符号运算得到的是精确的解析解，但是有时需要进行数值转换，主要通过以下几个函数实现。
1.digits 函数
调用方法：digits(D)
函数设置有效数字个数为D的近似解精度。
2.vpa 函数
vpa
Variable-precision arithmetic
Syntax
R = vpa(A)
R = vpa(A,d)
Description
R = vpa(A) uses variable-precision arithmetic (VPA) to compute
each element of A to at least d decimal digits of accuracy, where d
is the current setting of digits.
R = vpa(A,d) uses at least d significant (nonzero) digits,
instead of the current setting of digits.
注：vpa中的精度是指有效值，即vpa(1.2345,2)=1.2；vpa(0.2345,2) = 0.23
3.subs函数
subs
Symbolic substitution
Syntax
g = subs(f,old,new)
g = subs(f,new)
g = subs(f)
g = subs(f,old,new,0)
Description
g = subs(f,old,new) replaces all occurrences of old with new in
f, and then evaluates f.
g = subs(f,new) replaces all occurrences of the default variable
in f (defined by symvar) with new , and then evaluates f.
g = subs(f) replaces symbolic variables in f with their values
obtained from the calling function and the MATLAB workspace, and
then evaluates f. Variables with no assigned values remain as
variables.
g = subs(f,old,new,0) prevents switching the arguments old and
new if subs(f,old,new) returns f. Without this additional argument,
the toolbox also tries subs(f,new,old) if subs(f,old,new) returns
f. This approach provides backwards compatibility with previous
versions and eliminates the need to remember the order of the
arguments.
例1：求方程3*x^2-exp(x) = 0 的精确解和各种精度的近似解
>> s = solve('3*x^2-exp(x) =
0')
s =
-2*lambertw(0, 3^(1/2)/6)
-2*lambertw(0, -3^(1/2)/6)
>> vpa(s)
ans =
-0.45896226753694851459857243243406
0.91000757248870906065733829575937
>> vpa(s,6)
ans =
-0.458962
0.910008
例2：设函数为f(x) = x – cos(x) 。求此函数在x = pi点的值的各种精度的数值近似形式。
>> x = sym('x');
>> f = x - cos(x)
f =
x - cos(x)
>> f1 = subs(f,x,pi)
f1 =
4.1416