Matlab Basics

1. Matlab start/quit

In windows/Mac, start MATLAB by double-clicking the MATLAB icon on your desktop.

In Linux, start MATLAB by typing matlab from a terminal.

From the command window in Matlab, quit matlab by typing exit.

2. Constants, special values and number format

pi -- Ratio of circle's circumference to its diameter, π

>>pi

3.1416

NaN -- Not-a-Number

Inf -- Infinity

Number format: All numerical variables are stored in MATLAB in double precision floating-point form.

>>5

5 (it is double)

3. Strings and printing

Strings can be defined in MATLAB by simply enclosing the appropriate string of characters in single quotes such as

>> s = 'My Name'

fprintf can be used for the printing.

For example, we can print the name with fprintf() function.

>>fprintf(s)

My Name

Or, we also can use disp function to print the info you need.

>>disp(s)

My Name

4. Arithmetic operations

+ Addition

- Subtraction

* Multiplication

/ Division

^ Power

These operators can be used in scalar operations as well as the vector and matrix operations.

The simplest example is

>> 2*4+11/3^2

ans =

9.2222

5. Mathematical functions

abs (x) Absolute value

sqrt (x) Square root

sin (x) Sine

cos (x) Cosine

tan (x) Tangent

log (x) Natural logarithm

exp (x) Exponential function, ex

atan (x) Inverse tangent, or arctan

asin (x) Inverse sine, or arcsin

acos (x) Inverse cosine, or arccos

cosh (x) Hyperbolic cosine

sinh (x) Hyperbolic sine

For example:

>> sin(pi/3)

ans =

0.8660