Numbers and Precision

Variable-precision arithmetic and elementary number-theoretic operations

The Symbolic Math Toolbox™ can perform numeric calculations with variable precision by usingvpa. For details, seeIncrease Precision of Numeric Calculations. To understand when to use symbolic, variable-precision, or double-precision arithmetic, seeChoose Numeric or Symbolic Arithmetic. The Symbolic Math Toolbox also provides functions for rounding operations and for working with complex numbers.

Functions

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Precision Control

`digits`	Change variable precision used
`double`	Convert symbolic values toMATLABdouble precision
`vpa`	Variable-precision arithmetic (arbitrary-precision arithmetic)
`vpaintegral`	Numerical integration using variable precision
`vpasolve`	Solve equations numerically
`vpasum`	Numerical summation using variable precision

Operations on Numbers

`imag`	Imaginary part of complex number
`real`	Real part of complex number
`dec2bin`	Convert decimal number to character vector representing binary number
`dec2hex`	Convert decimal number to character vector representing hexadecimal number

Topics

Choose Numeric or Symbolic Arithmetic
Compare and contrast double-precision, variable-precision, and symbolic arithmetic.
Numeric to Symbolic Conversion
Convert floating-point numbers to exact symbolic numbers.
Increase Precision of Numeric Calculations
Increase precision arbitrarily with variable-precision arithmetic.
Recognize and Avoid Round-Off Errors
Round-off errors in symbolic and variable-precision calculations.
Increase Speed by Reducing Precision
Increase speed of calculations by reducing precision of calculations.