MATLAB: Factorization With Symbolic Terms

MATLABsymbolic factorization

Hello! Does any one knows how can I group a specific term in a long equation?
For example, imagine i have the equation , which is equivalent to .
If I use the factor function, I obtain:
syms x
eq = x^2 + 6*x + 9
factor(eq,x)
ans = [ x + 3, x + 3]
However, I want to group those terms inside the eq itself, so I can keep manipulating the symbolic expression (eq = (x+3)^2). I am asking these because I am solving a Lagrange equation and I need to group the terms in the forma (x + y) and (x – y). Once they are grouped, I want to make a variable change: subs(eq,(x+y),z) and subs(eq,(x-y),w).
Thanks a lot!

Best Answer

simplify() can handle some cases. However it is not sophisticated so while it might find x^2+6*x+9 it will certainly not find x^2+6*x+11 = (x+3)^2+2
subs will also not dig out opportunities for substitution . subs(5*xx+5*yy,xx+yy,zz) will not notice the opportunity as it looks for exact node matches.
So generally you would proceed like
simplify(subs(TheExpression, y, z-x))
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