Matlab absolute value squared

Question

I can't find a way in matlab to simplify this symbolic expression. x will be evaluated in a real number.

syms x
expr = abs(x)^2

I expect the result to be

 expr = x^2

Matlab gives

expr = abs(x)^2

Answer 1

Your desired solution is only valid if x is real, thus you need to tell MATLAB that.

 assume(x, 'real')
 simplify(expr)