Weird format of results using Matlab's Solve

Hello to everyone.

I have written a set of linear equations which I want to solve using Matlab solve. I define the fixed parameters, type "syms ....." containing the variables I want to solve and then type "S = solve(....)" containing the equations. Script runs without errors. When I type "S.x" to see the results for x i get values such as: 509538060020205703282156136847447614117211438890257729261961122459909435533444779743824265361881^(1/2)/719152206365557604915890126133879789423897260000 + 248683813869948514063838587/141117543058429160971820000

Is it possible to get a shorter version? I have already tried to use “format short” but results are displayed in the same way.

Has anyone else had a similar problem?

Best regards,

Paris Pasqualin

Answer 1

[Ameer Hamza]

You can use vpa() to get a floating-point answer

vpa(S.x, 10) % shows 10 digits

or get answer in MATLAB double() format

double(S.x)

[Paris Pasqualin]

Thanks so much for the help

Answer 2

[Walter Roberson]

It is the purpose of solve() to return indefinitely precise solutions when it can. You got back the exact solution, which is what solve is intended for.

If you did not want the exact solution then you should not have used solve: you should have used vpasolve().

[Paris Pasqualin]

Thanks for the answer. I didn't know about vpasolve() which works fine