Many of the symbolic methods prevalent in dynamical modeling were designed specifically for a certain class of "nice" models, such as, e.g., polynomials with integer coefficients. However, in practice many models contain components that are not easily accessible to purely symbolic manipulations, such as floating point coefficients and exponents, lookup tables, or piecewise defined functions. The challenge is to apply symbolic techniques to such models appropriately and effectively.

In this presentation we would like to list some of the problems that are often encountered when dealing with real world applications. We then present some possible solutions applicable in some cases. Most importantly, we would like to initiate a discussion with the audience on how to approach these issues.