Symbolic equal evaluates expressions analytically.
It is a live operator, meaning that if you make a change anywhere above
or to the left of it, the result is updated, just as with the numerical
evaluation operator. It does use previously defined functions
and variables to reduce expressions where appropriate.
Enter an expression you want to evaluate analytically.
Press [Ctrl][.] to see a right-facing arrow.
Click outside the expression or press [Enter]. The
transformed expression appears to the right of the arrow.
It is possible to assign the output of a live symbolic calculation
to a numeric function or variable by placing the editing cursor in front
of a live symbolic expression, typing :, then typing the name of
the function or variable, for example
This is equivalent to what Mathcad does when you choose to optimize
an expression.
Notes:
You can examine the values of individual variables before reducing expressions
using the symbolic calculation keyword explicit.
You can force the symbolic equal sign to ignore prior definitions by redefining
previously defined variables recursively, for example, x:=x, or by using
the Symbolics menu, which ignores
previous definitions.
By default, the symbolic equal sign returns the same expression as that
returned by choosing Evaluate Symbolically from the Symbolics
menu. You can, however, change the meaning of the symbolic equal sign by modifying
it with a keyword.
The symbolic equal sign applies to an entire expression. You cannot use
the symbolic equal sign to transform only part of an expression, nor can you
use it in a single line in a program.
Chaining the symbolic equals with a numerical evaluation (=) or a numerical
definition (:=) is valid to assign or further evaluate symbolically reduced
results.
