Using solve function to find the roots

syms x
y = 2*x*exp(-x)-sin(x)==0;
d=solve(y,x)

It gives the "zero" as the only value that makes the y zero. But the roots should be 0.8030 and 2.7923 (I have looked from ezplot). Why can't I find the roots with the solve function?

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

solve() can only find all solutions for polynomials. For non-linear functions, it will give a warning and find one numeric solution.

Since you need to switch to numeric solutions anyhow, use vpasolve() with initial guesses to select the range to find the solution over. vpasolve() will only find one solution at a time, but it will allow you to select the range to look in.

[fert]

It is not relevant with the former question, but do you think this code is right for comparing a function and its derivative:

clear all;clc
syms x 
y = (log(1+x)+x.^2/2)/(1+x).^2 
k=diff(y,x)
figure
ezplot(k)
hold on
ezplot(y)

[Walter Roberson]

Looks plausible, except that I would use

y = (log(1+x)+x.^2/2)./(1+x).^2

[fert]

Thank you very much indeed.