Maxima: Simplify matrix components

Question

in Maxima, how is it possible to simply equations that are components of a matrix? I have a rather big matrix and want to simplify the components of it (e.g. factor out and cancel out).

Thanks.

Answer 1

Most functions (where appropriate) already thread over lists, matrices, equations, etc...

For example:

(%i1) a : [[cos(x)^2+sin(x)^2,1],[0,sin(x)*cos(x)]];
                      2         2
(%o1)            [[sin (x) + cos (x), 1], [0, cos(x) sin(x)]]
(%i2) trigsimp(a);
(%o2)                    [[1, 1], [0, cos(x) sin(x)]]
(%i3) trigreduce(a);
                 cos(2 x) + 1   1 - cos(2 x)          sin(2 x)
(%o3)          [[------------ + ------------, 1], [0, --------]]
                      2              2                   2
(%i4) expand(%o3);
                                         sin(2 x)
(%o4)                       [[1, 1], [0, --------]]
                                            2

If this doesn't help you, can you give more details of the problem that you're having?