1| Basic MATLAB Operations

In this section, we focus on navigating MATLAB and using basic features. We will create script files (as m files) and save them for later use.

At the end of this section you should be able to:

Manipulate the IDE by clearing screen, variables, and figures
Use common built-in mathematical functions
Evaluate mathematical expressions in Matlab
Define and create scalar, vector, and matrix variables
Assign value(s) to variables
Understand how a script works
Save a script as an m file
Create basic plots and customize the look

Introduction

MATLAB Tour: explore the basic layout and operation of MATLAB.

Calculator Functions: how to use MATLAB to calculate simple expressions

Vectors & Matrices

Using Vectors: utilizing MATLAB’s powerful vector abilities.

Using Matrices: utilizing MATLAB’s powerful matrix abilities. Though we will not use them in this course, I show how to compute eigenvalues of a matrix.

Scripts

Making Scripts and m files: creating and saving scripts (a sequence of commands) as an m file for later use.

Plotting

Plotting: using MATLAB’s built-in ability to produce graphics. We will be using plot, polarplot, loglog, semilogx and semilogy in this course among others.