TABLE OF CONTENTS In this chapter, you will start learning how to use MATLAB to do mathematics. You should read this chapter at your computer, with MATLAB running. Try the commands in a MATLAB Command Window as you go along. Feel free to experiment with variants of the examples we present; the best way to find out how MATLAB responds to a command is to try it.
| Note | For further practice, you can work the problems in Practice Set A. The Glossary contains a synopsis of many MATLAB operators, constants, functions, commands, and programming instructions. |
You input commands to MATLAB in the MATLAB Command Window. MATLAB returns output in two ways: Typically, text or numerical output is returned in the same Command Window, but graphical output appears in a separate graphics window. A sample screen, with both a MATLAB Desktop and a graphics window, labeled Figure No. 1, is shown in Figure 2-1.
To generate this screen on your computer, first type + ?. Then type ezplot( x ?3 ? x ).
| Tip | While MATLAB is working, it may display a "wait" symbol for example, an hourglass appears on many operating systems. Or it may give no visual evidence until it is finished with its calculation. |
As we have just seen, you can use MATLAB to do arithmetic as you would a calculator. You can use " +" to add, " -" to subtract, " *" to multiply,...
