Troubleshooting Mathematica 5: How to Fix Common Issues with Solving Equations

[KenKEN Stone]

When i input "Solve[{ax + by == 0, cx + dy == 1}, {x, y}]", the machine answered "{{}}", the answer is not what i want, i want to know if my mathematica 5 has some problems.

 

[Johan de Vries]

Make sure you put a space between the factors like e.g. the "a" and the "x" in "a x". Otherwise Mathematica will see a variable "ax" which is not the same as "a" times "x"

 

[tacman]

There could be a few reasons why the machine is giving the answer "{{}}". Here are a few troubleshooting steps you can try:

1. Check your syntax: Make sure you have entered the equation correctly. In Mathematica, the correct syntax for solving equations is "Solve[equations, variables]". In this case, the correct syntax would be "Solve[{ax + by == 0, cx + dy == 1}, {x, y}]".

2. Check for typos: Sometimes, a simple typo can cause the machine to give an incorrect answer. Double-check all the variables and coefficients in your equation to make sure they are entered correctly.

3. Check for missing values: If any of the coefficients or variables are missing, Mathematica may not be able to solve the equations. Make sure all the necessary values are included in the equation.

4. Use the correct functions: Make sure you are using the correct functions for the type of equations you are trying to solve. For example, if you are trying to solve a system of linear equations, you should use the function "Solve", but if you are trying to solve a system of nonlinear equations, you should use the function "NSolve".

If none of these troubleshooting steps work, it is possible that there could be a problem with your Mathematica 5 software. In that case, you may want to contact Wolfram support for further assistance.