I need help factoring a symbolic expression

I have a symbolic expression in 3 variables f(r,z,t). I am trying to factor it such that I have an expression of the form:

f(r,z,t)=g(t)*h(r,z)

I am using R2014a fyi. I think this can be done with factor(f,t) if I had R2016 but is there a nice way to do this with R2014.

Thanks

Drew

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

factor() has always been part of the Symbolic Toolbox.

[Drew Mitchell]

When I attempt to use factor(f,t) it tells me there are too many input arguments. f is a scalar equation of r z t

[Walter Roberson]

Does the example from the documentation work?

syms x y
F = factor(y^2*x^2,x)

what do you see for

which -all factor

Also, is it possible that instead of the Mathworks Symbolics Toolbox, that you have Maple installed and are using the symbolic facilities from it?

[Morgan Blankenship]

I'm trying to figure this out as well. I see

C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2020a\toolbox\matlab\specfun\factor.m

C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2020a\toolbox\shared\hdlshared\@hdl\factor.p % hdl method

C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2020a\toolbox\symbolic\symbolic\@sym\factor.m % sym method

when typing

which -all factor

It keeps defaulting to the first function when I'm trying to call the third. How do I get around this?

[Walter Roberson]

syms x
which factor(x*x)