Optimization Toolbox™ provides two approaches for solving equations. This topic describes the problem-based approach. Solver-Based Optimization Problem Setup describes the solver-based approach.
To solve a system of equations, perform the following steps.
Create an equation problem object by using
eqnproblem. A problem object is a container in which you define
equations. The equation problem object defines the problem and any bounds that
exist in the problem variables.
For example, create an equation problem.
prob = eqnproblem;
Create named variables by using
optimvar. An optimization variable is a symbolic variable that
you use to describe the equations. Include any bounds in the variable
For example, create a 15-by-3 array of variables named
with lower bounds of
0 and upper bounds of
x = optimvar('x',15,3,'LowerBound',0,'UpperBound',1);
Define equations in the problem variables. For example:
sumeq = sum(x,2) == 1; prob.Equations.sumeq = sumeq;
If you have a nonlinear function that is not composed of polynomials, rational
expressions, and elementary functions such as
exp, then convert the
function to an optimization expression by using
See Convert Nonlinear Function to Optimization Expression and Supported Operations on Optimization Variables and Expressions.
If necessary, include extra parameters in your equations as workspace variables; see Pass Extra Parameters in Problem-Based Approach.
For nonlinear problems, set an initial point as a structure whose fields are the optimization variable names. For example:
x0.x = randn(size(x)); x0.y = eye(4); % Assumes y is a 4-by-4 variable
Solve the problem by using
sol = solve(prob); % Or, for nonlinear problems, sol = solve(prob,x0)
In addition to these basic steps, you can review the problem definition before solving
the problem by using
solve by using
optimoptions, as explained in Change Default Solver or Options.
The problem-based approach does not support complex values in an objective function, nonlinear equalities, or nonlinear inequalities. If a function calculation has a complex value, even as an intermediate value, the final result can be incorrect.
For a basic equation-solving example with polynomials, see Solve Nonlinear System of Polynomials, Problem-Based. For a general nonlinear example, see Solve Nonlinear System of Equations, Problem-Based. For more extensive examples, see Systems of Nonlinear Equations.