MATLAB: How do i reach the parametrized solutions of a system of nonlinear equations

nonlinearparametrized solutionssymbolicSymbolic Math Toolboxsystem of equations

Hi to all,
I have to deal with a system of 4 nonlinear equations of the following form:
v1 = (b1*b2)/(b2+b3);
v2 = -(b1^2*b2*b3)/(b2 + b3)^3;
v3 = (b1^3)*b2*b3*(2*b3-b2)/(b2+b3)^5;
v4 = (b1*b2)/(a1*(b2+b3));
Using the solve command i tried to solve the system with a1, b1, b2 and b3 being the unknowns. What i expected (probably due to my insufficient knowledge regarding the Symbolic toolbox) was the solutions to be expressed as functions of v1, v2, v3 and v4. For example, a1 = v1/v4, or something like that. Instead, i get the following warning:
Warning: The solutions are parametrized by the symbols:
u7 = R_
u8 = R_
x  = R_
y21 = R_
y22 = R_
y23 = R_
y24 = R_
y25 = R_
y26 = R_
ans = 
      a1: [5x1 sym]
      b1: [5x1 sym]
      b2: [5x1 sym]
      b3: [5x1 sym]
How can someone evaluate such an answer? How could i use it? If there is any interpretation of this kind of results, it would me much appreciated.
Thank you all in advance!

Best Answer

It is strange that you had trouble on those particular four equations using 'solve'. On my very ancient Symbolic Toolbox it immediately coughed up the solution without any hesitation:
 b1 = v1*(v3*v1-3*v2^2)/(v3*v1-2*v2^2);
 b2 = v1^2*v2/(v3*v1-3*v2^2);
 b3 = -v1^2*v2^3/(v3*v1-3*v2^2)/(v3*v1-2*v2^2);
 a1 = v1/v4; % <-- You had that one right!
Are you sure you informed 'solve' properly as to which were to be regarded as the four unknowns? It is important to do that. How did you determine that a1 is equal to v1/v4?
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