The output from Maple is not always in the simplest form. There are a number of commands such as collect, combine, expand, factor and simplify which can be used to simplify or rearrange the output into the desired form. For example, given the polynomial
> (x+y)*(x-y)-x^2;
2
(x + y) (x - y) - x
if we multiply it out with the expand command the result is simpler
> expand(");
2
- y
Often factoring a polynomial yields a simpler result, e.g.
> x^4+x^2*y+2*x^2+2*x^3+2*x*y+2*x+y+1;
4 2 2 3
x + x y + 2 x + 2 x + 2 x y + 2 x + y + 1
> factor(");
2 2
(x + 1) (x + y + 1)
The simplify command can simplify general expressions, e.g.
> simplify(exp(a+ln(b*exp(c))));
b exp(a + c)
In this example the simplify command reduces a rational function
> (x^3-y^3)/(x^2+x*y+y^2);
3 3
x - y
-------------
2 2
x + x y + y
> simplify(");
x - y