# How to list variables given equation? [closed]

Given an expression, is there any means to list variables?

Example:

a^3 + b^2 + c -> a,b,c

I need this functionality because I am manipulating large expressions of many variables (20) and would like to know which variables remain once the manipulations have been done.

## closed as off-topic by Artes, m_goldberg, Bob Hanlon, bbgodfrey, ciaoMar 31 '15 at 0:04

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• Do you have parameters in those expressions ? – Sektor Mar 30 '15 at 18:16
• @Sektor, I am new to Mathematica. Could you give an example? – mod0 Mar 30 '15 at 18:16

Use the Variables command:

 Variables[a x^2 + b x + c]


(* {a,b,c,x} *)

You can easily remove the x.

Alternatively:

CoefficientList[a x^2 + b x + c, x]


(* {a, b, c} *)

A quite general approach is to use Cases.

Cases[a^3 + b^2 + c, z_Symbol :> z, {0, Infinity}]
(* {a, b, c} *)


or

Cases[Cos[a] b^c Gamma[d]/e, z_Symbol :> z, {0, Infinity}]
(* {b, c, e, a, d} *)