If a is a multivariate polynomial, content returns the content of a with respect to x, thus returning the greatest common divisor of the coefficients of a with respect to the indeterminate(s) x.

The indeterminate(s) x can be a name, or a list or set of names. If x is not specified, then its default value is the set of all indeterminates occurring in a, as determined by indets.

The third argument pp, if present, will be assigned the primitive part of a, namely a divided by the content of a.  For all inputs, the primitive part is a polynomial with integer or floating-point coefficients whose content is 1.

The coefficients in a can be arbitrary expressions independent of x. If a is not a polynomial with numeric coefficients, then normal will be called on it (or parts of it), and the numerator and denominator are dealt with separately. Any floating point values are left untouched: any floating-point value is assumed to be indivisible with respect to any other value. Other nonpolynomial, nonrational subexpressions get the same treatment.

The sign is removed from the content, and not removed from the primitive part.

The primpart command returns a/content(a, x). The third argument co, if present, will be assigned the content.

$\mathrm{content}\left(3-3x\,x\right)$

$3$

$\mathrm{content}\left(3xy+6y^2\,x\right)$

$3y$

$\mathrm{content}\left(3xy+6y^2\,\left[x\,y\right]\right)$

$3$

$\mathrm{content}\left(-4xy+6y^2\,x\,'\mathrm{pp}'\right)$

$2y$

$\mathrm{pp}$

$3y-2x$

$\mathrm{content}\left(\frac{x}{a}-\frac{1}{2}\,x\,'\mathrm{pp}'\right)$

$\frac{1}{2a}$

$\mathrm{pp}$

$2x-a$

$\mathrm{normal}\left(\frac{x}{a}-\frac{1}{2}\right)$

$-\frac{-2x+a}{2a}$

$\mathrm{content}\left(2.ux-2.v\,x\,'\mathrm{pp}'\right)$

$1$

$\mathrm{pp}$

$2.ux-2.v$

$\mathrm{content}\left(2.ux-2.u\,x\,'\mathrm{pp}'\right)$

$u$

$\mathrm{pp}$

$2.x-2.$

$\mathrm{content}\left(\mathrm{sqrt}\left(10\right)x+\mathrm{sqrt}\left(6\right)\,x\right)$

$1$

$\mathrm{primpart}\left(-4xy+6y^2\,x\right)$

$3y-2x$

$\mathrm{primpart}\left(\frac{x}{a}-\frac{1}{2}\,x\right)$

$2x-a$

The a parameter was updated in Maple 2017.