side
eqn4 = (x^2 - 2*x + y^2 - 4*y + 5)^(1/2)*(x^2 + 2*x + y^2 + 4*y + 5)^(1/2);
%isolating the square root term from rest of the equation
eqn5 = isolate(eqn3,eqn4);
%simplifying the equation
eqn6 = simplify(expand(eqn5^2));
%One can also solve the equation by executing the following line
sol = solve(eqn6,'ReturnConditions',true);

You can refer to the documentations on expand, simplify, isolate and solve functions for further information.