ABSTRACT
MATLAB allows users to perform a number of operations on functions, such as differentiation and integration. We can also find limits and check for continuity at a point. These operations can be done in a numerical way or in a symbolic one. In addition, we can solve differential equations with great simplicity in the steps involved in the process. Such simplicity is an indication of how powerful is MATLAB to solve complicated tasks. In the case of operations involving symbolic functions, the result is also a symbolic function. However, the resulting function can be evaluated numerically or plotted to see its behavior. The availability of symbolic computations is due to the existence of the Symbolic Toolbox available from The Mathworks, Inc. This toolbox has to be installed to be able to perform symbolic computations.
