WolframLang: Force Numerical Result
Symbolic Result vs Numerical Result
All computation are done symbolically by default, returning symbolic (exact) result.
For example, 3/2 return just itself, not 1.5.
And 6/4
return the rational number 3/2
.
Another example:
3/2 + 5/9
return 37/18
3/2 (* return itself *) 3/2 + 5/9 (* return 37/18 *)
If parts of expression contains approximate number, then the result is approximate.
3/2 + 5/9. (* return 2.05556 *)
Force Numerical Result
To force numerical result, use N[expr]
.
When N
is wrapped around expression, the entire expression is computed numerically.
N[3/2] (* return 1.5 *)
A common way to use N
is via postfix notation,
That is,
N[expr]
is the same as
expr//N
x = ((1/2)^5 + (3/2)^2)^3 (* 389017/32768 *) x //N (* 11.871856689453125 *)