# Trace function did not show the steps to the final answer

Trace[
FullSimplify[
1/4 Sec[20 °] + Sin[10 °] + 2 Sin[10 °]^2
]
]


Mathematica gave the correct answer 1/2, but it did not show the final steps to arrive at 1/2. Why?

• Trace shows the intermediate expressions generated when evaluating its argument, not the internal transformations performed by the individual functions. This is pretty much by design. Otherwise you could, for example, peep into proprietary implementations of certain algorithms (which MMA does not want to disclose). – AccidentalFourierTransform Jul 12 at 15:00
• Thanks. Would MMA make Mathematica show the name of transformations that have been taken but not the algorithms that have been implemented to carry out the transformations ? Maybe, I have asked too much because what group of transformations the have been performed is also a secret. – Kelvin Jul 13 at 3:16
• Add optioni TraceInternal->True to your Trace command and you will get GIANT amount of internal transformations to reach the result. But is not of much use for ordinary users. – Alx Jul 18 at 5:09