ENGINEERING PROBLEM

SOLVING WITH MATLAB

AND MAPLE
MS-ESPM
2014
MODULE 2
Using MATLABs Symbolic Math Toolbox, you can carry out
algebraic and trigonometric or symbolic calculations such as
factoring polynomials , simplification or solving algebraic
equations.
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MATLAB
1. Algebra and Trigonometry
To perform symbolic computations, you must use syms to declare
the variables you plan to use to be symbolic variables.
Example
>> syms x y
>> (x+y)*(x-2*y)
>> expand(ans)
>> factor(ans)
>> sin(pi)
>> sin(sym(pi))
>> sym('1/3')+sym('5/8')
>> factor(ans)
>> simplify ((x^3-y^3)/(x-y))
>> simplify(((sin(x))^2+(cos(x))^2))
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MATLAB
2. Solving Equations
MATLAB has a more robust command, called simple, that
sometimes does a better job than simplify.
You can solve equations involving variables with solve .
>> solve('x^2-3*x+2')
>> solve('x^3-3*x^2*y+2*y','y')
>> solve('x^2-3*x-5')
To get numerical solutions, type double(ans), or vpa(ans) to display
more digits.
>> solve('x*cos(y)-2*sin(y)','x')
>> solve('exp(x)*y-x','y')
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MATLAB
Simultaneous Equations
>> sol=solve('x+2*y-3','3*x-5*y+6')
>> [x,y]=solve('x+2*y-3','3*x-5*y+6')
>> sol.x
>> sol.y
You can numerically find the solutions shown on the graph with
fzero, which looks for a zero of a given function near a specified
value of x.
fzero
>> fzero('exp(-2*x)-sin(x)',0.5)
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MATLAB
3. User Defined Function
You can use inline to define your own functions.
>> f=inline('x^3+2*x^2-5*x+6','x')
>> f(2)