To do this, MapleV works with the symbolic structure of the expressions that define the problem. Instead of expecting numbers for each variable in the expression in order to evaluate, Maple can preserve the symbolic structure right through the problem solving process. This means that you can preserve the generality and accuracy of the solution right up to the point when you need to get a numeric answer. We can see that Maple can perform arithmetic, just like a calculator or any other calculation software. Here lies the fundamental difference between numeric and symbolic processing.
Maple returns the simplest form of the solution while preserving absolute accuracy.
3.414213562 Note the result is returned to 10 significant figures. You have complete control over the accuracy of the returned result. But the difference doesn't end there. However, if we know y, m and c and wish to find x, a numeric processor would have to use some type of iterative routine to solve for x to within a prescribed tolerance, thereby introducing further error. Maple, suffers no such problem.