Learn more about Symbolic Math Toolbox

Symbolic Objects

On this page…
Overview Symbolic Variables Symbolic Numbers

Overview

Symbolic objects are a special MATLAB^® data type introduced by the Symbolic Math Toolbox™ software. They allow you to perform mathematical operations in the MATLAB workspace analytically, without calculating numeric values. You can use symbolic objects to perform a wide variety of analytical computations:

• Differentiation, including partial differentiation

• Definite and indefinite integration

• Taking limits, including one-sided limits

• Summation, including Taylor series

• Matrix operations

• Solving algebraic and differential equations

• Variable-precision arithmetic

• Integral transforms

Symbolic objects present symbolic variables, symbolic numbers, symbolic expressions and symbolic matrices.

Back to Top

Symbolic Variables

To declare variables x and y as symbolic objects use the syms command:

syms x y

You can manipulate the symbolic objects according to the usual rules of mathematics. For example:

x + x + y

ans =
 2*x + y

You also can create formal symbolic mathematical expressions and symbolic matrices. See Creating Symbolic Variables and Expressions for more information.

Back to Top

Symbolic Numbers

Symbolic Math Toolbox software also enables you to convert numbers to symbolic objects. To create a symbolic number, use the sym command:

a = sym('2')

If you create a symbolic number with 10 or fewer decimal digits, you can skip the quotes:

a = sym(2)

The following example illustrates the difference between a standard double-precision MATLAB data and the corresponding symbolic number. The MATLAB command

sqrt(2)

returns a double-precision floating-point number:

ans =
    1.4142

On the other hand, if you calculate a square root of a symbolic number 2:

a = sqrt(sym(2))

you get the precise symbolic result:

a =
2^(1/2)

Symbolic results are not indented. Standard MATLAB double-precision results are indented. The difference in output form shows what type of data is presented as a result.

To evaluate a symbolic number numerically, use the double command:

double(a)

ans =
    1.4142

You also can create a rational fraction involving symbolic numbers:

sym(2)/sym(5)

ans =
2/5

or more efficiently:

sym(2/5)

ans =
2/5

MATLAB performs arithmetic on symbolic fractions differently than it does on standard numeric fractions. By default,MATLAB stores all numeric values as double-precision floating-point data. For example:

2/5 + 1/3

ans =
    0.7333

If you add the same fractions as symbolic objects, MATLAB finds their common denominator and combines them in the usual procedure for adding rational numbers:

sym(2/5) + sym(1/3)

ans =
 11/15

To learn more about symbolic representation of rational and decimal fractions, see Estimating the Precision of Numeric to Symbolic Conversions.

Back to Top

Getting Started

Creating Symbolic Variables and Expressions

© 1984-2009- The MathWorks, Inc.    -   Site Help   -   Patents   -   Trademarks   -   Privacy Policy   -   Preventing Piracy   -   RSS