Convert output from symbolic math (sym) to float

Question

My question is similar to this question but I believe it to be more general.
I use Matlab\'s symbolic math toolbox to solve an equation:

MAZ = 0.5;
MAU         


        

Answer 1

While double is correct, it is limited to the precision of 64bit floating points. Use vpa if a higher precision is needed:

>> vpa(a)

ans =

  5.9892107832014511063435699584181
 0.83483453513174202459587915406938

>> digits(99)

>> vpa(a)

ans =

  5.98921078320145110634356995841813862213621375395128614574627036653958858547362556353272837962692249
 0.834834535131742024595879154069378868157531819123064337100994463734092031618244369410214559292265698

Answer 2

Matlab's symbolic math toolbox contains a function called double.
This function converts the result of the solve function - which is a sym - to a double:

double(a)

ans =

      5.98921078320145
     0.834834535131742