TABLE OF CONTENTS Part II is on applications. Since this is an introductory course, the applications are not extensive. They are illustrative. You ought to recognize that the kinds of problems you actually can solve with MATLAB are much more challenging than the examples provided. More is said on this matter at the beginning of Chapter 14. The goal of this part is to scratch the surface of the true power of tools like MATLAB and to show how you can use it in a variety of ways.
The objective of this chapter is to discuss the importance of learning to use tools like MATLAB. MATLAB and companion toolboxes provide engineers, scientists, mathematicians, and students of these fields with an environment for technical computing applications. It is much more than a programming language like C, C++ or Fortran. Technical computing includes mathematical computation, analysis, visualization, and algorithm development. The MathWork website describes The Power of Technical Computing with MATLAB as follows:
Whatever the objective of your work an algorithm, an analysis, a graph, a report, or a software simulation technical computing with MATLAB lets you work more effectively and efficiently. The flexible MATLAB environment lets you perform advanced analyses, visualize data, and develop algorithms by applying the wealth of functionality available. With its more than 1000 mathematical, statistical, scientific and engineering functions, MATLAB gives you immediate access to high-performance numerical computing. This functionality is extended...
