Octave is designed to solve mathematical problems numerically, that is by calculating
values in the computer’s memory. This means that it can’t always give an exact solution
to a problem, and it should not be confused with programs such as Mathematica or
Maple, which give symbolic solutions by doing the algebraic manipulation. This does not
make it better or worse—it is used for different tasks. Most real mathematical problems
(particularly engineering ones!) do not have neat symbolic solutions.