Solving Symbolic Equations

This example shows the basics about solving symbolic equations.

Solve Quadratic Equation

Solve the quadratic equation using the solve function.

Solve the quadratic equation without specifying a variable to solve for. The solve function chooses x to return the solution.

disp('Solve a quadratic equation without specifying which variable to solve for. The solve function chooses x to return a solution.')
disp('>> syms a b c x')
disp('>> eqn = a*x^2 + b*x + c == 0')
disp('>> S = solve(eqn)')
syms a b c x
eqn = a*x^2 + b*x + c == 0
S = solve(eqn)

Solve a quadratic equation without specifying which variable to solve for. The solve function chooses x to return a solution.
>> syms a b c x
>> eqn = a*x^2 + b*x + c == 0
>> S = solve(eqn)
 
eqn =
 
a*x^2 + b*x + c == 0
 
 
S =
 
-(b + (b^2 - 4*a*c)^(1/2))/(2*a)
-(b - (b^2 - 4*a*c)^(1/2))/(2*a)
 

Specify the variable to solve for and solve the quadratic equation for a.

disp('Solve for the variable a')
disp('Sa = solve(eqn,a)')
Sa = solve(eqn,a)

Solve for the variable a
Sa = solve(eqn,a)
 
Sa =
 
-(c + b*x)/x^2
 

Solve Multivariate Equations and Assign Outputs to Structure

When solving for multiple variables, it can be more convenient to store the outputs in a structure array than in separate variables. The solve function returns a structure when you specify a single output argument and multiple outputs exist.

Solve a system of equations to return the solutions in a structure array.

disp('Solve a system of equations to return solutions in a structure array')
disp('>> eqns = [2*u + v == 0, u - v == 1];')
disp('>> S = solve(eqns,[u v])')
syms u v
eqns = [2*u + v == 0, u - v == 1];
S = solve(eqns,[u v])

Solve a system of equations to return solutions in a structure array
>> eqns = [2*u + v == 0, u - v == 1];
>> S = solve(eqns,[u v])

S = 

  struct with fields:

    u: 1/3
    v: -2/3

Access the solutions by addressing the elements of the structure.

disp('Access the solutions within the structure')
disp('>> S.u')
S.u
disp('>> S.v')
S.v

Access the solutions within the structure
>> S.u
 
ans =
 
1/3
 
>> S.v
 
ans =
 
-2/3
 

Using a structure array allows you to conveniently substitute solutions into other expressions. Use the subs function to substitute the solutions S into other expressions.

disp('Use the subs function to substitute the solutions into other expressions')
disp('>> e1 = subs(u^2, S)')
e1 = subs(u^2,S)
disp('>> e2 = subs(3*v + u, S)')
e2 = subs(3*v + u,S)

Use the subs function to substitute the solutions into other expressions
>> e1 = subs(u^2, S)
 
e1 =
 
1/9
 
>> e2 = subs(3*v + u, S)
 
e2 =
 
-5/3
 

If the solve function returns an empty object, then no solutions exist.

disp('The solve function returns an empty object if no solutions exist')
disp('>> solve([3*u+2, 3*u+1],u)')
S = solve([3*u+2, 3*u+1],u)

The solve function returns an empty object if no solutions exist
>> solve([3*u+2, 3*u+1],u)
 
S =
 
Empty sym: 0-by-1
 

Numerically Solve Equations

When the solve function cannot symbolically solve an equation, it tries to find a numeric solution using the vpasolve function. The vpasolve function returns the first solution found.

Try solving the following equation. The solve function returns a numeric solution because it cannot find a symbolic solution.

disp('The following equation returns a numeric solution because the solve function cannot find a symbolic solution')
syms x
disp('>> eqn = sin(x) == x^2 - 1;')
eqn = sin(x) == x^2 - 1;
disp('>> solve(eqn,x)')
S = solve(eqn,x)

The following equation returns a numeric solution because the solve function cannot find a symbolic solution
>> eqn = sin(x) == x^2 - 1;
>> solve(eqn,x)
Warning: Unable to solve symbolically. Returning a numeric solution using <a
href="matlab:web(fullfile(docroot, 'symbolic/vpasolve.html'))">vpasolve</a>. 
 
S =
 
-0.63673265080528201088799090383828
 

Plot the left and the right sides of the equation. Observe that the equation also has a positive solution.

disp('Plot the left and right sides of the equation to see that the equation also has a positive solution')
disp('>> fplot([lhs(eqn) rhs(eqn)], [-2 2])')
fplot([lhs(eqn) rhs(eqn)], [-2 2])

Plot the left and right sides of the equation to see that the equation also has a positive solution
>> fplot([lhs(eqn) rhs(eqn)], [-2 2])

Find the other solution by directly calling the numeric solver vpasolve and specifying the interval.

disp('Find the other solution by calling the numeric solver vpasolve')
disp('>> V = vpasolve (eqn,x,[0,2])')
V = vpasolve(eqn,x,[0 2])

Find the other solution by calling the numeric solver vpasolve
>> V = vpasolve (eqn,x,[0,2])
 
V =
 
1.4096240040025962492355939705895