Manual 3

NUMERICAL ANALYSIS (L) – 2016 SESSION
1 LAB3 (SERIES & SYMBOLIC EXPRESSIONS)

The focus of this course is on numerical computations, i.e. calculations, usually approximations, with
floating point numbers. However, MATLAB can also do symbolic computations, which means exact
calculations using symbols as in Algebra or Calculus.
Note: To do symbolic computations in MATLAB one must have the Symbolic Toolbox.
1.1 DEfiNING FUNCTIONS AND BASIC OPERATIONS

Before doing any symbolic computation, one must declare the variables used to be symbolic:
>> syms x y
A function is defined by simply typing the formula
>> f = cos(x) + 3 * x^2
Note the co-efficient must be multiplied using *. To find specific values, you must use the command
subs:
>> subs(f, pi)
This command stands for substitute, it substitutes π for x in the formula for f. If we define another
function:
>> g = exp(-y^2)
Then we can compose the functions:
>> h = compose(g, f)
i.e. h(x) = g(f(x)). Since, f and g are functions of different variables, their product must be a function of
two variables:
>> k = f * g
>>subs(k, [x, y], [0, 1])
We can do simple calculus operations, like differentiation:
>> f1 = diff(f)
>> k1x = diff(k, x)
and indefinite integrals (Antiderivatives):
>> F = int(f)
and definite integrals:
>> int(f, 0, 2 * pi)
To change a symbolic answer into a numerical answer, use the double command which stands for double
precision, (not times 2):
>> double(ans)
Note, that some antiderivatives cannot be found in terms of elementary functions, for some of these the
antiderivative can be expressed in terms of special functions:
>> G = int(g)
© Sahar Waqar (2018)
and for others MATLAB does the best it can:

>> int(h)
For definite integrals, that cannot be evaluated exactly, MATLAB does nothing and prints a warning:
>> int(h, 0, 1)
We will see later that even functions that don’t have an antiderivative can be integrated numerically.
You can change the last answer to a numerical answer using:
>> double(ans)
Plotting a symbolic function can be done as follows:
>> ezplot(f)
or the domain can be specified:
>> ezplot(g, -10, 10)
>> ezplot(g, -2, 2)
To plot a symbolic function of two variables use:
>> ezsurf(k)
It is important to keep in mind that even though we have defined our variables to be symbolic variables,
plotting can only plot a finite set of points. For instance:
>> ezplot(cos(x^5))
will produce the plot in Figure 7.1, which is clearly wrong, because it does not plot enough points.
Figure 1: Graph of cos(x^5) produced by ezplot command. It is wrong because cos u should oscillate smoothly between -1
and 1. The problem with the plot is that cos(x^5) oscillates extremely rapidly, and the plot did not consider enough points.
MATLAB allows you to do simple algebra. For instance:

>> poly = (x – 3)^5
>> polyex = expand(poly)
>> polysi = simplify(polyex)
To find the symbolic solutions of an equation, f(x) = 0, use:
>> solve(f)
>> solve(g)
>> solve(polyex)
Another useful property of symbolic functions is that you can substitute numerical vectors for the
variables:
>> X = 2:0.1:4;
>> Y = subs(polyex, X);
>> plot(X, Y)
1.2 PROBLEMS (TO BE COMPLETED IN LAB)

1.Starting from mynewton write a well-commented function program mysymnewton that takes as its
input a symbolic function f and the ordinary variables x0 and n. Tolerance should be less than or equal
to 10^-4. Let the program take the symbolic derivative f0, and then use subs to proceed with Newton’s
method. Test it on f(x) = (x^3) −4 starting with x0 = 2. Turn in the program and a summary of the results.
2.Create two multi-variable functions using symbolic expressions in MATLAB.
>> z = x^2 + y^2;
>> f = 2*(x-1) + 2*(y-1) + 2;
Plot them together. For showing second figure on same figure (figure1) use hold on command, as
explained below.
% Plot function 1 ****
>>hold on
% Plot function 2 ****
Second function has more range (y) than function 1. So, to find area between the two functions, make
sure to shift f by some value. Your result might be close enough to figure 2. What is your observation?
Figure 2: Plot of z and f together
3.Consider following Taylor series

1
1−𝑥
= 1 + 𝑥 + 𝑥2 + 𝑥3 + ⋯ (1)
and its partial sum

𝑁
𝑆𝑁 = ∑ 𝑥 𝑛 (2)
𝑛=0
When x ≠ 1, following equation holds

1 − 𝑥 𝑁+!
𝑆𝑁 = (3)
1−𝑥
Observe what happens when abs(x) > 1.
Write MATLAB code for the calculation of approximated value of equation 1 (series expansion) and
print actual value of the same equation 1, obtained from f(x). Also, plot two graphs in one figure
containing error and Taylor approximation at each iteration. You can create 1x5 array (all zeros) using
following instruction.
>> j = zeros(1, 5);
Following snippet will also work for array with elements of your choice (Currently, 1 to 10).
for i = 1: 10
arr(i) = i;
end
1.3 HOME ASSIGNMENT

1. Find a complicated function in an engineering or science textbook or website. Make a well-
commented script program that defines a symbolic version of this function and takes its derivative and
indefinite integral symbolically. In the comments of the script describe what the function is and properly
reference where you got it. Turn in your script and its output (the formula for the derivative and indefinite
integral.)
2. Write a MATLAB program, which computes partial sum 𝑆𝑁 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = −20, for equation 4, using
various values of N. How do you explain that answer is never close to e^(-25), regardless of how you
chose N?
∞
𝑥𝑛
𝑒𝑥 = ∑ (4)
𝑛!
𝑘=0
3.Write a MATLAB function which calculates maximum and minimum value of functions at certain
interval, using extreme value theorem. Test it with following functions.
(a) f(x) = sin x + cos x on [0, 2π].
(b) f(x) = x 4−3 x3−1 on [−2,2]
Following function definition will hold for this question.
[min, max] = calculateExtremeValues(f, interval)
% where f is a function and interval is a vector with two values [start end]
4. Write a paragraph on “Numerical analysis in computer science and engineering” in comments. Make
sure you do not copy it as it will result in a 0.

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Manual 3

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NUMERICAL ANALYSIS (L) – 2016 SESSION

1 LAB3 (SERIES & SYMBOLIC EXPRESSIONS)

1.1 DEﬁNING FUNCTIONS AND BASIC OPERATIONS

and for others MATLAB does the best it can:

MATLAB allows you to do simple algebra. For instance:

1.2 PROBLEMS (TO BE COMPLETED IN LAB)

Figure 2: Plot of z and f together

3.Consider following Taylor series

and its partial sum

When x ≠ 1, following equation holds

1.3 HOME ASSIGNMENT

© Sahar Waqar (2018)

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