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This is related to Simplifying cross product expressions

Consider the following:

F2[R + 2 a] = F2[R] + 2 a D[F2[R], R]
F3[R + 3 a] = F3[R] + 3 a D[F3[R], R]
F[R + 4 a] = F[R] + 4 a D[F4[R], R]

FullSimplify[TensorExpand[Cross[F3[R + 3 a], F[R + 4 a] - F2[R + 2 a]]]]

(*=> F[R]\[Cross]F3[R] - 3 F[R]\[Cross](a Derivative[1][F3][R]) + 
 F2[R]\[Cross]F3[R] + 3 F2[R]\[Cross](a Derivative[1][F3][R]) - 
 2 F3[R]\[Cross](a Derivative[1][F2][R]) + 
 4 F3[R]\[Cross](a Derivative[1][F4][R]) + 
 6 (a Derivative[1][F2][R])\[Cross](a Derivative[1][F3][R]) + 
 12 (a Derivative[1][F3][R])\[Cross](a Derivative[1][F4][R])

a is scalar, but Mathematica doesn't know it, so it isn't moved outside the cross product.

I tried

FullSimplify[TensorExpand[Cross[F3[R + 3 a], F[R + 4 a] - F2[R + 2 a]]], 
 Assumptions -> {F[R], F2[R], F3[R], D[F[R], R], D[F3[R], R], D[F2[R], R]} \[Epsilon] Vectors[3]]

but the result is the same. How can I specifically declare that a is a scalar?

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    $\begingroup$ I don't think it'll necessarily fix it, but note that \[Epsilon] is not the same as \[Element]! $\endgroup$
    – thorimur
    Commented Apr 16, 2021 at 19:57
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    $\begingroup$ Note that {F[R], F2[R], F3[R], D[F[R], R], D[F3[R], R], D[F2[R], R]} \[Element] Vectors[3]] does not express what you think it expresses; it says that the single vector {F[R], F2[R], F3[R], D[F[R], R], D[F3[R], R], D[F2[R], R]} is in Vectors[3] and thus evaluates to False. Rather, you need a way of saying they're all in Vectors[3], e.g. # \[Element] Vectors[3] & /@ {F[R], F2[R], F3[R], D[F[R], R], D[F3[R], R], D[F2[R], R]}. But for this application, all that's needed is information on a. $\endgroup$
    – thorimur
    Commented Apr 16, 2021 at 20:07

1 Answer 1

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Note that you can give assumptions to TensorExpand:

TensorExpand[Cross[F3[R + 3 a], F[R + 4 a] - F2[R + 2 a]], 
 Assumptions -> {a \[Element] Reals}]

(* Out: 

-F[R]\[Cross]F3[R] - 3 a F[R]\[Cross]Derivative[1][F3][R] + 
 F2[R]\[Cross]F3[R] + 3 a F2[R]\[Cross]Derivative[1][F3][R] - 
 2 a F3[R]\[Cross]Derivative[1][F2][R] + 
 4 a F3[R]\[Cross]Derivative[1][F4][R] + 
 6 a^2 Derivative[1][F2][R]\[Cross]Derivative[1][F3][R] + 
 12 a^2 Derivative[1][F3][R]\[Cross]Derivative[1][F4][R]

*)

(You could also use a \[Element] Complexes or even a \[Element Integers, if you wanted!)

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  • $\begingroup$ thanks for the comments and the answer $\endgroup$
    – geom
    Commented Apr 16, 2021 at 21:00

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