MATLAB: Can I check if factored and expanded polynomial forms are equal

Question

>> syms w k

>> isequal((w^2-k^2),(w+k)*(w-k))

ans =

logical

0

Is there a way to tell that w^2-k^2 and (w+k)*(w-k) are equal?

Also tried isequal(expand(),expand()) method but expand() may order two polynomials that are the same differently and in these instances isequal() returns logical = 0.

Answer 1

simplify((w^2-k^2) - (w+k)*(w-k))

ans =

0

expand((w+k)*(w-k))

ans =

w^2 - k^2

factor(w^2-k^2)

ans =

[ -1, k - w, k + w]