User Guide

RootOf Structure The solve command may return solutions, for example,
to higher order polynomial equations, in an implicit form using RootOf
structures.
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(3.4)
These RootOf structures are placeholders for the roots of the equation
. The index parameter numbers and orders the four
solutions.
Like any symbolic expression, you can convert RootOf structures to a
floating-point value using the evalf command.
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Some equations are difficult to solve symbolically. For example, polynomial
equations of order five and greater do not in general have a solution in terms
of radicals. If the solve command does not find any solutions, it is recommen-
ded that you use the Maple numerical solver, fsolve. For information, see
the following section, Numerically Solving Equations.
For more information on the solve command, including how to solve equa-
tions defined as procedures and how to find parametric solutions, refer to
the ?solve/details help page.
3.4 Solving Equations • 83