Thread Subject: R2009a; Cannot use E, I, and PI as symbolic variables?

Where in the Matlab documentation can I find the information that I must not use E, I, and PI as symbolic variables?

syms E I PI

s = simple (E^(I*PI))
 
s =
 
-1

"Joerg Buchholz" <buchholz@hs-bremen.de> wrote in message
news:gq3jkg$sfq$1@fred.mathworks.com...
> Where in the Matlab documentation can I find the information that I must
> not use E, I, and PI as symbolic variables?
>
> syms E I PI
>
> s = simple (E^(I*PI))
>
> s =
>
> -1

Seems like a Mupad thingy. do help sym, see the " instead of the usual MuPAD
definition" part below.

"EDU>> help sym
....
    Defining any of the symbols

       beta, gamma, psi, theta, zeta, D, E, I, O, Ei, Ci, Si

    will treat that symbol as a variable instead of the usual MuPAD
    definition. Defining the symbol 'i' will use sqrt(-1) in place of the
    imaginary i until 'clear' is used.
    See also: SYMS."

--Nasser

"Nasser Abbasi" <nma@12000.org> wrote in message <zZcxl.16196$as4.14780@nlpi069.nbdc.sbc.com>...
>
> "Joerg Buchholz" <buchholz@hs-bremen.de> wrote in message
> news:gq3jkg$sfq$1@fred.mathworks.com...
> > Where in the Matlab documentation can I find the information that I must
> > not use E, I, and PI as symbolic variables?
> >
> > syms E I PI
> >
> > s = simple (E^(I*PI))
> >
> > s =
> >
> > -1
>
> Seems like a Mupad thingy. do help sym, see the " instead of the usual MuPAD
> definition" part below.
>
> "EDU>> help sym
> ....
> Defining any of the symbols
>
> beta, gamma, psi, theta, zeta, D, E, I, O, Ei, Ci, Si
>
> will treat that symbol as a variable instead of the usual MuPAD
> definition. Defining the symbol 'i' will use sqrt(-1) in place of the
> imaginary i until 'clear' is used.
> See also: SYMS."
>
> --Nasser
>

Nasser,

I do not see how your post answers my question. "help sym" tells us that we CAN use "E" and "I" as symbolic variables. My example shows that this is NOT the case.

Joerg