Build a Calculus Interpreter I [closed]

A struggling manufacturer named Tennessee Instrumental is desperate to get into the calculator business. Problem is, they don't have any software engineers on payroll, and the deadline is coming up fast.

It's your job to help TI configure a basic calculus-ready calculator that can simplify expressions input as strings, and as a bonus (since they're on such a tight schedule), they don't care what language you use to get there! They do, however, care about how much space you take up. Not very good with hardware, it seems. Keep it brief, fewest bytes gets you hired.

Goal

Create a function which can simplify a basic calculus expression

Your calculator must be able to perform the following operations:

• + Addition
• - Subtraction and Negation
• * Multiplication
• / Division
• ^ Exponentiation
• () Parenthetical Reduction
• ()' Derivation (first order)

Your calculator must also be able to use x as a placeholder variable. Do not solve for x. That will come in time.

Input

Input is a string containing the plaintext version of the expression you're looking to simplify. The only valid input characters are 0-9, x, +, -, *, /, ^, (), ', and . Some examples of valid inputs are listed below:

"1"
"5 + 8"
"(5x + 3)(4x + 2)"
"4x - 9x + 15"
"24x / 6"
"5x^2 + 14x - 3"  // Use ^ for exponentiation
"(20x^2)'"        // Use ()' for derivation


Output

Output is a string containing the plaintext version of the expression after simplification.

The only acceptable operators left over are +, -, /, and ^. Multiples of variables should be indicated as 2x, -5x, etc. Fractions should be reduced as far as possible, and parentheses and derivations must be completely eliminated, with the exception of cases such as ln(x) which syntactically cannot be made to make sense without them.

The input examples from above should output as follows:

"1"                => "1"
"5 + 8"            => "13"
"(5x + 3)(4x + 2)" => "20x^2 + 22x + 6"
"4x - 9x + 15"     => "-5x + 15"
"24x / 6"          => "4x"
"5x^2 + 14x - 3"   => "5x^2 + 14x - 3"
"(20x^2)'"         => "40x"


Last but not least, if a derivation function exists in your language, you may not use it. Derivations must be done as manually as possible. Whitespace around the basic four operators and lack of whitespace around ^ and within () is preferred.

closed as unclear what you're asking by Peter Taylor, Mego♦, Addison Crump, Denker, Zach GatesFeb 25 '16 at 20:29

Please clarify your specific problem or add additional details to highlight exactly what you need. As it's currently written, it’s hard to tell exactly what you're asking. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.

• What about if my language has a built-in symbolic calculator? Also, 1x/2 or 1/2x or 0.5x or x/2? – Lynn Feb 25 '16 at 15:30
• When you say we're not allowed to use a built-in symbolic differentiator, are we allowed to use built-in functions for everything else? – A Simmons Feb 25 '16 at 15:31
• @ASimmons I'd say the rest is probably acceptable - what did you have in mind? – ricdesi Feb 25 '16 at 15:33
• @Lynn x/2 is the preferred answer, 1/2x is a different value altogether (1/(2x) reduced). – ricdesi Feb 25 '16 at 15:35
• For clarification: I voted to close as too broad, despite what the banner says. – Mego Feb 25 '16 at 21:47

ToString@Expand@ToExpression[StringReplace[#,"("~~a__~~")'"->"d["~~ a ~~"]"]<>"//.{d[a_ x^n->a n x^(n-1),d[x]->1,d[a__]/;a~FreeQ~x->0,d[a__+b__]->d[a]+d[b]}"]&