The symtest command checks whether a given pair of infinitesimals (coefficients of the symmetry generator) leave the given ODE invariant; that is, whether the given "symmetry" is actually a symmetry of the ODE. Similar to odetest, symtest returns  when the result is valid or returns an algebraic expression obtained after simplifying the PDE for the infinitesimals associated with the given ODE.

If the result returned by symtest is not zero, the symmetry is not necessarily wrong. Sometimes, with further simplification, you can obtain the desired  using commands such as expand, combine, and so on.

This function is part of the DEtools package, and so it can be used in the form symtest(..) only after executing the command with(DEtools). However, it can always be accessed through the long form of the command by using DEtools[symtest](..).