# Cancel opposite terms, and only that [closed]

I have the following problem: I have a formula which looks like $$A = \sum \frac{1}{p_1 p_2 p_3 \dots},$$ where the $$p_i$$ are linear expression in some variables X. In the sum there are many opposite terms, such as $$\frac{1}{(a-b)} + \frac{1}{-a+b}+ \dots,$$ and I would like mathematica to recognise this fact and cancel them. However, I want mathematica to do ONLY this, nothing more. The problem is that if I use Simplify, mathematica will do more than that: it will try to put everything together, i.e. it will find the (foreboding) polynomials such that $$A = \frac{P}{Q}.$$ If I don't do anything, instead, mathematica will not recognise the cancellations: even just $$\frac{1}{(a-b)} + \frac{1}{-a+b},$$ does not get simplified automatically.

## closed as unclear what you're asking by Michael E2, m_goldberg, John Doty, José Antonio Díaz Navas, LCarvalhoJan 21 at 18:32

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It is a little risky to suggest a solution without a concrete example to test it on first, but see if this does approximately what you want.

1/(r-s)+1/(a-b)+1/(-t+u)+1/(-a+b)+1/(-m+n)+1/(c-d)+1/(-c+d)//. 1/(a_-b_)+1/(-a_+b_)->0


which returns

(* 1/(-m+n)+1/(r-s)+1/(-t+u) *)


It may be much more difficult to get Mathematica to do "ONLY this, nothing more."

Here is a slight modification of the Bill's approach:

expr = 1/(a - b) + 1/(-a + b) + 1/(2 a + 3 b) + 1/(a + 2 b)
(*1/(a - b) + 1/(-a + b) + 1/(a + 2 b) + 1/(2 a + 3 b)*)
expr //. x_ + y_ /; Simplify[x + y == 0] -> 0
(*1/(a + 2 b) + 1/(2 a + 3 b)*)


In its most general form it is not very efficient, but you can adjust the pattern, e.g.

expr //. x_Power + y_Power /; Simplify[x + y == 0] -> 0
(*1/(a + 2 b) + 1/(2 a + 3 b)*)


or

expr //. 1/x_ + 1/y_ /; Simplify[x + y == 0] -> 0
(*1/(a + 2 b) + 1/(2 a + 3 b)*)