how to calculate a derivative

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Nasir Qazi
Nasir Qazi on 26 Feb 2012
Commented: Sergio E. Obando on 15 Jun 2024
can some one guide me how to calculate a derivative and integration in matlab . can you please give a little example.

Accepted Answer

bym
bym on 26 Feb 2012
Symbolically
syms x real
f = 1/x
int(f,1,2) % integration
ans =
log(2)
diff(f) %differentiation
ans =
-1/x^2
[edit - amplification]
syms x a b real positive
f = 1/x
f =
1/x
int(f) % without limits
ans =
log(x)
int(f,a,b) % with limits
ans =
log(b) - log(a)
fn = matlabFunction(f) % convert symbolic to anonymous function
fn =
@(x)1./x
quadgk(fn,1,2) % integrate numerically
ans =
0.6931
log(2) % previous result from symbolic integration
ans =
0.6931
(fn(2+1e-6)-fn(2))/1e-6 %numerical derivative at fn(2)
ans =
-0.2500
subs(diff(f),2) %substitute 2 into symbolic result previously obtained
ans =
-0.2500
  5 Comments
Jan
Jan on 27 Feb 2012
Yes, Nasir, then the integral is calculated from 1 to 2. "Symbolically" mean calculations with symbols, usually characters. The result is a formula. "Numerically" means, that you calculate a numerical value, a number.
Sergio E. Obando
Sergio E. Obando on 15 Jun 2024
Just here to suggest some recent resources, There is a nice section in the Symbolic Math Toolbox with additional examples for differentiation as well as a FEX curriculum on this topic:

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More Answers (3)

Magdalena Glinska
Magdalena Glinska on 16 Nov 2020
f = @(x) sin(x);
second_derivative_f = matlabFunction(diff(sym(f)));

Hamza saeed khan
Hamza saeed khan on 24 Nov 2020
syms x
f = x;
diff(f,x)
why this code give me error as;
>>Error in diff (line 1)
syms x
  2 Comments
Walter Roberson
Walter Roberson on 22 Dec 2020
You probably do not have the symbolic toolbox installed or licensed.
Also, you accidentally named your script diff.m which is going to conflict with calling diff() to differentiate.

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Achimsettythanmay
Achimsettythanmay on 14 Nov 2022
Edited: Walter Roberson on 15 Nov 2022
syms x real
f = 1/x
f = 
int(f,1,2) % integration
ans = 
diff(f) %differentiation
ans = 

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