Math::Algebra::Symbols does a pretty good job if it doesn't get too complicated: 
    use Math::Algebra::Symbols
    my ($foo) = symbols(qw(foo));

    my $result = ($foo * 2) + ($foo * 3);

    print "$result\n";

[download]
prints 

    5 * $foo

Here's an article on it.

In reply to Re: minimizing simple linear equations by saintmike
in thread minimizing simple linear equations by beemshake

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