# Choose `syms` or `sym` Function

In Symbolic Math Toolbox™, you can declare symbolic objects using either `syms` or `sym`. These two functions are conceptually different.

• The `syms` function creates a symbolic object that is automatically assigned to a MATLAB® variable with the same name.

• The `sym` function refers to a symbolic object that can be assigned to a MATLAB variable with the same name or a different name.

### Assign Symbolic Variables to MATLAB Variables

The `syms` function creates a variable dynamically. For example, the command `syms x` creates the symbolic variable `x` and automatically assigns it to a MATLAB variable with the same name.

```syms x x```
`x = $x$`

The `sym` function refers to a symbolic variable, which you can then assign to a MATLAB variable with a different name. For example, the command `f1 = sym('x')` refers to the symbolic variable `x` and assigns it to the MATLAB variable `f1`.

`f1 = sym('x')`
`f1 = $x$`

### Create Symbolic Number

Use the `syms` function to create a symbolic variable `x` and automatically assign it to a MATLAB variable `x`. When you assign a number to the MATLAB variable `x`, the number is represented in double-precision and this assignment overwrites the previous assignment to a symbolic variable. The class of `x` becomes `double`.

```syms x x = 1/33```
```x = 0.0303 ```
`class(x)`
```ans = 'double' ```

Use the `sym` function to refer to an exact symbolic number without floating-point approximation. You can then assign this number to the MATLAB variable `x`. The class of `x` is `sym`.

`x = sym('1/33')`
```x =  $\frac{1}{33}$```
`class(x)`
```ans = 'sym' ```

### Create Symbolic Variable with Assumptions

When you create a symbolic variable with an assumption, MATLAB stores the symbolic variable and its assumption separately.

Use `syms` to create a symbolic variable that is assigned to a MATLAB variable with the same name. You get a fresh symbolic variable with no assumptions. If you declare a variable using `syms`, existing assumptions are cleared.

```syms x positive syms x assumptions```
``` ans = Empty sym: 1-by-0 ```

Use `sym` to refer to an existing symbolic variable. If this symbolic variable was used in your MATLAB session before, then `sym` refers to it and its current assumption. If it was not used before, then `sym` creates it with no assumptions.

```syms x positive x = sym('x'); assumptions```
`ans = $0`

### Create Many Symbolic Variables

To create many symbolic variables simultaneously, using the `syms` function is more convenient. You can create multiple variables in one line of code.

`syms a b c`

When you use `sym`, you have to declare MATLAB variables one by one and refer them to the corresponding symbolic variables.

```a = sym('a'); b = sym('b'); c = sym('c');```

### Create Array of Symbolic Variables

To declare a symbolic array that contains symbolic variables as its elements, you can use either `syms` or `sym`.

The command `syms a [1 3]` creates a 1-by-3 symbolic array `a` and the symbolic variables `a1`, `a2`, and `a3` in the workspace. The symbolic variables `a1`, `a2`, and `a3` are automatically assigned to the symbolic array `a`.

```clear syms a [1 3] a```
`a = $\left(\begin{array}{ccc}{a}_{1}& {a}_{2}& {a}_{3}\end{array}\right)$`
`whos`
``` Name Size Bytes Class Attributes a 1x3 8 sym a1 1x1 8 sym a2 1x1 8 sym a3 1x1 8 sym ```

The command `a = sym('a',[1 3])` refers to the symbolic variables `a1`, `a2`, and `a3`, which are assigned to the symbolic array `a` in the workspace. The elements `a1`, `a2`, and `a3` are not created in the workspace.

```clear a = sym('a',[1 3])```
`a = $\left(\begin{array}{ccc}{a}_{1}& {a}_{2}& {a}_{3}\end{array}\right)$`
`whos`
``` Name Size Bytes Class Attributes a 1x3 8 sym ```

### Symbolic Variable in Nested Function

To declare a symbolic variable within a nested function, use `sym`. For example, you can explicitly define a MATLAB variable `x` in the parent function workspace and refer `x` to a symbolic variable with the same name.

```function primaryFx x = sym('x') function nestedFx ... end end```

Nested functions make the workspace static, so you cannot dynamically add variables using `syms`.

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