Using ode45 on a symbolic to numeric function

Consider the code below. Both sections achieve the same result--an identical graph shown below. Does anyone have any warnings about starting in symbolic and converting to numeric? For my application (more complex than the example below), I need to divide two symbolic expressions and then plug the resulting expression into ode45 to be solved. Computation time doesn't matter (i.e., the problem solves in < 4s). Any warnings/advice would be greatly appreciated!

%% Numeric 
ydot = @(t,y) 2*t;
[t_sol2,y_sol2] = ode45(ydot,[0 5],0);

figure 
plot(t_sol2,y_sol2,'-o')
xlabel('Time'); ylabel('y(t)')

%% Symbolic -> Numeric
syms y t 
ydot2(t,y) = 2*t; 
ode = matlabFunction(ydot2);
[t_sol,y_sol] = ode45(ode,[0 5],0);

figure 
plot(t_sol,y_sol,'-o')
xlabel('Time'); ylabel('y(t)')

Plot of the result:

Answer 1

[Star Strider]

The situations in which I begin with symbolic expressions for differential equations are generally higher-order and nonlinear. It is always possible to do this manually, however the symbolic approach prevents algebra errors (and the accompanying frustration of dealing with them). I then use odeToVectorField and then matlabFunction to convert the result to an anonymous function. There are a number of other Symbolic Math Toolbox functions listed in Equation Solving that can make this much easier.

[Luke G.]

Thank you Star Strider! I appreciate the insight.

[Star Strider]

As always, my pleasure!